Rare Disease Day 2023- Mental Health

Hello. Today is Rare Disease Day 2023!

My name is Frank Rivera and I have a Rare Disease called Sarcoidosis.

I started this like that because every Rare Disease Meeting it seems like we are in a support group meeting, we always say our name and what rare disease we have. I say this because we are over 30 million strong in United States in over 7000 rare diseases worldwide. There is only 5% of rare diseases that have a cure. That in itself is ridiculous.

We as a rare disease community have had so many challenges when it comes to diagnosis, treatments and of course cures.

I wanted to take today to talk more about Mental Health and Rare Diseases. Being a male and talking about mental health and its effect on rare diseases was unheard of not that long ago. 10 years ago, I didn’t hear about it at all. Luckily it has moved into the forefront lately.

I am going to bore you with statistics:

• Every day, approximately 132 Americans die by suicide.
• There is one suicide death in the US every 10.9 minutes.
• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-old Americans.
• The highest suicide rates (per 100,000) in the US are among white males (26.4), followed by American Indian/Alaska Native males (25), and Black males (14.1).
• There is one suicide death for every estimated 25 suicide attempts.
• There are approximately 1,204,575 annual attempts in the U.S. (using 25:1 ratio) or one attempt every 26.2 seconds.

We as the rare disease community fight with the physical health and unfortunately forget about our mental health care. I am going to hit on different aspects of Mental Health in this blog. I am going to speak about Men’s Mental Health, Patient Mental Health and Caregivers Mental Health.

Men’s Mental Health–

I have been speaking on this subject for a couple of years. We as men have been told for most if not all of our lives, have been told to “Be A Man!” “Real Men Don’t Cry!” “Buck Up and Be Strong!” and so much more. Well, you see that does NOT work! Look at those statistics up above. We as a community need to acknowledge that men need to be able to ask for help. It makes you Strong to ask and know you need help. We need to show support to our male patients and caregivers and let them know they are not alone. You see when I go to many rare disease conferences the amount of men that are at these conferences are small. Not because men don’t want to be there, it is because there are too many stigmas on roles as men and women. We need to knock down those stigmas and those “suppose” to follow. As time goes by I see more male advocates, which is great, but we need to have more breakout groups for men. I believe now that Covid is over more people are learning that men suffer just as much as women.

I also want to say to men, asking for help could be a therapist, a religious leader, a really good friend (one who will be able to support you and also get you moving both physical and mental), another patient or caregiver or a support group. There are support groups that are in person as well as male support groups online.

Statistics of Male Caregivers

• Of all caregivers in the United States, 16 million, or 40% are men. Of these men: 63% identified as primary caregivers. 50% are caregivers by choice, the other half felt obligated to take on the role.
• In recent decades, gender norms in American society have begun to shift away from stereotypical roles where women are characterized as innately nurturing and passive, while men are seen as independent, decisive, and natural problem-solvers.  Younger generations are challenging the traditional ideals of how our culture defines our roles and expectations based on our gender or sex. 
• The average age of male caregivers is 26.9, although the average age of adult children caring for an aging parent is 46.4. Men who care for a spouse are an average of 62.5 years old.
• 37% refrained from telling their employer about their caregiving responsibilities. For millennials, that rose to 45%.
• 49% of men felt they had no choice in taking on their role as caregivers. This number rose to 60% when caring for a partner or spouse.
• 52% of male caregivers anticipate caring for someone in the following five years.
• 56% of caregivers assisted with medical and nursing duties (75% for those caring for a spouse). 47% helped give medication or injections, but 72% reported having no prior training.
• 62% state their responsibilities to be stressful, 46% report physical strain, ad 44% experience financial stress.
• 62% found it necessary to assist with personal care and secondary tasks, and 54% found it difficult to help with more intimate responsibilities.
• 63% of male caregivers report being the primary caregiver. Of this percentage, 52% had additional help, but 78% received no outside support.
• 66% of men work 40 hours a week. 62% of this group had to make special work arrangements. 48% were late, left early, or took time off to handle caregiving duties. 15% had to take a leave of absence or work part-time.

Patient Mental Health-

Patients are a rare breed, yes pun intended. We go through so much just to survive. We go through things like pain, disease progression and other diagnoses as well. We fight each day just to live that day and more in the future. But my question is:

What do you do to help your mental health?

My specialist told me on my very first visit. “Fighting off any disease is 90% mental and 10% physical. I can give you any medication and if your brain gives up your body is going to give up too.” I took that to heart. From that day, I try to fight each day both mentally and physically. I have learned to ask for help. In time I learned to say no when I didn’t feel well.

I also have been steady going to the same therapist for the past 12 years plus. She has been a savior. You see in 2015, I was ready to attempt suicide. I had it all planned out. I was being told they didn’t know what to do for me anymore and the pain was so tough to bear. Plus I could barely get out of bed and felt I was being a burden to my wife and daughter. So, I truly was ready to leave this world. But I did one last thing that saved my life. I called my therapist! She brought up something to make me think. She said “You don’t want to die!” I was like “yes I do!” She was like “No you don’t!” I asked, “Why do you say that?” She replied “You would not of called me!” That rang true to me. So, we decided to talk further, and we decided that I should sign my self to a 72 hour watch. I could of easily have been one of those statistics from above. Yes, I have a personal stake in Mental Health, but I also see too many patients suffering and either not knowing they need help or more likely they can’t afford to get a therapist or there aren’t enough therapists for patients.

Caregivers Mental Health-

Now here is what I deemed “The Forgotten Ones.” Caregivers can be anyone who help a patient in any capacity. I have always been told that a Caregiver is the one taking care of the patient. Well to me there are different types of Caregivers. There are those who are there all the time, those who help whenever possible, or those who spend their available time no matter how long who also can be Caregivers. I am also going to say that Caregivers aren’t specifically family, partners, or friends. There are appointed health care workers and so many others.

You see I call the Caregivers the forgotten ones because they are the ones who work so hard to be there for the patients, that they forget about their physical and mental health. They are also the forgotten ones because they are never asked about their own health and/or their mental health care. People forget that being a Caregiver is one of the most stressful positions in life. For the most part many Caregivers are just expected to be there for the patient, especially for children with rare diseases. Some Caregivers are not warned and don’t get a road map on how to deal with the diagnosis, the patients, or how to be Caregivers. So stress plays an important everyday outlook for all types of Caregivers. Not only are they running around taking care of the patients, but they are also expected to take care of themselves.

Here are more statistics:

• Half of all family members who care for elderly people die before the patient, statistics show, or they become seriously ill due to self-neglect.
• The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
• In the May 2022 survey, 36% of caregivers said they suffer from depression/anxiety, a figure that is 114% higher than reported by non-caregivers.
• 40% to 70% of family caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression. About a quarter to half of these caregivers meet the diagnostic criteria for major depression. [Zarit, S. (2006). Assessment of Family Caregivers: A Research Perspective.]
• Roughly 4 in 10 (38%) family caregivers find their situation highly stressful (score 4 or 5), 25% report moderate stress (score of 3), and 36% report little to no stress (rating of 1 or 2 based on a 5-point scale). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]
• Thirty-five per cent of parents with chronically ill children met criteria for clinical depression, compared with 19 per cent of parents with healthy children. More than half (57 per cent) of parents with chronically ill children met criteria for anxiety compared with 38 per cent of parents with healthy children. As per Sick Kids Research

These numbers are staggering. We need to support Caregivers just as much as we support Patients. We also need to make sure that both men and women get help.

