Following the passing of actor Eric Dane, renewed attention has been drawn to Motor Neuron Disease (MND), also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Carol Deytrikh-White has experienced the illness firsthand, losing both her husband and her brother to the progressive condition. She shared that early symptoms can be subtle and easy to dismiss, including unusual muscle weakness, difficulty maintaining regular exercise routines, and changes in voice. Her husband, once physically active, first noticed something was wrong when he struggled to keep up with his usual runs, while her brother began losing his voice toward the end of each day.

Carol described how quickly the disease progressed, eventually affecting mobility, speech, and swallowing. She emphasized the importance of awareness and compassion, noting that MND impacts entire families, not just those diagnosed. Now, she is dedicating her time to raising funds and promoting research, including a long-term plan to walk the length of the UK’s coastline to support MND charities. Through her advocacy, she hopes to encourage earlier recognition of symptoms and inspire continued efforts toward better treatments and, one day, hope for those affected.