Personal Writings

“Eric Dane’s death is a reminder, all too painful, that ALS remains incurable.” Yentli reflects on grief, her father, and why she will never stop fighting for a cure.

Yentli is featured in Penn Medicine’s Threshold magazine (Fall 2025, pp. 11–13) and shares the video of her McCaskey Distinguished Alumni speech — poured out with grief, determination, and hope.

“Today I returned to the same ALS clinic where my dad was diagnosed. The same exam room. But this time…” Yentli reflects on caring for patients at Penn’s ALS clinic.

Yentli’s creative nonfiction essay “Unreality & the Yellow Blouse,” published in Apostrophe and Ampersand Issue One: Firsts. Originally anonymous — now hers to claim.

A letter to herself: Yentli looks back at December 2024 — four months into grief — and tells that version of herself what the year ahead held. A year in review: hope.

“I don’t fear death itself. I fear dying the worst way imaginable: locked in my body with ALS.” Yentli reflects on losing her father and facing the same fate.

“What are you going to do after you cure ALS?” — A McCaskey student’s question stopped Yentli in her tracks. She reflects on receiving the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award.

The School District of Lancaster and McCaskey High School named their new library after Frank Albrecht — the late, beloved “Brother.” Yentli shares a tribute to her father.

“Watching him die of ALS the same way I will was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.” Yentli goes public as a C9orf72 genetic carrier and patient-scientist.