Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
Living with chronic illness brings sarcoidosis, heart failure, and an ICD that now syncs to my iPhone like it’s tracking my heart for a fitness challenge—but I’m grateful for the technology keeping me alive. This updated look at remote monitoring, reversed pulmonary hypertension, and modern cardiac care shows why complaining less and appreciating more can change everything.
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?”
In 2007, a routine heart procedure turned into a life-changing diagnosis: heart failure. Eighteen years later, I’m still here—living with sarcoidosis, a defibrillator in my chest, and the constant awareness that my next heartbeat might depend on a tiny piece of metal and code. This is what surviving with an AICD really feels like—equal parts miracle, nuisance, and reminder to keep going.
Tate Basildon 