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.

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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.

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Coffee snobs may insist that “real coffee lovers” drink it black, but I’m here to say flavor and joy matter more than bitterness and bravado. Whether it’s a caramel macchiato, a hazelnut oat milk latte, or a straight-up espresso shot, coffee is personal—and your morning cup doesn’t need anyone’s approval to be real.

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As a chef battling sarcoidosis and heart failure, debris from a life that refuses to behave, I’m here to tell you why Halloween — creepy skeletons, gore-fest lawns, serial-killer mannequin dioramas and all — feels wrong in a way that psychology backs up. If you’ve ever felt alienated by the “fun” of Halloween or want to understand why it grates on your nerves (and mine), read on for a mix of sarcasm, heart, and insight into fear, ritual and chronic illness living.

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Tired of rude medical staff and customer service that feels more like combat? As a private chef living with sarcoidosis and heart failure, I’ve learned that silence and self-control—not clapbacks—are my best defense against everyday negativity. Here’s how staying calm transformed my life, my work, and even landed me a management job.

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Living with chronic illness can be exhausting—but sometimes, the best medicine isn’t in a prescription bottle. For me, it came in the form of two tiny Gauls named Asterix and Obelix. This heartfelt reflection explores how nostalgia, humor, and childhood comfort shows like Asterix & Obelix help me cope with sarcoidosis, heart failure, and the unpredictable chaos of chronic illness.

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After six months of delayed shipments, missing meds, and endless insurance headaches, I finally ditched Amazon’s PillPack and went back to my local pharmacy. If you live with chronic illness or juggle multiple prescriptions, here’s what you should know before trusting your meds to a mail-order pharmacy.

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I’m a chef, husband, pet-parent, and emerging novelist living with pulmonary sarcoidosis, heart failure and the wild ride of long-term prednisone treatment. If you’re juggling a chronic illness, creative ambitions and ordinary life chaos—you’re in the right place. Let’s talk survival, cooking, writing and finding hope in the hidden kitchen of chronic illness.

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Eighteen years after my sarcoidosis diagnosis, I’m finally sharing the story of my open lung biopsy—the surgery that changed everything. From failed bronchoscopy to five hours on the operating table, this brutally honest account reveals what recovery from an open lung biopsy really feels like. If you’re preparing for surgery or living with sarcoidosis, here’s the unfiltered truth doctors rarely mention.

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Welcome.  Let’s get to know each other. First, I’ll tell you a little about me., and then it’s your turn to share in the comments. 

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