For 17 years, addiction was the shadow that followed every step of my life, a relentless force that consumed my days from the age of 25 to 42. In 2020, I faced the ultimate reckoning when I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. The disease nearly claimed my life, leaving me hospitalized for three grueling months. But fate intervened, and I was granted a second chance through a life-saving liver transplant, followed by a kidney transplant a year later. These experiences didn’t just save my life—they reshaped it entirely, forcing me to confront the fragility of existence and the power of resilience.
Since my recovery, I’ve turned my focus toward living with intention and purpose. I’ve immersed myself in researching bucket list travels and mental health, exploring how the two intersect to create a life worth living. Hoping to manifest these journeys, I’ve put put these insights to paper (or keyboard), to share the lessons I’ve learned about survival, transformation, and the pursuit of joy. My story is no longer defined by struggle but by the courage to rebuild and the determination to embrace every moment with gratitude and curiosity.