Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
It was supposed to be a simple late-afternoon date—just my wife, a quiet walk, and a brief illusion of normalcy. But sarcoidosis doesn’t care about intentions, especially when hills, stairs, and pride enter the picture. One New York City afternoon and one very confident staircase delivered a realization I apparently needed nineteen years to accept.
I’ve spent my whole life being invited everywhere while secretly plotting my escape route to the nearest quiet corner with a book. Then sarcoidosis showed up, and suddenly everyone has Opinions about what “support” should look like. Here’s the thing: I don’t need a crowd. I need calm, a steady hand to hold, and enough peace to breathe.
Some mornings hit differently. You wake up, scan your body for complaints, remember everything you’ve been through with sarcoidosis… and then realize something unexpected: life is still showing up for you. Not perfectly. Not pain-free. But persistently, stubbornly, beautifully present. This is one of those mornings.
Growing up in a world without smartphones, social media, or the constant performance of feelings, I’m reminded how much life has changed—and how much we’ve lost. Somewhere between rotary phones and viral videos of strangers crying, something fundamental shifted in how we treat privacy, boundaries, and each other, especially for those of us navigating chronic illness like sarcoidosis. I found myself spiraling down that rabbit hole after reading about yet another plane-ride drama… but not in the way you might expect.
Growing up Catholic leaves you with a spiritual starter pack—some guilt, a few hymns you’ll never forget, and a reflex to question everything, especially when chronic illness enters the chat. Living with sarcoidosis only sharpened those questions, but not in the “Why me?” way people expect. More like, “Okay universe, what lesson are you clearly dying to teach me this time?” The real story sits somewhere between faith, frustration, and a chef who refuses to stop asking uncomfortable questions…