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When the System Doesn’t See You
The Overlooked Reality of How Heart Disease Shows Up in Black Women—and Why It’s Costing Lives I can’t speak for Black women—but I won’t...
22 hours ago1 min read
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I Just Wanted to Survive — How Surviving Turned Into a Mission
I Had No Idea My Story Would Matter This Much I didn’t choose to become a patient pioneer out of bravery. I said yes to a clinical trial...
5 days ago2 min read
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365 Days of Saying the Hard Stuff Out Loud
“ From Get Your Affairs in Order” to “Keep Telling Your Story” One year ago today, I started writing about something most people don’t...
6 days ago2 min read
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Grateful and Overwhelmed: Three Appointments, One Deep Breath
💥 Preventive care is still care—and this week, it’s hitting differently.💥 The results are in—and your girl tested positive for the...
Apr 172 min read
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💬 My Symptoms Spoke—And So Did My Doctor: Why I’m Getting an Urgent ECHO
Dr. Beglin sent an urgent referral for an ECHO this week. Here’s why that matters… Even though I’m starting to physically feel a bit...
Apr 152 min read
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Second Chances Come With Scars ❤️🩹🥑 The Hidden Side Effects of Survival
This photo isn’t just a wound. It ’s the truth I carry every day as a woman who’s been on blood thinners for over a decade. It's the...
Apr 103 min read
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Weathered, Not Weak: Let’s Call It What It Is—Weathering and Why We Need to Talk About It
Because being worn down doesn’t mean we’re worn out. There are some things in life you don’t understand until you’ve lived them. Like how...
Apr 103 min read
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More Than a Beat: The Truth My Heart Knew Before My Mind Caught Up
The heart doesn’t lie. It just waits patiently for you to hear it. I used to think my emotions were just background noise—something to be...
Apr 93 min read
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It Wasn’t the Hours—I Needed the Rhythm
I used to think sleep was all about the numbers. Eight hours? Cool. Check the box and move on. But that didn’t work for me. Living with...
Apr 82 min read
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From Forgotten to Front Page: CMS Approves National Coverage for Tricuspid Valve Replacement
There was a time—not that long ago—when the tricuspid valve was known as the forgotten valve . If you had severe tricuspid regurgitation...
Apr 31 min read
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The Struggle to Breathe: Why I Stopped Laughing
Breathing is automatic for most people. For me, it was something I had to think about constantly. I wasn’t wheezing or dramatically...
Apr 22 min read
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Risk vs. Reality: The Decision That Saved My Life
Risk vs. Reality: The Fear That Almost Cost Me My Life I understand why people fear clinical trials. The unknown is terrifying. You hear...
Apr 13 min read
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This Setback Hit Harder Than I Expected. Getting Back to Movement After Illness—With AFib, and With Louis
I thought I was ready. After weeks of battling a lung infection, the flu, and a rough patch of AFib (atrial fibrillation), I had my mind...
Mar 283 min read
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Throwback to 2021: 34 Days Post Valve Replacement & Making Memories with Nahla
There are moments in life that stick with you, not because they were grand or planned, but because they were real . Because they reminded...
Mar 272 min read
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Celebrating Progress & Change: Louis’ Final Phase & Dr. Saleh’s Farewell
Louis’ Health Update & A Farewell to Dr. Saleh Today was a day of transition— one filled with both progress and goodbyes . While Louis is...
Mar 253 min read
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New Here? Welcome to the Heart of the Conversation
If you’re new to my page—welcome! I’m so glad you found your way to my little corner of the internet. If this is your first time...
Mar 203 min read
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Overcoming Mental Resistance: How I Learned to Show Up Every Day
It wasn’t just my motivation that had weakened—my mind had taken a hit, too. The exhaustion, the frustration, the doubts—they weighed on...
Mar 173 min read
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Knowledge is Power: My BRCA Testing Journey
Breaking the Cycle: My Journey with Genetic Testing and Cancer Risk Cancer isn’t just part of my family’s history—it’s shaped our...
Mar 133 min read
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833 Days: A Tricuspid Valve Miracle
833 days —days filled with struggle, uncertainty, and a constant battle between giving up and pushing forward. People often ask me, “Was...
Mar 113 min read
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When Your Body Doesn’t Fit the Medical Mold: Why Healthcare Gaps Go Beyond Race and Gender
When Your Body Doesn’t Fit the Medical Mold: Why Healthcare Gaps Go Beyond Race and Gender When people talk about healthcare disparities,...
Mar 63 min read
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"If no one else was telling their story, then maybe I needed to tell mine. And maybe, just maybe, that would give others permission to share theirs too."
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