So, as night falls on another Rare Disease Day, I just want to say that we need to keep pushing for better Mental Health. As my Specialist said, “You can’t fight your rare disease if you give up mentally.” That also pertains to Caregivers!

Just another Mental Health moment in My Life!

I wanted to start this off with a couple of caveats. First I am having a rough physical time lately, but today I am going to talk about my mental health.

Mental health is different for each individual person. For me it was exasperated by my health problems in 2004. But I have had mental health problems for most of my life. I guess I was better at “coping” or as I say “hiding” it.

I am writing this not for pity at all. I am writing this to show you what can happen at any moment.

It is not uncommon for people who deal with mental health to have moments, days or even experience an extended period of tough times mentally. It is something I know and deal with constantly. If I am not dealing with it I am dealing with knowing that at any moment my anxiety and depression will hit me out of nowhere.

Today is one of those days. “Out of nowhere”, that is a weird concept. At one moment I can be happy and at another moment be crying. I do take medication but even with that things happen and my mood changes. You see one of the hardest parts about dealing with depression and anxiety is that you can try all you want to control them but in all honesty you can’t. I can only speak for myself but when I get this way I don’t have to have a trigger or a bad thing happen.

Let me just say I know I haven’t been out in the public saying what I have been doing lately. There is a reason about that. I have been doing things for different communities, but decided that I needed to go back to my basics. I am doing things that will help not only the Sarcoidosis community, rare disease community or the mental health community as well. I haven’t been so public because I want to do things not for the popularity but for the better of these communities. I feel I may have lost that aspect a bit. I went back to doing it for these communities and not feeling I needed to tell anyone what I am doing. The way I look at it is the actions and the reactions and results will speak for themselves. I don’t need to promote myself. I feel I lost that a bit. I personally know what I do is for the right reasons, but I felt I needed to put it out there to let others know. Now I am at a point of my life and my advocating life, that I am doing what I do for people who will see and find out what I have done in their time. I am not criticizing anyone on how and what they do for the communities they help. We all have our own ways to do things. I felt I was losing me. I feel like I am here for a reason. I have been defying health logic, both physically and mentally. I do believe there is a reason I didn’t pass on when so many, including me, thought I would. I remember one of the last conversations I had with one of my best friends, Rodney. He was in Intensive care and he called me and we were discussing life in general. He told me ” You are still here for a reason. You are here to finish your journey. You are not done.”

To this day I try to keep that in my head. I try to make sure I tell all of my story when I can. Everyone of us has a unique story. I always want to tell everything even if it is tough to discuss because I want people to know I may look on the outside as I am so strong, but I am human and I have good and bad days, I have days I am fighting with myself(I don’t say I am weak but I have moments of weaknesses).

Now back to today. Here I am in bed just “out of nowhere” I start crying. Why? I don’t know! What brought it on? I don’t know! I am here second guessing everything. I am second guessing my life, my death, have I truly helped people, and worse of all why am I still doing what I do both in advocating and in life. I feel like I disappoint people, I feel like I am disappointing myself as well. No specific reason just because. These days happen. Sometimes more often than not lately.

So I start thinking about my life. I have made many mistakes. I hope I am learning and helping others. Not to make up for my mistakes, but because I actually love helping people. Even though I know I love what I do, I still question if I am making a difference (once again not looking for pity). It is just part of my mental health fight. It is a daily struggle that I may never win. But I don’t feel like I lost either. I am still here.

I could of committed suicide in 2015. As most of you know I did set it up for it to happen. I was ready, so I thought. But I am still here for a reason, one I am still trying to figure out.

I was watching something today that made me think. It was a speech that Terry Crews said on AGT. “All it takes is one person to believe, for them to reach their dreams.”

I have been so lucky to have so many great people in my life. I truly believe without them I probably wouldn’t be here. As a child it was my Mom, my brothers and sister and my extended family to get me through my health fight of childhood leukemia. In my teen years it was my coaches Mr. Schneider and Mr. Burkley, who never gave up on me when I wanted to give up on myself. When I got misdiagnosed in 2004 with cancer, it was my daughter Savannah. When I got diagnosed with Sarcoidosis and fought through 8 surgeries in 4 years it is my wife, my daughters (Savannah and Isabella), and my new family of Sarcoidosis Warriors. First person I met online was Andrea Timmons, she talked me down so many times both online and on the phone even though she was suffering herself daily. Then it is people like Chasta, Trina, Cheryl, Cathleen, Kerry, Kelli Beyer, Duffy and so many more. MaryAnn and Rhonda from Bernie Mac have been an inspiration to me.

But there was and always will be two people in my life Rodney Reese and Paul Dickerson. We were and always will be “The Three Amigos.” Both Paul and Rodney have passed but they are always in my heart and always helping me still. They taught me what Brotherly love is. I still think about our calls and how we would end our calls with ” I LOVE YOU BROTHER!” I will always love you brothers!

I wrote this today because I want you all to know that it is okay not to be okay. Accept it, deal with it, make yourself okay with it. It doesn’t make you weak to accept it. It makes you strong. Also it is okay to ask for help! What makes you strong is self care both physically and mentally.

I am writing this to let you know YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

I am here and I am at times not strong. I am strong to know this!

Life Always Takes Turns You Never Expect

I have spent so many days reflecting on life and where I am now to where I thought I would be. Of course some good and some bad.

Life has a way to changing you and if you let it, you could let it beat you down or you can go with the changes and adjust to them or you can give up or fight the changes in your life. Sometimes fighting in itself can be good or bad.

I believe I have been through everyone of those decisions and actions. I am no better than anyone else. I go through good times, bad times, and some in between times. Since dealing with these illnesses, from 2004 until now so many things have happened.

So many things in my life have happened that I would never ever would of expected. When I initially got sick, my whole life got turned upside down. The real problem was that I let the diagnosis run me. I didn’t think I acted. I didn’t look into what was happening to me, I just reacted to what the doctors said. I wasn’t advocating for myself , I didn’t ask questions, I didn’t do anything to actually make sure the doctors were right or if my initial diagnosis was right. I can honestly say that I just was trying to understand what was going on that I forgot to think about me. I forgot to understand what I was going through. I didn’t question anything, which isn’t who I am. I just did, not ask.

So in 2011, I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis. When I was diagnosed and told it won’t be bad. Just some prednisone and I will be feeling better. So when I started looking into it and I was going on and things weren’t getting better I started to really find out information on the disease. When I was told I had Sarcoidosis, not Cancer, I wanted to find out more about this disease. I didn’t want to be a victim. I wanted to know how to fight this and what to expect. I also looked for specialists in this disease. I became active in my treatment not reactive.

So back to why I am writing this today. I have had so much time to reflect on my current life, my fight against this diagnosis and every new diagnosis that has come. I became proactive not reactive. I decided I had to fight this because giving up was not an option. I started reading and asking questions on things I had no idea what it meant.

