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My physician’s index finger slid across the X-ray, briefly stopping in areas to indicate the foreign presence in my lungs. I had pulmonary sarcoidosis. And for the next 14 years, I would have regular examinations for my pulmonary health without ever knowing that my heart could be at risk,…

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” — Maya Angelou Last year, my primary pulmonologist and I decided to get a second opinion about my pulmonary sarcoidosis, as well…

Slowing down has always been hard for me. As a kid, I’d squirm out of my mom’s hugs telling her, “I gotta go play.”   While racing along, details often escape me. Which is why I overlooked the initial signs of my sarcoidosis. The pandemic has changed my…

Dear family, friends, and caregivers, First, I want to thank you for being people I can count on to help me through my health issues, and I apologize for putting you in this situation. Dealing with a chronic condition has taken a lot out of me,…

The more visits I have with a physician, the harder it is to cut ties. Which is why, between breaths behind a face mask, I was relaying my complaint again. It was a loop I had been stuck in since summer. Driving to the appointment that December morning, I hoped…

“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:7 I have lived by this Bible verse for a long time. I really embraced it when I was in high school. For the most part, I was a…

I never liked group projects in school. Whenever one was announced, I’d groan and silently hope for the best. But the scenario always played out the same: slackers dumping the work on everyone else. I wanted to believe the pandemic would change behaviors. With the stakes so high, maybe everyone…

I usually set goals for the year when January arrives. Not this time. I’ve decided to take life as it comes. Instead of saddling myself with resolutions, I’m embarking on something new. January derives from the two-faced Roman god Janus, who viewed both the future and the past. Drawing…

If your holiday shopping is done, indulge in some goodies and rejoice. Hopefully, I’ll be joining you soon. After that, a year-end health checklist awaits. Many with sarcoidosis require ongoing treatment. When multiple physicians are involved, remembering everything that was prescribed is difficult. One last review before 2021 arrives could…

Have you ever experienced a moment in which you just knew you were right about something, but you let the voice inside you convince you otherwise? That has happened to me several times in the past, but not this time. A few years ago, I was…