Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
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.
Some summers slap you with sunshine, and others hit you with the reality of chronic illness, sarcoidosis, and that rebellious heart that never reads the room. This is the story of one overly ambitious chef who pushed too hard, paid for it immediately, and finally had to accept the uncomfortable truth: the “old me” isn’t coming back, but the new me deserves just as much care—ideally before collapsing into a lounge chair like a wilted basil leaf.
Growing up with childhood trauma and overwhelming guilt after witnessing my step-father’s heart attack shaped everything—from how I curse, to how I cook, to how I manage chronic illness today. While emotional suppression can increase stress, inflammation, and heart risk, meditation, humor, cooking, and selective profanity helped me survive. If you’ve ever carried guilt, wrestled with grief, or learned to cope quietly, this story will remind you that you’re not the villain—you’re surviving with heart.
Living with sarcoidosis and heart failure means even simple tasks can feel like climbing a mountain. This raw, heartfelt reflection from a private chef and debut novelist explores chronic fatigue, aging, and the exhausting work of keeping up appearances while living with a chronic illness.
Some days, while easing into the morning and pretending the world makes sense, I stumble across online advice so astonishing it makes sarcoidosis feel like the most logical part of my life. And recently, “Dear Prudence” delivered guidance so unhinged—I had to sit there blinking like a confused owl, wondering who exactly we’ve trusted with our emotional emergencies.
Tate Basildon 