The biggest thing in my life of course was going to change my life but I had no idea how much. Having Sarcoidosis and the many other diseases changed my outlook on life, changed my emphasis on what meant and still means the most to me. I have learned so many new things that if you asked me when I was younger this is where I would be I would of thought you were crazy. I grew up learning things, many business oriented, but now I still use some of my business expertise, but most of that went to the back burner to learn how to help myself at first to learning how to help others.

I had to re-program my mind which in itself is hard in your 40’s, but to start from scratch to a subject I never liked in school, Science. I had to learn chemistry, what meds go with what and what those reactions were or are. I had to learn biology, I needed to find out what would happen to my body when Sarcoidosis attacks it. I needed to learn nutrition to make sure what my body could handle and to make it stronger. I had to learn Earth Science, to learn how the environment affects my disease. I never thought I would need to re-learn so much Science.

So all these things bring me to where I am now. Today I was thinking about what I have done , not the look at me things, but the things that made me a better person and be better for others as well. Each accomplishment has been made me a better person. Made me a better advocate, made me a more sympathetic person as well.

When I was younger I would never think that I would write one book nevermind two books. My past was hard to live, so for me to re-live it was so tough. Most of it I tried to forget about. So why write the first book? I felt and still feel that to actually know me you need to know what made me who I am. I also found out putting it on paper helped me to deal with my past.

I also never thought I would be a published author in magazines and online articles. I also can’t believe I has had the impact I have had on the community. Not to be braggish at all. I never wanted to be the “one” or the face of a disease. There are over 200k faces of Sarcoidosis. But I do understand to get what we as a community want and need that someone needed to put a face to a disease. I was very reluctant at first. Then after being told that it was needed, I started to be more visible.

When I became an advocate I was putting myself all into raising awareness and government awareness. I spent years doing it and feeling confident at what I was doing. But things change. Health conditions change as well. I had to adapt to my changes in health and also to a pandemic that changed the whole landscape of advocating.

I tried to adjust and try to advocate in different ways. Some times kicking and screaming to change, but I found out that there are so many different ways to help the community. I started to go after research, and if you know me you know that was the last thing I wanted to do. The funny thing is that I actually like it, don’t tell anyone I am loving it. I started working on different parts of research and also started working on the mental aspect of this disease and what it can do to hurt, as well as ways it can help the community. I have also got into more of the medical side of this disease. The biggest surprise to me is that I helped on a medical paper with some of the best people I have ever met. I actually am so proud I was even a little part of this. I learned so much by changing who I am and what I stand for. I learned to adjust to the times and as well as the means of what I could do and couldn’t do. I also am very proud that I went out of my comfort zone and took on more and more opportunities and I didn’t limit myself to only things I do know and take a chance on things I thought I didn’t know. I am proud of wwho I am now. If it sounds like I am bragging oh well. Maybe at times I need to brag so I do understand I am worthy.

There are many times in my life where I never thought I was worthy of any of this. I would of been part of the background and happy about it. I talk about being worthy, because it wasn’t anyone else’s opinion on me that brought me down. It was my own opinion of never feeling worthy to anyone else in anything I did.

It is very difficult for me to believe I am worthy of anything. I feel like I am no better than anyone for that matter. I have always been this way. It truly isn’t anyone’s fault but my own. I didn’t have people saying to me that I wasn’t worthy, I just felt that way. It is something I put on myself.

While having this time to reflect has made me better understand myself and really am working on loving me. Even though I go through one step forward and two steps back at times I have realized that doesn’t define my worth. What defines my worth is how I feel about me. I also learning, somewhat that is, to try to take compliments better. That is tough when for so long you didn’t even think you deserve them.

I will always be a work in process. That work is ever changing. That work is evolving. That the person I thought I would be is also ever evolving, making new decisions and don’t be afraid to take chances, don’t be afraid to do something you never thought you would do. I will fail, but it is better to fail at trying then to never have tried at all. So I will keep on trying to better myself, keep on trying to make changes to better myself. Try to be the better me! I know there is so much room for improvement in me. I just want to be a better me. Be the better version I can be proud of. But also knowing this may be the best me. Last but not least I am working on being proud of me. That fight is ever going!

Why I do this!

So today I have been just thinking “Why I became a patient advocate?”

I know many of us advocate have different reasons why we do what we do. So I just wanted to reach inside and figure out why I do this . You see being a patient advocate is a very tough job. Many times it is a job that many people will not recognize you for what you have done. Then there are so many others involved that know what you have done. Then there are other times where if you wonder if you are doing enough. Especially after seeing people you know or grown to love are passing away.

So after being in deep thought these past couple of days, mostly because I keep hearing bad news from doctors for me. No I am not self pitying myself at all. It is just reality! My health has been on thin ice for awhile. Unfortunately all it takes is one thing and I may be down for the count, forever. That is true with many with rare diseases.

In my community it is always so hard to see people passing away and so frequently in the last couple of years, over 80 in the past 2 years that I know. You see they, the doctors and researchers, say you don’t die from Sarcoidosis! Well I call BS. To be specific, we might not die from Sarcoidosis, but most of us will die from a Sarcoidosis related side effects. For example, Heart attack, pneumonia,lung transplant, neurological issues and any other organ issues that our Sarcoidosis has affected.

In my case most likely be because I am too sick to get a surgery or two that I definitely need. We have been putting it off longer and longer because I keep getting worse not better. So what is the answer? I don’t think anyone knows that. You see I was suppose to die months ago. At least that is what I was told. A year ago April I was told I have a couple of months to live. Did I believe it? Yes! Did I accept it NO! So I know what ever happens from that time is suppose to be icing on the cake! But honestly who wants to die? I truly thought I am ready to die. I am okay with it! Well I am lying! I am not ready! I never will be ready!

Why you may ask?

Many of my reasons aren’t about me. It is because of my family, it is because of the Sarcoidosis community I fight for. I love fighting for my community. It is actually one of the big reasons I do it. I want to find a cure! Whether it helps me or not that is not the objective. My objective is to leave this world in a better place when it comes to Sarcoidosis and any other rare disease. Odds are we won’t find a cure in my life time, but if we are moving forward and are in a better place with Sarcoidosis then I can die content. My mission when I started my organization was to be able to say I helped at least one person! That was and is still my goal. Whether it is with finding that person with information about the disease, finding someone a doctor, or just being able to ease their mind to let them know they are not alone! So you see I am not ready to die yet because I don’t think I am done with my mission.

That leads me to a couple of things of what have made me happiest about being a patient advocate.

It is not the award nominations or winning an award. It is not the recognition I receive, if you know me at all knows I would rather be behind the scenes setting everything up. It is definitely not the speeches I do, though I have learned that telling my story does have impact on other patients and also others in the field that I communicate with, government or pharmaceutical companies.

What makes me so happy about what I do is things like:

1- When I get a phone call from a Sarcoidosis patient when they see on television that Senator Schumer spoke about Sarcoidosis when introducing Hillary Clinton at the Apollo. Just to hear their voice that they were acknowledged. Also to know that I was able to reach a Senator enough to speak about an invisible illness. Not just an invisible illness that you don’t see our pain but an invisible illness that it was hardly ever spoken about.

