The Thanksgiving holiday is fast approaching here in the United States. It’s a time when many of us think about the aspects of our lives for which we are thankful. In the early years following my diagnosis, I wouldn’t have placed the words “thankful” and “sarcoidosis” in the same sentence.

My daughter celebrated her 20th birthday last week. She kept saying she wanted to take a trip. Initially, the destination was the Dominican Republic. Then she mentioned Miami and a few other places. As it turns out, she booked a trip to Los Angeles … using my “50 and…

I’m often my own worst enemy. Last year, I decided to add some variety to my usual cardio workout. When I started a cardiac rehabilitation program to manage my postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the goal was to gradually progress from exercising on a semi-recumbent cycle to upright workouts…

I recently took a short weekend trip about 40 miles outside Philadelphia to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, to visit my brother-in-law. I try to get out to “the country” where he lives about twice a month. We do the “guy” thing: sit around, drink beers, and do nothing. He…

Boarding an airport shuttle bus at 3 a.m. on a recent Sunday, I didn’t expect much in the way of conversation when I greeted the driver. I thought I’d receive a grunted “hello” in response. But instead, I got a talkative young man with a dream. Dreaming big During the…

Life always gets in the way! I recently had a conversation about saving money. I mentioned that, over the years, I’ve managed to keep a few coins in my pocket, as I was fortunate to work for…

For many like myself with sarcoidosis and other chronic illnesses, reducing prescription costs is an ongoing effort. As the year winds down, there are a few actions we can take to help achieve that goal.  Review and renew Each fall, I take stock of my prescriptions and determine…

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is humbling! When I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis more than 10 years ago, I didn’t understand much about the condition. It wasn’t until I went for a sleep study that it…

Fall is typically a great time of year for me, despite my sarcoidosis. Mild temperatures and a decrease in humidity usually allow me some much-needed outdoor time. But it’s not working out that way this year. I came down with a mild cold in September that lasted about a…

Healthy eating is a year-round struggle for me, but the month of October is when temptation is at its worst. Candy is everywhere. At work. At the doctor’s office. At the bank. And everyone becomes a pusher of sugary treats in the days leading up to Halloween. “Aww, go…