Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
Long before sarcoidosis turned my immune system into a half-functioning smoke detector, my wife and I were card-carrying germaphobes. Yes, both of us. We cringe at communal pens, we wash clothes after stepping outside to walk the dog, and we carry more Purell than snacks. Here’s why we’d rather bring our own pen than touch yours—and why every shirt that sees daylight gets washed. (sarcoidosis included)
Living with heart failure and sarcoidosis means my heart sometimes behaves like an untrained sous-chef—dropping beats, burning the sauce, and sending everyone into panic mode. After a surprise fibrillation episode, some extra beats, and a cardiologist who ambushed me with a flu shot before I could protest, I’m trying to stay calm, breathe, and avoid yet another hospital stay.
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.
A chef living with heart failure and sarcoidosis reflects on what it feels like to age into the very demographic whose medical brochures once made him feel like an anomaly—and why finally fitting the picture is both comforting and unsettling in equal measure.
Battling sarcoidosis while riding a packed NYC train full of coughing strangers is already a thriller, but add a prednisone dose strong enough to summon my inner demon and suddenly chronic illness becomes a full-blown adventure in mood swings, resilience, and survival with humor.
Tate Basildon 