2- Having a patient call me to say that they were ready to give up about their Sarcoidosis, because nobody understood, and they saw my website, or blog and saw me fighting and they read what I went through and they said to me that if I can fight so can they!

3- Setting up a walk for the first time 5 years ago and continuing to see all of these Sarcoidosis patients coming from all over the USA to connect with other Sarcoidosis patients. To see them smiling and talking to each other truly brought tears to my eyes. To see them come up to me smiling and crying and thanking me for doing this and showing them they are not alone. One of the best feelings in the world is to see how many of them became patient advocates and advocates for someone they love is actually the best feeling in the world to me!! Knowing that even when I do pass away we have so many great advocates for Sarcoidosis. That they will carry the torch for Sarcoidosis for many years to come!

4- I love when I am able to do something out of the ordinary for a Sarcoidosis patient. Something that they never have expected. I don’t publicize that I do it. I just am happy to see or hear how much it has helped either them or their family. Some recent examples is being able to have Sarcoidosis patients and caregivers on a billboard a couple of times in Times Square! The first billboard was on Rare Disease Day that I set up. After that I was able to work with the billboard company two more times to get Sarcoidosis patients and Caregivers pictures and something they wanted to say about Sarcoidosis. I did it not to promote me or my organization, but to give these patients the power to say “Look at me! I am here!” It also was done to let others know that they were not alone and they had someone to talk to.

The biggest thing that truly made me so happy was just last month. I was able to work with the Brooklyn Cyclones to have a day for one of our younger Sarcoidosis Warriors as a Cyclone for the day. I know our Hanna was embarrassed about it, but she will have something to talk about for the rest of her days. Even if it is just that she got to sit next to the HOT GUY on the team and get a picture. She was also able to throw out the first pitch for the game. She did an amazing job! It also was for her family. I wanted them to know that we appreciate everything her family does for Hanna and all of us in the Sarcoidosis Community. I love seeing all of their smiles. I love that Hanna came up to me and said “Thank you and I Love You!” That made the whole day worth it!! All the pain and travel was worth it at that direct time!

So you see why I do what I do??? I wish everyone can get that feeling! Just touch one life and you made all the difference in the world!

So I guess part of me doing this is selfish in my own way! But you know what? I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world!!

That is why I am saying I am not ready to pass away anytime soon! I want and need to do this not just for everyone else, but also for me.
I truly want everyone to know that no matter what happens to me that Sarcoidosis will be cured. It is moving in the right direction!

When I started this 7 years ago, I never would of believed we would be where we are. Thank you Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research for truly caring and moving forward at a pace I never knew we would be at. Thank you to all of you Sarcoidosis patients, caregivers and advocates! What you have done is amazing, ALL OF YOU! You might not think you have made a difference but everyone that I have made a difference not only in my life but also in so many others lives. How you might ask? Everyone that I have talked to or have chatted with whether on phone or on Facebook or any other social media, just know that you have made me who I am as a person and advocate. Each story has helped me make changes and set a course for every decision I have done. YOU ALL ARE VERY SPECIAL TO ME!

When You Doubt Yourself

Today many emotions have been going through my mind. Well actually it has been happening for the last couple of days.

On Friday someone who I called my sister passed away. LeeAnn Bruce was another Sarcoidosis Warrior and more than a Sarcoidosis Sister to me. She was a sister to me. We talked so much during our fight with Sarcoidosis, you teaching me so much and I walked you through some Sarcoidosis information. We talked about life. We talked about death. We talked only a couple of weeks ago. We had a short conversation, but a very impactful. We talked about life. We talked about what we were going through and what our mind set was. We knew that whatever we were going through we would fight and smile as much as we could. We both knew we were and I am still facing is not only up to me but to God. Yes we both knew and know when it was or is or time it is our time. Whether we like it or not. All we can do is try to be at peace with ourselves.

You see LeeAnn told me she was at peace with herself. I am so grateful for having that conversation with her. I know that is being a bit selfish, but you see this is what goes on with us that are chronically ill. We wake up happy to see the next day. We never know when we go to sleep if this will be our last day. I know people are going to say nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow, yes that is true, but to have a chronic illness or worse yet being terminally ill is just another reminder that your life is different than most people.

Now LeeAnn passing hit me so hard. I am not one to show my emotions, When I say that I barely show it to my wife, daughter or even my counselor. I know they know I am sad and having a hard time but I hardly ever show how much I am hurting. You see LeeAnn’s passing hit me as hard as any other person that I know with Sarcoidosis has passed. There have been way too many people with Sarcoidosis that have passed. I know that each one is as bad as the other, but you have to understand there have been three in part that have hit me so hard, not because of anything but because of how close I was to them.

The first one to devastate me was Andrea Timmons. She was the very first person to actually reach out to me when I told everyone on Facebook I have Sarcoidosis. I went into her Facebook group TOSS. It was the first group I went in about Sarcoidosis. She greeted me with her usual amazing upbeat greeting! She knew I was brand new and scared. She came into my messenger and talked me through so many feelings. She always checked on me. We talked whenever we could not just on messenger but on the phone. She went through so much in her life, but she always made time for me, especially when I was going through surgery after surgery. She also talked to Diana, my wife to help her out. She was truly amazing! I always wished and wish I can be half of the person she was. When she passed it truly broke my heart. It also broke my spirit for awhile. But I remember that Andrea is the one who talked me into being an advocate. In her exact words ” Do you realize what you are capable of doing? You have the power to make a difference in people’s lives!” That always rings in ears and heart! Someone so special had that much faith in me to make a difference! Someone who made a difference in so many people’s lives actually had faith in me and inspired me to do what I have done and still do!

Then I got a call from Kelli from FSR ( Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research) ” Frank I wanted you to hear this from me before anyone else. Paul Dickerson passed away!” I thought I was dreaming! More like a Nightmare! His wife wanted me and some others to know before everyone was told. Wow! She found out her husband passed away and she took the time to tell Kelli to call me and some others before anyone else knew. You see Paul is another amazing Sarcoidosis Ambassador, but he was so much more than that to me! He was my friend, not just any friend but one I considered to be one of my best friends. When I met him at Ambassador training I knew he was so special. His insight and demeanor just put me at peace. He always told me ” You are my hero!” But he was my hero! I told him that. He always just shook it off as I haven’t been through half of what you been through. I said to him ” It isn’t how much we have been through, but our fight to get through what we are faced with!” We used that as our mantra of life! We talked in emails, messenger, and the best times were on the phone. We talked about how we could help each other out. We talked about our struggles but most of all we talked about family and life. One thing I will always remember from our talks whether on the phone or in person, there is one thing we always ended our conversation with! ” I LOVE YOU BROTHER!” He always told me that! Of course I would say it back, why? Because I truly loved and will always love Paul! We weren’t “blood brothers” but we were BROTHERS! Blood isn’t the only way to be brothers. So I am going to stop this paragraph by saying “PAUL I LOVE YOU BROTHER!!”

You see when you advocate for something like a rare disease or chronic illness, there are times when you truly look at your self and say ” Am I really doing the right thing?” You ask yourself “Am I actually making a difference?” “Why do I do this?” “Should I just stop doing this?” It is normal to have these feelings, especially when you see people dying so often. I know I am doing this for a reason. I know I have made people think. But is that enough? I guess that is for someone else to decide. I know I doubt myself many times, but like I have told these three people, no promised these three people “I WON’T QUIT FIGHTING FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES!”

