> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://achronicvoice.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # “It’s in My Blood”: Sarah Poitras — Travelling Around the World with a Lung Disease - URL: https://achronicvoice.com/sarah-poitras-travelling-world-lung-disease/ - Published: 2017-09-23T05:50:22.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-19T12:55:24.000Z - Author: Sheryl Chan - Tags: People, Travel, Chronic Illness, Home & Lifestyle, Creativity ## Featuring Sarah Poitras in Our First Edition! What do people with chronic illnesses do every day? Do they even get any enjoyment out of life?! I think there's no better way to kick off this brand new series than to feature [Sarah Poitras of “Travel Breathe Repeat”](https://www.travelbreatherepeat.com/)! Despite having a progressive lung disease, she travelled for a year around the world with her husband. She also managed to incorporate her interests in cooking and photography while on the road. Let's dive in to hear her exciting stories. *\*Disclaimer: This article is meant for educational purposes, and is based on the author(s)' personal experiences as patient(s). The images provided by Sarah Poitras are used in this post with her permission. *I am not a doctor, and nothing in this article should be substituted for medical advice.* Please consult your own doctor before changing or adding *any* new treatment protocols. This post may also contain affiliate links. It will cost you nothing to click on them. I will get a small referral fee from purchases you make, which helps with the maintenance of this blog. Read our* [***Privacy Policy***](https://achronicvoice.com/privacy-policy/)*page for more information. Thank you!* Pin to Your Progressive Lung Disease, People & Travel Boards: ![“It’s in My Blood”: Sarah Poitras — Travelling Around the World with a Lung Disease. A series on people with chronic illness, their passions and talents.](https://cdn.achronicvoice.com/its-in-my-blood-travelling-world-with-lung-disease-featuring-sarah-poitras.jpg) --- **Sarah Lives with:** [**Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)**](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16022-lymphangioleiomyomatosis-lam) --- ![Sarah Poitras of “Travel Breathe Repeat”](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/sarah-poitras-3-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Sarah Poitras of “Travel Breathe Repeat” [Want to be featured too? Click here to sign up!](https://achronicvoice.com/its-in-my-blood-people-illnesses-talents/) Read Related Posts: - [Top Tips for Travelling with Chronic Illness & Disability (From a Girl Who Loves to Travel)](https://achronicvoice.com/travelling-with-chronic-illness-disability/) - [Travelling New Paths with Chronic Illnesses in My Pocket](https://achronicvoice.com/travelling-new-paths-chronic-illness/) - [“It’s in My Blood”: Bree Dixon — Paris Je T’aime, Even with Chronic Pain](https://achronicvoice.com/bree-dixon-paris-je-taime-chronic-pain/) - [Tell Me You’re Chronically Ill Without Telling Me You’re Chronically Ill (Chronic Illness Memes)](https://achronicvoice.com/chronic-illness-memes/) - [Invisible Cities Linkup: Pros & Cons of Living with Chronic Illness in Your City](https://achronicvoice.com/invisible-cities-linkup/) ## Let's Talk About Sarah's Love for Travel ### Where have you travelled to? Over the course of my life (as of June 2019), I have traveled to 57 countries. A few years ago, my husband and I quit our jobs and traveled to 27: Sweden, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Scotland (UK), Faroe Islands (Denmark), the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Belgium, France, Monaco, and Switzerland. ### Why did you choose this list to embark on for a year? We chose to go to mostly new destinations, but also had some favorites that we wanted to revisit. And of course we had a few bucket list items like spots in Southeast Asia and New Zealand. It was actually really hard to create our itinerary because there were so many places we wanted to go! But we had a great time doing it. We wrote this post about [planning a world trip itinerary](https://www.travelbreatherepeat.com/planning-a-world-trip-itinerary/) to help others do the same. ### Favourite and least favourite place? New Zealand was our favorite place. We were able to see both North and South Islands and spend a whole month there. It is the most breathtakingly beautiful country we’ve ever been to. And the people are so nice! We honestly didn’t have a place that we disliked. We know ourselves and our travel style pretty well and did enough research to choose places we figured we’d love. ![Lake Tekapo, New Zealand](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/lake-tekapo-new-zealand-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Lake Tekapo, New Zealand ### What is the most memorable experience you had while on the road? We have so many it’s hard to choose or pick one as “most memorable.” But early in our trip we went to a small village in Northern Scotland called Dornie. The