Before the sun rises at his home near Orlando, Florida, Rakesh Parekh, M.D., is already making the most of the day. He reviews patient notes and exercises before joining his wife, Tejal Parekh, in preparing their children for school. Time means a great deal to Dr. Parekh.
In 2020, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) after muscle weakness began to affect his movement. ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Worsening over time, ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.
“You get this diagnosis, and, you know, within three to five years, you’re no longer,” says Dr. Parekh. He was familiar with the disease long before his own diagnosis. “My father lived with ALS,” says Dr. Parekh. “I know time is of the essence.”…