Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
Living with chronic illness and heart failure has taught me one thing—complaining doesn’t fix a damn thing. As a chef juggling sarcoidosis, a leaky heart, and life’s general nonsense, I’ve learned that silence isn’t denial—it’s survival. Here’s how I stopped whining, started adapting, and found a strange kind of peace in just getting on with it.
On Veterans Day, I find myself thinking about the soldiers who fought in wars they never chose—especially the Vietnam vets who came home to rejection instead of honor. As someone living with sarcoidosis and heart failure, I understand battles that never really end. This is a personal thank-you to those who fought for a country that didn’t always fight for them.
Living with chronic illness takes more than blind faith—it takes grit, humor, and a little rebellion. As a chef with sarcoidosis and heart failure, I’ve seen how spirituality can both heal and harm when people rely too heavily on divine intervention instead of their own strength. Here’s my honest take on faith, health, and the real work of living through it.
Tate Basildon 