small cottage we stayed in overlooked the Eilean Donan Castle and seeing that view for the first time made us stop and really realize where we were and what we were doing and how lucky we were. ### How has it changed your life? Traveling for that long with just one suitcase and my husband made me realize I really don’t need very much to be happy. But that I want to spend as much time as possible with the people I love doing what I love. Read Related Posts: - [12 Lessons on Mindfulness (or “How to Relax” by Thich Nhat Hanh)](https://achronicvoice.com/lessons-on-mindfulness-thich-nhat-hanh/) - [Life with Chronic Illness: Happiness & Pain Can Co-exist](https://achronicvoice.com/chronic-illness-happiness-and-pain/) - [Find Your Way Back to Happiness with a Chronic Illness](https://achronicvoice.com/find-happiness-chronic-illness/) - [The Value in Seeking Out Moments of Gratitude (and How to do it)](https://achronicvoice.com/value-gratitude/) - [It is \*Always\* Possible to Make Time for What Matters Most](https://achronicvoice.com/make-time-what-matters-most/) ### What did it take for you to up and go? Three years of talking ourselves into it and six months of planning. ![Milford Sound, New Zealand](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/milford-sound-new-zealand-sarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Milford Sound, New Zealand ### What kind of traveller are you? I don’t need to see everything or do everything – or really anything at all. I just love walking around and getting a feel for a place and taking in the culture. And enjoying local food! ### Why are you so passionate about travel? Travel helped me cope with my illness because it [**let me explore new things**](https://achronicvoice.com/keeping-up-despite-pain/)and think about things other than that I was sick. Once I figured that out, I became very passionate about doing it more myself and encouraging others to as well. ### Some advice for others who are thinking about doing what you did? Just go for it. We waited three years to actually do it and we wish so much we had done it sooner. ### Favourite travel sites that inspire you online? Instagram is my go-to for travel inspiration right now. There are so many great photographers posting gorgeous pictures. ![Bangkok, Thailand](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/bangkok-thailand-sarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Bangkok, Thailand ![Homemade Vietnamese bun bo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/homemade-vietnamese-bun-bosarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Homemade Vietnamese bun bo ## Let's Talk About Sarah's Love for Food ### When did you first develop an interest in cooking My senior year in college I lived in an apartment and started cooking then. ### What’s your philosophy on food? My doctor highly recommends that people with LAM (my disease) eat all food groups and don’t go on any super restrictive diets. So I follow that guidance. I cook pretty healthfully since I can control the ingredients and save splurges for eating out. Read Related Posts: - [The Causes & Dangers of Malabsorption & An Easy Way to Get Your Nutrients](https://achronicvoice.com/causes-dangers-malabsorption-get-nutrients/) - [My Personal Experiences with Epiphrenic Esophageal Diverticulum (Plus Tips to Help Cope)](https://achronicvoice.com/epiphrenic-esophageal-diverticulum-personal-experiences-tips/) - [Vitamin D & Vitamin K2: How They Boost Each Other in the Body](https://achronicvoice.com/vitamin-d-vitamin-k2/) - [Dysphagia & Swallowing Problems (and How Oral Vitamin Sprays Can be of Help to You)](https://achronicvoice.com/dysphagia-oral-vitamin-sprays/) - [Oral Spray Vitamins: A Quick & Easy Way to Get Your Nutrients with Chronic Illness](https://achronicvoice.com/oral-spray-vitamins/) ### You mentioned that you did a lot of cooking while on the road. Why did you bother to do so, instead of spending your time checking out other places of interest? Our trip was very different from a vacation. Yes, we were traveling and away from home, but we were living for a whole year! We tried to mix it up between eating local food and cooking local food. And foreign supermarkets are actually “places of interest” for me and my husband! You can learn a lot about a place by seeing what people eat. ### How did you manage to accomplish this? We stayed in a lot of Airbnb apartments and hotels with kitchenettes. ![Chiang Rai, Thailand](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/chiang-rai-thailand-sarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Chiang Rai, Thailand ### What do you like to cook and what’s your best dish? I don’t cook it very often, but braised short ribs. Mmmmm. ### Anything you dislike cooking? I don’t bake. I don’t like cooking with recipes because it stresses me out! ### Why do you enjoy cooking? I don’t consider myself to be a very creative person, but I’ve found I can be creative in my cooking. Once I know enough about flavors and ingredients I can make up my own thing. ### You mentioned that you once