Damn. One of the most powerful experiences of my life was working for someone with ALS. They could only communicate via moving and blinking their eyes slightly as I cued them. This person pivoted their career and was actively researching the disease locking them into their brain.

One day they played a trick on me (I was basically a human auto complete as I took some graduate courses in their field and I was able to help finish the proposal they were writing). They made a joke in the word document. It made me laugh, and as I was looking in their eye I could see the joy that made. I cried so much that night.

It really really gets to me. Every time I saw a new eye tracker device or otherwise I would email their spouse. I fuckin hate that disease, but I'm amazed at the human spirit I've seen it reveal.