Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
I saw a guy land a ridiculous roller-skating trick in a beach town and my brain immediately volunteered my body for a stunt it absolutely did not agree to. Living with sarcoidosis has taught me that nostalgia can be sweet, savage, and weirdly funny—and sometimes the bravest move is not proving anything at all.
Living with sarcoidosis and heart failure has taught me many things—chief among them? Asking for help often leads to more stress than it’s worth. If you’re chronically ill, fiercely independent, or just tired of being disappointed by well-meaning offers gone sideways, this one’s for you.
A tragic MRI accident in Westbury, NY, has one private chef and chronic illness survivor reflecting on medical safety, invisible disabilities, and the emotional weight of navigating life with sarcoidosis and heart failure. For fellow spoonies and debut authors juggling symptoms, appointments, and everything in between—this one hits close.
A missed call should not feel like a medical emergency, yet somehow it does—especially when sarcoidosis and a nervous system already running hot decide to collaborate. One vague voicemail, one Google search, and my brain was off writing a screenplay I never auditioned for.
Sarcoidosis has a talent for stealing your breath and occasionally your voice, then daring you to laugh about it. Between stubborn lungs, a complicated relationship with Symbicort, and the daily negotiations of chronic illness, this is a story about wheezing, whispering, and refusing to disappear—even when sarcoidosis tries to quiet everything.
Tate Basildon 