I don’t want to sound conceited or anything of that sort. But I do know I found my calling! I got these diseases for a reason. Whether I like it or not, I got these diseases to help others, but most importantly to help me. I got these diseases to guide me to do something and be somebody I have always had inside of me. I am a fighter. Always have been always will be. I made many mistakes in my life. I am not proud of them, but it truly brought me to this place. It made me fight not just for myself, but for so many others. Many of them who aren’t able to fight for themselves. If you would of asked me when I was a kid this is where my life would of taken me, I would of laughed, well maybe not laughed but definitely would not of believed it. I never considered myself a fighter. For a long time I considered myself a survivor. There is a big difference. A survivor is someone who does things so he lives. A fighter is someone who does things not for just myself but for others so they can live as well as I can. I have considered the difference for a long time. What makes me different now compared to me before? Well part of it is maturity, another part is learning who I am and what I want to do. I know that the odds of them finding a cure for me is very small. But knowing I can get us moving in the right direction and also if I can help someone find a doctor or recommend some medication help to ease their pain or might even put them in remission is what keeps me going. I have come to terms about me and my health. They are trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Doctors have basically said that we are trying to make you feel comfortable. That is a weird feeling, but I know I am going to be okay. Honestly no matter what happens to me I will be okay. Am I ready for death? Is anyone truly ready? I can say this.. I am at peace! I am scared but at peace!

So here I am day three writing this blog. Never knew this was going to be so hard to write. Like I said in the beginning so many emotions going through my head and my body. Lots of crying, lots of soul searching and lots of praying that whatever happens that these people who keep on dying due to this terrible disease called Sarcoidosis aren’t dying in vain.

I just got home from my Rheumatologist and we were just discussing this. He says why are we so far off on discovering anything about this disease? That is a doctor who has so many Sarcoidosis patients asking that. Truly a scary thought.

Well I promised so many people, especially these three great people, that I won’t quit fighting for them and all of those of us that have this disease. I can’t quit! I won’t lie I have thought about giving up! I won’t give up! It isn’t me! I have to fight! Not only for all those people but for me! I give up on fighting, I give up on myself!

Like I have said so many times ” I HAVE SARCOIDOSIS BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE ME!” IT WILL NEVER WIN! I MAY NOT GET A CURE BUT IT WILL NEVER BEAT ME!!

For all of you that have been affected by LeeAnn’s death, which is many, don’t give up! LeeAnn never gave up! Andrea never gave up! Paul never gave up! I never gave up!

“YOU ARE NOT ALONE!”

My Story Then and Now

I am making videos about my journey with Sarcoidosis and Parkinson’s. I made these videos with the hope it may help at least one person to show them 3 things. I want you to know we all have our own battles and wars. Don’t ever think yours is too menial. We deal with what we are handed! 

1- Never Give Up! You are strong enough to fight! My motto is “I have Sarcoidosis, but it doesn’t have me!” 

2- One person can make a difference! You and your story means a lot. Don’t be afraid to tell your story!

3- You are Not Alone!

I made 5 Episodes (Videos):

Just click on the underline name of the Episodes to watch these videos. Good luck and I hope you understand my thoughts and feelings!! 

I do know they are long, but I wanted to put my feelings and my thoughts so you can see what I have been through and that you can still fight!! 

1- My Crusade to find a diagnosis.

My Crusade to Find a Diagnosis

2- My diagnosis and Surgeries.

My Diagnosis and Surgeries!

3- My Advocate Years.

My Advocate Years

4- 2018-What a Year.

My Story Then and Now- Episode 4- 2018 What a Year!!

5. Thank You All.

My Story Then and Now- Episode 5-Thank you

These videos tell some of my experiences with having a rare disease called, Sarcoidosis, and having Parkinson’s.  I know it has been a long battle, but honestly hope it will be so much longer! 

You see this battle has really taken me on a ride, but yet I am still here!! I am also still smiling!! 

These diseases have changed my life, but has not changed my will!

As I have always said ” I MAY HAVE SARCOIDOSIS AND PARKINSON’S, BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE ME!” I MAY PASS DUE TO THESE DISEASES, BUT I KNOW I WON!!! 

ME BEING ABLE TO WRITE THIS RIGHT NOW SHOWS THAT I HAVE WON!!!

Personal Life…

As I sit here today I am in tears…. Why you may ask?? 

My life has been full of ups and downs, and I do mean a lot of ups and downs! I know many people who have had less that have not made it to where I am and I know many others who have had more and have done so much more than I have.

Let me start off by saying this will be real hard on me, but I have to do this! I am going to start at the present for a moment then go back to the beginning.. Some of you know about my story, but even if you do, I am writing this because I am in a place where I need to put some of these feelings and memories in perspective for you all to understand me.  The true me!

Yesterday I took my daughter to The Today Show. It may not seem like such a big deal, even to my daughter it may not have been a big deal. There are many reasons I took my daughter out of school for this. First off it was International Day of the Girl! Second the strength my daughter has shown me and so many that actually know her, she has the strength of many so she needed to be here today! I knew, even if she doesn’t understand the significance of me taking her there, that I wanted to make a memory that she won’t forget, about us. I know that my Mother use to take me to places that I have always remembered even now. I want my daughter to remember those special times! Yesterday was so amazing, to see such strong women of all ages, especially during these times when men of all backgrounds are treating women as second class citizens. I want my daughter to know I support her in every decision she makes. I know she won’t always make decisions I may like but I will support her NO MATTER WHAT! Seeing Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson and most importantly Michelle Obama. I have the utmost respect for Michelle Obama. I will never forget when she said ” When they go low, We GO HIGH!” After all her and her family has been through she still has the class to be so AMAZING! When we were at the Today Show yesterday Savannah said to me one thing that made me realize what this meant to her and it was something so simple. ” Oh My God Michelle Obama is going to be here! Wow I love her!” With that I knew I must of done something right!!!!

So many people say things if you are terminally ill why are you going out?? Why because I am not dead!! I have a family that needs me both emotionally as well as physically as much as I need them. I have some great friends and people in my life but sorry nobody will ever mean more to me than my family. I have made many mistakes in my life but my family is my source, they are why I am still here.

Okay so now that I have said that I am going to go back to the beginning. I have been through so much as a child some you know some you don’t. Let’s start with at the age of 5 I was diagnosed with leukemia. I don’t remember that much from the ages of 5 until the age of 8. What I do remember is that I was very sick and had no energy and seeing doctors all the time. I feel I blanked it out because of how hard and terrible it was at that time. I was not allowed to go to school from half of kindergarten all the way until March of fourth grade. I remember my brothers and my Mom helping me learn to read as well as doing math and just learning in general. Then at some point I started to read Encyclopedias, to be more specific the 1972 edition of The World Book Encyclopedias. I do remember that by the time I was ready to go back to school I finished from A-Z. I do know from my Mother that there were many times I could of died from being so sick. It is something in my history I still haven’t been able to get all the details and still not sure if I want to know the details.

