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“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein I was diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis a year after my mother passed away. That was over 20 years ago. Afterward, I didn’t give a lot of critical thought to living…

I recently saw a post on social media that stated, “I’m a person who wants to do a lot of things trapped in a body that doesn’t.”  I felt this sentiment deeply; it was a perfect description of my life with sarcoidosis. I’ve always been someone who wants to…

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” — Marianne Williamson, “A Return to Love” Over the past few days, the negative impact of sarcoidosis has affected my emotions. It’s not uncommon for folks with this illness to…

When I told my primary physician a few months ago that I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (also known as AVN or osteonecrosis) and would be having a total hip replacement in early June, he offered his sympathies. I understood that inclination, but I was thrilled. I would have…

The easiest thing to do in life is nothing. For whatever reason, that seems to be a safe space for all of us. I used to tell my son this all the time. Every day I try to do something so I don’t get caught in the web of…

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” While the origins of this quote are uncertain, it is often attributed to writer and activist Maya Angelou. But even if Angelou didn’t actually say this, she…

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” — Matthew 5:7 My issues with pulmonary sarcoidosis keep me focused on living each day as productively as possible. Some days are tolerable; other days are harder. But each day is a blessing that shouldn’t be wasted…

My husband and I just celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary. And our 18th. And our 13th, and our eighth, and our third. While every year is significant, we’ve made it a tradition to get married again every five years, with a new location and theme each time. From Las Vegas…

I was recently admitted to the hospital twice in one week. Apparently, I had started to develop subcutaneous emphysema, which occurs when air gets trapped under the skin. This can cause crepitus, a crackling sound produced by pushing on the air-filled tissue. In my case, it’s a result of…

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other word would smell as sweet.” — Juliet in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” We’ve all heard those words before. Even those who slept through English lit class are familiar with one of the most famous lines from…