The Chapter No One is Ready For…
The Cousin Who Isn’t a Cousin — and the Chapter No One Is Ready For
There’s a special kind of family that doesn’t show up on a genealogy chart.
You know the kind.
Your parents are best friends. You grow up together. Their house feels like your house. You call her parents auntie and uncle even though you’re not related. She’s not technically your cousin — but she’s your cousin. And over time, she becomes something closer to a sister.
That’s who she is to me.
Life carried us in different directions. She moved to Washington. We see each other far less than we’d like. But the bond never loosened. The love never faded. She’s still my sister from another mister.
Today, my heart shattered for her.
On New Year’s Day, her fiancé collapsed in front of her — suddenly, without warning. He was 44 years old. One moment they were living their life, the next moment everything changed.
She did something unimaginably brave.
She started CPR.
She didn’t stop.
She kept him alive for over 20 minutes until EMS arrived.
Because of her, his heart kept beating.
At the hospital, they discovered what no one ever wants to hear: he is brain dead. As soon as his mother arrives, life support will be withdrawn.
This is the kind of moment that divides life into before and after.
And it’s also a moment that feels like a sign — one we cannot afford to ignore.
Please Don’t Ignore the Whispers
So many of us brush off symptoms because they’re “small.”
Temporary.
Inconvenient.
Easy to explain away.
Random numbness.
Tingling.
Shortness of breath.
Memory lapses.
Chest pressure.
Brief neurological symptoms that resolve quickly.
We tell ourselves we’re too young. Too busy. Too healthy. Too strong.
But what I see, over and over again, is that the body whispers before it screams.
Especially in people with complex inflammatory loads — whether from prior COVID infection, immune activation, genetic susceptibility, environmental toxins like mold, or a combination of factors that stack quietly over time.
Inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, clotting abnormalities, vascular instability — these things don’t always announce themselves dramatically. Sometimes they wait.
Sometimes they strike without warning.
You can be young.
You can be fit.
You can have no obvious risk factors.
And still — tragedy can happen.
Can We Reverse the Pathways?
People often ask me:
Can we undo blocked vessels? Can we reverse disease? Can we slow or reverse aging?
In many cases — yes, we can.
We can improve vascular health.
We can reduce inflammation.
We can support detox pathways.
We can optimize mitochondrial function.
We can change trajectories.
But there are things — like aneurysms — that are unforgiving.
An aneurysm can rupture in minutes. Even in an operating room. Even with a surgeon standing by. There is often no second chance.
That’s why early awareness matters.
That’s why listening to the whispers matters.
That’s why prevention is not optional.
This is why we do what we do.
Because Love Is the Point
Anti-aging isn’t about vanity.
Longevity isn’t about living forever.
It’s about another hug.
Another dance.
Another shared meal.
Another chapter with the people we love.
Right now, my sister is facing the hardest decision a human being can face — letting go of the love of her life far too soon.
No one is ready for that.
No one should have to be.
So if your body is sending signals — please don’t dismiss them. Please don’t wait. Please don’t assume you’ll deal with it later.
There are people in this world who would do anything for more time with you.
Life is fragile.
Life is sacred.
Life is not something to gamble with.
Please send every ounce of love, prayer, light, and good juju you have to my sister from another mister. Her mother is flying out tomorrow to be with her, but tonight — and in the days ahead — she needs all the support the universe can offer.
Hold your people close.
Listen to your body.
And never assume there will be another chapter unless you fight for it.
🤍