chronic illness – Tate Basildon

Trading Cold Showers for Sarcoidosis: From Caribbean Surf to Upstate Snow

It wasn’t the cold air that woke me up—it was the memory of cold showers in the Caribbean, decades before I knew the word “sarcoidosis” would take over my vocabulary. One frosty morning in 2025 Upstate New York, I stepped into a hot shower and was transported back to simpler times when my lungs were clearer and the water was somehow always warmer, even when it wasn’t. And yeah, maybe I didn’t know how much those ocean swims mattered… until they weren’t an option anymore.

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The Study That Tried to Measure My Despair (But Forgot I Was Busy Surviving)

Recently, I sat through a medical survey that was so obsessed with despair you’d think optimism was contraband. As someone juggling heart failure and sarcoidosis with the grace of a caffeinated cat, I realized just how differently I approached my own medical circus. The questions were supposed to measure my suffering, but instead they reminded me of something far more unexpected… and a little hilarious in hindsight.

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Farewell, Pish: A Love Letter to the Unexpected Fish Who Swam Into My Heart

I never thought a tiny fish would wreck me like this. But here I am, staring at an empty tank and feeling more emotional than I did when my last favorite spoon broke. Sarcoidosis doesn’t prepare you for this kind of heartbreak. Come find out why this fish mattered more than he ever should have.

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The Night I Accidentally Almost Killed Myself (and Other Dumb Medication Tricks)

There’s something wild about living with chronic illness—like sarcoidosis and heart failure—that somehow turns you into a chemist, a juggler, and occasionally, a complete idiot. One night, after years of carefully choreographing my meds to keep my heart beating and my lungs cooperating, I accidentally double-dosed myself into a mild panic and a sleepless night watching for the Grim Reaper. Spoiler: I lived. But I learned a thing or two about pill organizers, fatigue, and the fine line between medication routine and chaos.

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Choosing Joy When the World Feels Heavy

Life throws enough chaos at those of us living with sarcoidosis, but sometimes the world hands you a moment that hits harder than any flare. I watched one clip on the news that rearranged my perspective in a way I didn’t see coming, and it made me question what we choose to carry—and what we should probably just let go. This one stayed with me, and it might stay with you too.