Michael Stone believed in his early twenties that the tightness and sudden twitching in his left foot were due to the difficulties of his job as a waiter. However, over time, it turned out that these discomforts were symptoms of a disease that would completely change his life. After three years of uncertainty, the 25-year-old Stone from San Marcos, Texas, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in February of this year. ALS is a fatal motor neuron disease that many celebrities worldwide have also battled. This disease, which led to the death of famous actress Sandra Bullock’s partner Bryan Randall, is also known as a condition that famous physicist Stephen Hawking fought for years.Stone shared the early signs of his illness in Instagram videos that reached over 20,000 viewers. While involuntary muscle twitches experienced when falling asleep are commonly associated with stress and caffeine, Stone’s condition was on a different scale. The twitches became more pronounced over time, spreading to different areas of his body.Stone recalls noticing the tension in his left foot for the first time in 2022 while working as a waiter in a restaurant. “After a while, I felt a twitch in my foot, and it felt strange to me,” he says. Working 12-hour shifts at the time, Stone had initially attributed these symptoms to fatigue from standing too much. However, as the symptoms worsened, involuntary muscle twitches began to occur all over his body.Visiting many doctors and not receiving the correct diagnosis for years, Stone finally received a diagnosis from a genetic specialist in Arizona that he was at risk of developing ALS due to a rare genetic mutation. This genetic mutation is known as a process that leads to the accumulation of excessive amounts of glutamate, the neurotransmitter of the brain, causing damage to nerve cells.Stone expresses the fear and uncertainty he experienced after learning about this diagnosis: “Whenever I thought about my future, what would happen to me, these thoughts scared me. But I decided not to allow fear to control my life. If I give in to fear, I can’t do this.”While the diagnosis of motor neuron disease is generally made in individuals aged 50-70, Stone’s case is an exception. ALS can also develop at younger ages due to genetic factors and environmental influences. Although there is no definitive cure for this disease, there are treatment methods aimed at alleviating its symptoms. However, the rapidly progressive nature of ALS generally results in a life expectancy of only 2-5 years for those affected.In the UK, early signs of motor neuron disease in approximately 5,000 adults include muscle weakness, cramps, speech disorders, and weight loss. Experts recommend that individuals experiencing such symptoms consult a neurologist. Additionally, there are cases where ALS is linked to genetic predisposition. Michael Stone’s story shows that there are those who have to fight this disease at a young age and how people deal with the difficulties they face in life. Stone, who says, “I will guide my life by thinking not about what is on the plate, but about what I do with the leftovers,” continues to be a beacon of hope with the coping methods he has learned in this process.Motor neuron disease and ALS are among the serious conditions that change lives. However, research on this disease reveals the complex interaction of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Stone’s story once again reminds us how such illnesses can affect even seemingly healthy individuals and how valuable life is.