Told She Would Die at 18 — Then She Got a Second Chance at Life

Erin Mark has lived with the awareness of death for as long as she can remember. Born with cystic fibrosis and told at just five years old that she likely wouldn’t live past 18, Erin grew up navigating a reality most people never have to face: building a life while believing time may be running out. But instead of letting that diagnosis define her, she spent years determined to squeeze as much joy, laughter, and meaning out of life as possible — even as her health steadily declined and she entered end-stage illness in her 30s.

In this conversation, Erin and Heather talk about what it means to grow up grieving the future you thought you’d have while still learning how to fully live in the present. Erin shares the emotional impact of living with chronic illness, the importance of advocating for yourself when others give up on you, and the perspective shift that comes from surviving beyond the timeline you were once given. They also explore grief that exists beyond death — grieving health, fertility, identity, and the life you imagined for yourself — while holding space for joy at the same time. It’s a powerful conversation about resilience, uncertainty, love, and what can happen when someone refuses to stop fighting for your life.

Resources & Ways to Connect

• Erin Mark Website: https://www.erinmark.com/

• Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/

• Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp

• Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp

• APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast

• Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter

• Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

• For more of Heather’s writing and thoughts: https://ohheather.substack.com/

• Everything’s Jakey (Substack): https://everythingsjakey.substack.com/