During my life my Mother was always sick herself. She had a bad heart for so many years of her life. Due to that she was not allowed to work. We really had to always make due with what we had and that we did. I won’t say that we didn’t complain, but in the end I know my Mother was so amazing! She gave me the strength to be the person I am today. She went through as many as 8 or more heart surgeries that I can remember. I remember hearing a story from my Grandmother that when my Mom was in the hospital one time in 1975, the doctors told my grandmother in front of my Mom, thinking that she couldn’t hear because she was in a coma, that she won’t make it through the night. Well I can truly say this is where I get my Mom’s fight. She woke up the next morning. She woke up and told that same doctor to F off. Those were actually her first words when she woke up. Now you can understand why I am who I am. You will understand more as I go on with this.

As a child I was in two foster homes, because of my Mother’s heart problems. The first foster home was in one word, HELL! They were just a Foster Family for the money and at any given time they had 4 or more Foster children plus their own 2 children. I remember that they were the type of family that if you didn’t eat all of your food you had it for breakfast, one reason I don’t like Macaroni and Cheese to this day. I actually go back to those days, I guess it is a PTSD episode. I also remember the family also punished me for 30 days for something I didn’t do. That wouldn’t be a big thing but my punishment was 30 days in the bedroom, only time I was allowed to leave was to go to the bathroom. I ate and slept, that was all I was allowed to do. It scarred me for life. Very vivid memories. To make it through that was just the thought I had to be strong for my younger sister since it was only her and I together while my two older brothers were in a different home. It was a lot for a a very young boy who couldn’t even go to school because I was too sick. Right there I knew one thing! I AM STRONGER THAN I EVER KNEW! I am not trying to “Toot” my own horn, but this is and was true life, My True life!

I have always been a fighter, even when I didn’t know it.So much in my life has tested me and my strength, but also made me strong for my biggest test. THE TEST OF LIFE OR DEATH!

Because of my Mom not being able to work,  we weren’t able to stay in one house for too long. We rented for most of my life. We moved around often and my mother was on disability so we were on Food Stamps. Yes we were on food stamps, for most of my childhood life. So when people talk about food stamps and Medicaid I take very high offense to it. My Mother didn’t want to be on it. I could see the pain in her face when I was young about being on it. She had NO choice! Not everyone uses Medicaid to beat the system! Now that I am on disability and on Social Security due to my many health issues, I don’t want to be on it either, I have no choice too. It really shows me how hard my Mother had it. I don’t know how anyone could live off of this! My Mother did it with 4 children. To this day I look back on My Mother in awe. I know I hold My Mother on a high Pedestal, I know she wasn’t perfect, hell she told me more than once that she wasn’t, but I am also not naive to think she didn’t give up so much for all of us.

On October 2, 2001 I lost My Mother! I moved down to Florida in January 2001. I moved in with my Mom because she asked me for help. I remember seeing her so sick that past year. It was so tough to see this strong woman fighting but getting weaker and weaker each day. It was a monumental moment for me when she passed away. My main support system was gone. It took me some time to really get over it! I can say to this day I never totally got over it.

On December 28, 2002 my daughter, Savannah Rose Rivera, was born. What an amazing day that was!! I remember getting to see her for the first time. Carrying her to the nursery. She was so beautiful! It was so amazing! She was the best thing that happened to me at a time I needed it the most! She is the second coming of My Mother. So many similarities to my Mom. Unfortunately my daughter has been through so much herself. She is another one who is so resilient and keeps moving forward. After moving back to NY I wasn’t able to speak to my daughter for close to 4 years. When I finally received full custody of her in 2015, it made me close to being complete.

As many of you know I was misdiagnosed with Cancer in 2004, As I went through Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments I thought that would be the lowest part of my life. Boy I guess watch what you ask for.

In 2009 when I moved back to NY I finally felt comfortable. Honestly only took 42 years. I knew I didn’t have my daughter at the time, but I felt things were moving in the right direction.

In 2010 we found out that my wife Diana was pregnant. We thought wow what a great present! My daughter Isabella Joy Rivera, was born on January 2, 2011. Way earlier then she was supposed to be born. She was only 25 weeks old. We knew it was a long shot that she would make it. She lived for 5 amazing days! She fought tooth and nail to try to live but in the end her lungs were underdeveloped and on January 8, 2011 she passed away. I have never had that feeling I had when that happened ever before, even with my Mom passing. You are never ready to see your own child pass away. I don’t care if it was 5 days or 100 years, you should never have to live through seeing your own child pass away.  I remember that night she passed like it was yesterday. It was so tough for me, but even more so for my wife Diana. Just remembering the sleepless nights and feeling so helpless to help my wife was so tough. There was one thing that will always resonate in my head, someone close to me saying they didn’t acknowledge my daughter Isabella, because she didn’t live long enough to be known. To this day I will always remember that!!

Unfortunately as usual we didn’t have enough time to mourn our daughter, Isabella. At the end of January of 2011, I went to the emergency for my IBS and while doing a CT Scan they found masses in my bottom lobes of my lung because when doing the CT Scan of my abdomen they caught the two bottom lobes of my lung.

That started the journey of Sarcoidosis.

What a journey it has been! 8 surgeries in 6 years, removal of my gallbladder, and so much pain and missed opportunities that has been testing my will to live more than once. Can you imagine finding out you never had cancer, that you went on 4 years of radiation and chemotherapy for nothing??? Well welcome to my life.

So when I got diagnosed with Sarcoidosis I already had it in 75% of my body, now I am safe to say I have it everywhere in my body except for my liver and kidneys. What a blow to my body. Trying every drug known to doctors and then some to find out none of it is working. Then 3 years ago my doctor decided to try me for a clinical trial. I wasn’t accepted in because my Sarcoidosis was too far advanced. Then we tried to file with the FDA to try an experimental drug. I was feeling good about it. There were known cases in Europe and Asia that were reacting well towards a medicine. I was denied Compassionate Use 2 times because I had 2 different illnesses at the time. In August 2017 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It was another misdiagnosis, they said I had essential tremors back in 2012 due to the Sarcoidosis. Well they thought they caught that early enough because the medicine was helping with the shakes. Little did we know that the Parkinson’s and the Sarcoidosis were double teaming my brain and fighting each other for space in the brain. In April 2018, I was told by my doctors that I was terminally ill, that my brain wasn’t reacting to any of the medicines. They told me that they didn’t know how long I had, but if I didn’t slow myself down I would be in real trouble.

Even though I have been on disability since 2013, I was advocating first for Sarcoidosis Awareness to government officials trying to get recognition for a disease that was getting NO support from the government. I would go to local government meetings and made good contacts in the Town Legislature so they made April Sarcoidosis Awareness Month. I worked with some of the County Legislatures and received a Proclamation stating that April to be Sarcoidosis Awareness in Suffolk County. Then I received one for New York State. I was also working with the Federal Government both Senators and US Representatives to make April Sarcoidosis Awareness Month Nationally but due to the climate in Washington DC I couldn’t receive a bipartisan bill introduced. Meanwhile in those years I participated in one Congressional briefing in Washington DC in 2015 then organized another in 2017 with Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research. I also went on to help the rare disease community in 2014. I joined EveryLife Foundation working groups and even asked to be chairperson of one of the working groups, in 2017, to help get laws passed, as well as Global Genes Foundation Alliance Member in 2015, and a NORD New York Liaison in 2017. In 2016 I even set up “A Day for Rare Diseases!” It was a day for all rare diseases to discuss there diseases and the community and government officials as well as doctors all could talk and learn about Rare Diseases.

