Ari Maayan, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a biotech innovator and former Marine. He was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis eight years ago. Ari shares his “tell it like it is” response to those who are unsympathetic about his fluctuating abilities.

You know, I’ve been accused of being a crotchety old curmudgeon. And I’m 80 years old now and, I just don’t — I have no tolerance for people who I have to mollycoddle.

I’m not gonna put up with any crap with anybody. I am who I am, I have what I have, I deal with it the way I deal with it, and here’s what you need to do in order to deal with me while I’m dealing with it.

If you don’t like it, go someplace else. Because there aren’t a lot of people in the world who can deal with this MG from their side of the walk.

They’re gonna have to understand that I have my side of it, and they’re gonna listen to it, and they’re gonna get it right or go away.