Virginia doctor battling ALS publishes eye-tracking memoir: ‘The Impulse of Energy’ [Video]

A Virginia doctor with ALS is writing his life story one letter at a time thanks to eye-tracking technology.

Dr. Dhaval Patel is in the fight of his life against ALS.

“My ALS diagnosis was a pivotal moment that turned my world upside down,” Patel said.

But that’s not stopping him from telling his story through his own eyes.

“Since then, I have been navigating through physical changes and adapting to new ways of living,” he said.

The father of two was diagnosed with ALS in November 2020. It’s a disease that slowly paralyzes a person, limiting their ability to walk, talk, eat, and breathe.

“Emotionally, ALS has been a roller coaster for both me and my family,” Dr. Patel explained. “We have constantly adapted, filled with moments of both grief and profound love.”

To communicate, Dr. Patel uses technology that tracks his eye movements and, with the help of artificial intelligence, …