Grieving the Old Me, Embracing the New: A Chronic Illness Journey with Humor, Heart, and Sarcoidosis

Chronic illness can feel like a grief rollercoaster — denial, anger, and all the feelings in between. As someone living with sarcoidosis, heart failure, and a whole list of “don’ts,” I’ve stumbled my way through the stages of grief and found acceptance in the most unexpected places, like garden pots I can’t lift and reversible pulmonary hypertension. Here’s my real talk on surviving, adapting, and laughing through it all — with a side of stubborn positivity and sarcasm.

Searching for Peace in a World Full of Self-Help and Sarcoidosis

In a world overflowing with self-help books and symptom-specific blogs, what are we really searching for? As someone living with sarcoidosis, chronic illness, and a whole choir of organs trying to retire early, I’ve noticed that beyond the medical terms and hashtags, the word we’re truly chasing is simple: peace. My most-read post ever proved it.

Breathing Lessons From a Not-So-Normal Life With Sarcoidosis and Oxygen Tanks

Living with sarcoidosis, heart failure, and a body that treats oxygen like a luxury upgrade means learning to laugh at what hurts, carry what scares you, and drag that oxygen tank around even when you’re tired of feeling “not like the man you used to be.” This is my messy, honest, slightly sarcastic reminder that using oxygen doesn’t mean giving up—it means choosing to stay alive.

When Your Heart Breaks the Rules: My Sarcoidosis Stress Test Plot Twist

I showed up for a stress test expecting the usual treadmill humiliation—just me, some wires, and the subtle reminder that sarcoidosis doesn’t care about my plans. Instead, the numbers went rogue, the tech started bargaining with the screen, and I walked out with the kind of plot twist that makes you stare at your own body like, “Excuse me, who authorized this?”