Influencer Sara Bennett's Husband Reveals Subtle Hand Symptom That Preceded ALS Diagnosis

The earliest sign that influencer and educator Sara Bennett was seriously ill was not pain, collapse or dramatic illness, but a quiet failure of her dominant hand.

Sara, the 39-year-old content creator from Ohio known popularly online as @TheAnandaPivot, died on 12 January 2026 after battling motor neurone disease for nearly three years.

Her husband, Rusty Bennett, has now spoken publicly about the subtle symptom that marked the beginning of her fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). By sharing her first warning signs, Rusty hopes to raise awareness of how easily ALS can be missed in its earliest stages, when symptoms are painless, asymmetric and often dismissed as minor nerve or muscle issues. His account has sparked renewed discussion among followers and medical observers about early detection of a disease that remains incurable.

What was initially dismissed as carpal tunnel or a pinched nerve was eventually diagnosed as ALS in March 2023. Her death was announced posthumously via a pre-written post on 13 January for her 113,000 followers and the global community of 'ALS warriors' who mourned the loss of a dedicated high school Social Studies teacher in Columbus, Ohio and influencer.

Rusty, who met Sara in 2011 and married her in 2014, is eager to share the specific details of her three-year journey with ALS. The couple shared two sons, Lincoln, 9, and William, 7.

The First Sign: A Hand That Would Not Cooperate

In an emotional retrospective, Rusty recalled that the first sign of the disease was not a dramatic collapse, but a subtle 'numbness' and lack of coordination in Sara's right, dominant hand. One of the first alarming moments occurred when Sara realised she could not physically squeeze a binder clip while grading student papers.

She initially struggled with fine motor tasks, such as gripping a pen or managing buttons, which eventually led to a terminal diagnosis in March 2023 at the age of 36. At that time, doctors informed the family that Sara had a life expectancy of just two to five years.

Sara first noticed the symptoms in March 2022, nearly a year before the formal diagnosis. Her death was announced posthumously via a pre-written Instagram post on 13 January 2026. The family, based in Grove City, Ohio, documented Sara's transition from a healthy mother to a full-time patient, with Rusty eventually taking leave from his consulting career in the spring of 2025 to provide care at their home.

Husband Rusty Decides to Open Up About ALS

Rusty's decision to speak out aims to demystify the 'invisible' early stages of the neurodegenerative condition. He noted that the hand symptoms were frequently dismissed as carpal tunnel or simple fatigue before a series of specialist appointments confirmed the worst.

Sara even underwent an ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) spinal surgery in October 2022, hoping a nerve issue in her neck was the cause, before the ALS diagnosis was finalised. By the time the diagnosis was official, the disease had already begun to spread, affecting her ability to walk and, eventually, her speech. Rusty described the period after the diagnosis as 'bonus time,' particularly after the family celebrated a final New Year's Eve together in their bedroom for Rusty's 43rd birthday just weeks before her passing.

The 'Painless' Warning Signs

Medical experts often note that ALS symptoms are notoriously difficult to pin down because they are typically painless and asymmetric. In Sara's case, the 'hand weakness' was the primary indicator.

Rusty explained that she would frequently drop objects or find her fingers 'tripping' over everyday movements. Alongside the hand issues, Sara noticed her right foot 'rolling over' her flip-flops, an early sign of foot drop. This 'limb-onset' ALS often starts in the extremities before spreading to the core of the body, eventually affecting the muscles required for breathing and swallowing.

The influencer used her platform of over 113,000 followers to educate others on these subtle shifts. Originally started as 'The Ananda Edit' to promote her professional organising business (Ananda meaning 'joy' in Sanskrit), she rebranded to 'The Ananda Pivot' to document her life after diagnosis. Her 'science-based' approach helped her children understand that 'her brain wasn't talking to her muscles,' a simplified explanation of the complex breakdown of motor neurons. Rusty emphasised that because the disease does not affect intelligence or sight, Sara remained 'fully present' as a mother even as her physical autonomy declined.

A Legacy of Letters and Love

In the months leading up to her death, Sara was 'fiercely resourceful,' creating a 100-page scrapbook and 'love letters' for her sons to read in the future. These documents included advice on everything from their first heartbreaks to their university graduations. In August 2025, she even hosted a 'dry run' of her own memorial, which she called an 'End of Life Ceremony,' so she could hear her loved ones' tributes while still alive. Rusty shared that the family has asked that memorial donations be sent to the boys' 529 college savings plans, ensuring that the educational future she and Rusty envisioned remains secure.

As the '@TheAnandaPivot' community mourns, Rusty maintains that Sara's greatest gift was her ability to find 'joy in the hard parts.' For Rusty, sharing the 'hand symptom' is a way to honour her advocacy mission, potentially helping others recognise the early warning signs of a disease with no cure. Her posthumous message, which she wrote herself to ensure her followers felt her gratitude, served as a final testament to her resilience, concluding with the words:

'I loved this life, and am grateful for the time.'