Once upon a time....

---

I was a very fit/ healthy male, highly active. Married prior to diagnosis. Was a professional firefighter, was a ski and snow board instructor, was building large homes, father of 4. While on the job as a firefighter, I had an on the job exposure, I had smoke inhalation, CO poisoning, pneumonia and I was really sick for some time. I did recover and this exposure was well documented at work. About 8 years later, I started to develop a severe smokers cough and dispnea. I was clinically diagnosed with stage 2 sarcoidosis, lung and lymph involvement. I was initially treated with high dosages of prednisone. Several years later, the sarcoidosis progressed to stage 4 and my pulmonary function dropped in the 45% range. Initially when I was clinically diagnosed, my pulmonary function was mid 90%, and so this was a substantial drop. I've had to quit work and the quality of my life has changed drastically. I find the winters are extremely hard on me, fatigue plagues me, energy levels are low and the normal demands of life become very difficult. I do continue to walk, lift minimal weights and try to eat a clean diet. Life is so fragile and I cherish every day now. Thank you for reading my story