So in April 2018, I received the news I was downgraded from chronically ill to terminally ill. I was very distraught. I called some people who I considered friends in the Rare Disease Community and was working with me on a Mental Health project that day and the response I got was “Well what does this do to the project?” Not are you okay? Not do you need anything? So I was extremely upset so I dumped the whole project. I did not feel comfortable handing over the project that I, and only I, worked my butt off to people who didn’t care about me. How could I be assured they were going to carry out my vision? I know I did it in haste and I am sorry to all that it would of helped. But I am not going to have my name on something that I worked so hard on, to have it done wrong! So when that happened I started to get calls from NORD, and EveryLife and others telling me to step down from all of my positions without even being asked my side of what happened. Then I got ostracized by most of the rest of the Rare Disease Community. I felt really used and upset. I helped out whenever they asked me! I bent over backwards for them and to get slapped in the face really hurt!!!

So here it is October 2018. I have been having so many health problems since April including, Brain and memory issues, fainting, dizziness and worse of all migraines that have been non stop for over 6 months now. No medicines are helping me! Nothing!! I just sit here and smile while my brain is disintegrating. As I said before my brain is being attacked by both the Sarcoidosis and the Parkinson’s and I am losing! They don’t know what medicines to give me anymore!

So what do I do? Honestly?? I go out to do family things and make lasting memories for my family to remember and I get criticized, I stay home I get criticized, It doesn’t matter what I do it will always be wrong to someone! I am tired of hearing it! I am tired of being questioned if I am terminally ill. I am tired of people saying well you look great! I am even more tired of everyone telling me what I should or shouldn’t do! People think when you say terminal you should be in hospice or in a bed dying! Well let me tell you something! I will not be going out that way! I will be me! I will be making memories with my friends and family! These memories aren’t for me! I won’t remember them when I am gone! I am trying to make sure that my family and friends have some good things to remember me by.

Okay my last piece is how I would like to be remembered! I am not asking much!

I just hope I was able to make a difference in one person’s life! I want my wife to say I was a good husband! I want my daughter to say I was a good dad!  I want nothing more to be remembered as a person who made mistakes in life and had hard times but persevered through it all and tried to be the best person I could be!

I also want everyone to know I tried so hard to help those who weren’t able to help themselves!! 

Honestly I don’t know how and when I am going to die. I am a realist and know it could be sooner than I ever wanted it to be! I do know that I am going to live as much as I can while I can! 

Don’t judge me unless you have been me!!!

 

 

 

My Advocate Story Now and Why Me?

So here I am today in my thoughts thinking about why me?

I know I have had three main diseases, Sarcoidosis, Sjogren’s Syndrome and Parkinson’s. I know I have been through so much in my life from childhood leukemia to being in two different foster homes as well as having my daughter Savannah to losing my daughter Isabella to marrying my both my love and my best friend, Diana.

I have been through so much this year that I never saw coming going into the year. I started the year very optimistic. But as life goes you face ups and downs. Well this year has gone downhill since April.

April was a crazy month. I was told by my doctors that I have been downgraded from chronically ill to terminally ill. When I was told it took a bit for me to deal with it but my first reaction still rings true. I told the doctors “Thanks but that is just a word to me!” I knew I had to cut back in all of my activities and my endeavors.

Due to that I upset many people, but I also know a lot of people who upset me. I thought I had some friends, but ultimately realized that I was being used. I haven’t said anything about this, but it really hurt when the people who I thought were close to me didn’t care when I said I was diagnosed terminal, their first comments were “What does that mean to the project?”  Not are you okay! So I realized where I stood. I do know I personally didn’t handle it well either. But how do you handle being told you are terminal ? There is no blueprint for that. I should of let them run the project. But after the exchange I didn’t feel they had my goals at hand. What I did realize is that I needed to stop feeling that I was being used. I worked so hard for the rare disease community. The feeling of being cast aside from all of what I had did for 7 years putting my own health at risk to help the rare disease community made me at first angry then sad. When asked by different organizations to join as an alliance member, or talk at a conference, or director of  a working group, or a liaison for another I helped out. Then to be ostracized by the community without a care makes me angry and sad all at once even now!

I have stayed on as a National Sarcoidosis Ambassador as well as RUGD Ambassador for Illumina, plus I have taken some small roles that I can do for other organizations at home, Savvy_Coop, Breakthrough Crew, and WEGO Health.

I won’t lie I know I am not always easy to get along with! When it comes to advocating I have an unusual way of doing things, always have and probably always will. I can say for the most part it has worked for me to raise awareness. My US Representative and Senators know me by name. They have helped me and done things for me that most haven’t done for others. My approach has always been, be straightforward with them and I expect the same from them. I will help them as long as they are straight with me. I have always tried to put the patients first. Not just myself but the whole community.

I still have a huge problem with how adults with rare diseases are treated in the community itself as well by . I will never stop expressing this fact. Please don’t forget that there are 30 million people who have rare diseases, of those 30 million 50% or 15 million are children, but the forgotten ones the other 50% or 15 million are adults who don’t want to die, who have a family that they are suppose to take care of, who have lost their jobs because of these diseases. 

I have many things I should be proud of. I know that. I have been nominated for advocacy awards as well winning Advocate of the Year by my Town. But one that is not why I have done this and two it is about the patients not me. Plus the Sarcoidosis community, has never wavered or questioned my intentions. I am so happy that the true community in which I started with has stood behind me and I know they have my back as much as I have theirs.

I am far from capable to do the things I was able to do just months ago and because being terminal I know I will be able to do less as time goes on. Those are just the facts. Does it stop me from being an advocate.. NO! Does it limit me… yes.. but you can still be an advocate from home. I can’t travel as much as I once did. As a matter of fact I can’t do a quarter of what I did before, but I know a quarter of me giving is still better than none of me. I am forever grateful for FSR and others for accepting me for who I am and not who I was. I will never be who I was! But I can be the best who I am now.

As to the “Why Me?”

I am not one to feel sorry for myself! Not in my Genes! I do have times when I think why did this happen to me? Why is The Sarcoidosis and the Parkinson’s having what my doctor told me as a “turf war in my brain, and I am the loser either way!” Why is my memory so bad now? Why are the migraines been going on for six months now with no stopping in sight?

Many people say I have a right to ask “Why Me?” Don’t get me wrong I do at times. I am one that deals with facts. I have three diseases that are killing me. That is something I can’t change. It is “The New Me!” Do I wish I could feel better of course, but there is nothing that is going to change that for now. I have to live in the now!

Right now I have to be the best person I can be, be the best family man, husband and father I can be, then lastly be the best advocate I can be now. Yes in that order! 

If I don’t take care of myself first then the rest doesn’t matter. Some people call it selfishness. I call it self awareness! It is something that I am not very good at or as I have been told before “I stink at!” I am trying to figure it out more now than ever.

