“Well, listen to your lungs.” Those were the first words from my doctor’s mouth, following his slight look of concern. It was early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began in the United States, and I had boldly (and perhaps foolishly) told him that I was running a half-marathon in…

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 In 2017, my life took a turn I never expected. When something blindsides us, especially when it involves our health, sometimes we can interpret it as just an interruption in our lives. But most often, it’ll…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to RLF-100 (aviptadil), Relief Therapeutics’ investigational inhaled therapy for sarcoidosis. Such status is given to treatment candidates with the potential to be safe and effective in rare diseases — defined in the U.S. as those affecting fewer…

No, not that one. The other day, I Fell and Fractured my Foot (though I admit I probably said the other F-word a few times when it happened). I sprained my ankle, too, just to make it more Fun. It was the Fifth metatarsal on the outer side of my…

About 20 years ago I joined a program to lose weight, and ended up gaining not only a healthier body but also a much healthier mindset. Along the way, I fully embraced the idea of transformation, and after an emotional and symbolic speech from another program member, I decided I…

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” — James A. Baldwin Recently, I was asked an unusual and interesting question: “Do you know anyone personally that has sarcoidosis?” After a few seconds of thinking about an answer, I had…

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” — Dan Millman Now that some of the pandemic-era restrictions are being lifted throughout the U.S., I can’t help but feeling like I missed a good deal of…

African American women diagnosed with sarcoidosis or who have strong connections to the sarcoidosis community, are invited to apply to become members of the Women of Color Committee of the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR). The FRS Committee aims to provide insight into a large-scale education and awareness…

As a teen, I got a T-shirt from my best friend that said “Me, paranoid? Who wants to know?” So, you see, trusting maskless strangers to be fully vaccinated just isn’t in my nature.  We are still in a pandemic. With sarcoidosis, two shots in the arm doesn’t mean we…

Mother’s Day was a couple weeks ago here in the U.S., but I must admit, I’m not a big fan of the holiday. Let me explain.  On Mother’s Day weekend in 2003, I suddenly lost my mother. I had just returned to work after having an…