I have learned that just because I have put myself first it doesn’t make me selfish. It makes me selfless. Why you may ask? Because I am not helping anyone if I don’t help myself.

I have been writing this blog not only for you and to show you what I have done, but most importantly for me to remember what I am here on this planet for. For a long, long time I have felt like I didn’t matter, like I am just here! Well I am here for a reason and the reason is to help others and by helping myself I can do that. I have changed my focus on life because life has told me to, but that doesn’t mean I care less or am not involved in advocating. It means I am doing the best I can, when I can, for as long as I can!!

I sincerely want to thank those who have been by my side with this and I don’t know where I would be without them!

Diana, my wife, my love, my best friend. I don’t know where I would be without you. You have been my rock, my life, my soul! I live for you! No matter what we have been able to handle things together! What a team we make!  I love you more than any words can say!! Your sacrifice to be with me is incredible. Your devotion for the things I do as an advocate is unmeasured. You are the best wife and person anyone could ever have!

Savannah, my daughter, my everything! You have been so amazing! You have inspired me to be a better father! You are the best! I live for you! You are and will become the best woman, more than I could ever imagined!

Debby, my counselor, but more important my friend! I have been able to go to you with anything no matter what, without fear of being belittled or feeling unimportant! I love you! What you have done for my family I could never repay you.

Isabella, my daughter, even though you were on this earth for 5 days you are always in my heart. You have taught me things I never would of known about myself. Thank you so much for being in my life forever!

Mom, you taught me so much! You are the strength in which I lean on. Even though you have been gone for 17 years you are only a question away. I feel you in everything I do. You have given me the strength to fight for who I am, what I am and for where I am right now. I always hope I am making you proud now and always! You have shown me what it is like to be a fighter! I love you now and forever!!

My Brothers and Sisters, you guys have helped me to be who I am today. Though I may have strayed away from you at times you are always in my heart! I love you all!

My Family, I want to thank you all for all of your patience even though I didn’t deserve it at times. I love you all!

My Mother in Law and family, you took me in and have taken care of me throughout my sickness. You have been there for my events and supported me throughout! I will always be grateful and love you all!

Kelli, my FSR helper but more importantly my friend. You have always been there for me when I needed to talk and just to bounce ideas off of. You are so amazing! I love you!

Cathleen, you may be my Vice President, but you are truly so much more. You are my friend, my confidant, my right hand person! Thank you so much for all of your help and support! I love you!

Kerry, you are amazing in everything you do! You are a very special to me and my family. I am so glad and honored to say you are my friend and co-Ambassador. I love you and Mike and your Mom, Iris!!

FSR Ambassadors, there are too many of you to mention. You are all so amazing! You are such an inspiration to so many and to me! Without all of you I know I wouldn’t be where I am now. My original FSR Ambassadors we made history! You are all family to me! Much Love To All of You!

Ginger, I remember when we both just started fighting the crazy battle against Sarcoidosis. I remember our first conversation. We just talked and you actually asked my opinion on how we can make the organization better. I love that we are always able to talk and that you have had my back! Love you!

Alesia, I love you! Your attitude towards life is nothing short of amazing! You are an inspiration! So glad to say you are my friend!

To Everyone else who has been there for me, Thank you so Much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Government Views

My Views of the State of our Country and Government. They are my opinion and mine alone!!

I know I am just a Patient Advocate but I have a unique perspective of the government, due to my 7 years of government advocating and dealing with all sides of the government. Since I have been downgraded from Chronically ill to Terminally ill, I have been home a lot more, but I have been dealing in full government advocacy. Yes you can still be an advocate from home. I have many connections from my time in Washington DC. They know I am a straight shooter and don’t hold anything back, but they also know that I am loyal to those who are loyal to me and I always have the PEOPLE in my best interests!

I just have to say a couple of things about our Government! I am totally disgusted by all parties of our government!

I am disgusted by our House of Representatives, while we are watching this Kavanaugh debacle, they are voting on TAX SCAM #2.”The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that making these measures permanent would cost the government $630 billion in federal revenue over the next decade and also make all these changes permanent.” Give the rich more money take more from Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security Disability. LOOK AT THIS- “At the end of FY 2018 the gross US federal government debt is estimated to be $21.48 trillion, according to the FY19 Federal Budget” That does not count this new bill they are trying to pass! That is crazy incredible!

I am also disgusted at my own personal US Representative Lee Zeldin for lying to my face. I worked with Zeldin on many rare disease issues, and all the while stabbing me and millions of people in the back by voting YES on the Tax Scam Bill and also voting YES on the most recent Health care bill to come through the house. That bill makes it almost impossible for those with pre-existing conditions to get health insurance. That is the most ridiculous thing I can ever think of!

I am disgusted at the Senate for so many things! First and Foremost- GET A SPINE! ALL OF YOU! Many Americans would love you for it! This Kavanaugh debacle is the biggest disgrace in the government in all of my memory! It brought to head how DESTROYED our government is! Both sides are to blame and taking people down in the meantime and they don’t care! Dr. Ford went there yesterday to tell them about most likely the worse part of her life, being assaulted. What was the response from some of the Senators? We have Hatch saying she is beautiful and at one point of the hearing it actually looked like he was sleeping. Then you have Senator Graham yelling and demeaning her testimony and saying he will get revenge on the Democrats. Great! 99% of the committee had their minds set on the vote for Kavanaugh. Why bring her there? It was a disgusting horse and pony show!

If any of them cared they would of brought all of the people that were claimed to be there to the hearing. Yes they got a signed document saying they have no recollection. Anyone can sign a paper. Knowing that even though it is under law that nobody will call them for it.

Now with the Democrats . They should not be playing games either. They say they care about people but getting caught up in the same games that both sides are playing make you just as bad. You can’t be any better if you are doing the same thing as the other side.

Okay you all know how I feel about Trump. He ranks right up there as the worse people I have ever known. He has taken advantage of so many people, whether it physically, monetarily or mentally. He has made a mockery of the biggest job in the world, the US PRESIDENCY.
I have never seen the country and the world so divided in my 51 years alive. I am sure the Trump sheep will say ” No it was Obama!” No remember that Trump was the biggest “birther movement” talker to divide the country. Also we have our Great Senate Majority Leader and I quote ” We will make Obama a one term President.” So his cronies decided to make it miserable for him.

When it comes to Obama I believe he was trying to make too many people happy too many times. He was stymied but he let them do that to him also. When he came into office I know he had so many eyes on him being the first African American Descendant President. But he promised many things that he should of pushed back.
I am so tired of the government! I have been working with the government both Republicans and Democrats for 7 years and I never said I give up on them. I just know that it is broken so bad and yesterday just showed how broken it is.

I have one more thing to say. I am registered and independent. I have voted on both sides of the party. I vote for whoever I feel is looking out for ALL the people! Not just industry, or big money.

THE MAIN THING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING, PEOPLE ARE GETTING KILLED, PEOPLE ARE GETTING SEXUALLY ABUSED, AND NOBODY IS FACING THOSE ISSUES!!!

WAKE UP EVERYONE!! VOTE! FIND PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY CARE! STOP COMPLAINING AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! YOU CAN MAKE A CALL, BE HEARD! ENOUGH OF THIS CRAP!!