participated in a Food Network cooking competition. That sounds pretty courageous! Would you like to share about that once in a lifetime experience with us? I entered a recipe on a whim and was surprised I got accepted. It was a whirlwind of a week. And even though I lost the competition, it was really cool to meet some amazing chefs and have them taste my food! ![Kanazawa, Japan](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/kanazawa-japan-sarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Kanazawa, Japan ### What are some kitchen equipment you can’t live without? I lived without everything this year and made do! But being home I remember how much I love my silicon spatulas. They’re so versatile and easy to use. ### Tips for newbie, lazy people who still want to try cooking every day (like me)? Cook individual ingredients in larger quantities so you can use them for multiple meals. For example, I’ve started baking a whole bunch of chicken in the oven and then I can use it in different things over the next few days. Read Related Posts: - [“It’s in My Blood”: Sarah Frison – A Pastry Chef with a Stomach Disorder](https://achronicvoice.com/sarah-frison-pastry-chef-stomach-disorder/) - [“It’s in My Blood”: Roy George – A Dramatic Life with a Short Bowel](https://achronicvoice.com/roy-george-dramatic-life-short-bowel/) - [Useful Home Resources I Never Knew Existed (and Learned About from Other Chronic Illness Blogs)](https://achronicvoice.com/chronic-illness-home-resources-learned-other-blogs/) - [Dangerous Gifts for People with Chronic Illnesses (and Gift Ideas to Swap Them With)](https://achronicvoice.com/dangerous-gifts-chronic-illness/) - [How to Maximise Accessibility & Improve Your Quality of Life at Home](https://achronicvoice.com/maximise-accessibility-home/) ![The 12 Apostles, Australia](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/the-12-apostles-sarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) The 12 Apostles, Australia ## More About Sarah's Passion for Photography ### Where did you learn photography from? Or, how did you get started? I really got more into photography through traveling. ### What about photography do you enjoy? I enjoy capturing memories. ### What’s your photography style like? I definitely try to keep things real. ### What are some of your favourite photography tools? Lightroom. ### Place you enjoyed documenting the most while on your travels? New Zealand. ![Lake Bled, Slovenia](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/lake-bled-slovenia-sarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Lake Bled, Slovenia ### Do you edit any of your photos? Why or why not? Yes, but most of the time, my goal is to keep things as close to what they looked like in real life. ### Photography blogs you find inspiring? Again, I’m Instagram obsessed when it comes to photography. ### Tips for budding photographers? As I tell my husband, don’t cut off people’s feet! ![Siem Reap, Cambodia](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/siem-reap-cambodia-sarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Siem Reap, Cambodia ### What camera and lenses did you use for your trip? Were they suitable? I use a Nikon D3200 camera. I only brought one lens with me because we would be traveling so much and because with the portable oxygen concentrator, we tried to keep everything else as light as possible. And I’m really quite an amateur photographer! The lens is a Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR. It’s quite versatile, and I only really missed my longer lens when we were in New Zealand shooting animals. ### Would you recommend them and is there any camera or lens you’d like to try out next? I’m quite comfortable with the camera and lens and would rather spend more time learning how to use them all better than getting something new. That said, I have an iPhone 5s, and while I like the size, the camera isn’t so great. If I had to get something new, I would get a phone with a better camera. It’s really nice to not have to carry the big camera around sometimes! ![Seoul, South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/seoul-south-korea-sarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Seoul, South Korea ![Luang Prabang, Laos](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/94/fe943d06-f105-4c71-af52-25403dcbb0b8/content/images/2025/08/luang-prabang-laos-sarah-poitras-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.jpg) Luang Prabang, Laos [Want to be featured too? Click here to sign up!](https://achronicvoice.com/its-in-my-blood-people-illnesses-talents/) ## Sign Up for My Free Newsletter Be the first to get the latest post updates in your inbox, and unlock the comments section. You will also receive an e-book full of uplifting messages, quotes and illustrations as a token of appreciation! [Browse more membership plans here](#/portal/), or [make a one-off donation](https://ghost.achronicvoice.com/#/portal/support) instead. Sign Up Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Read Related Posts: - [What’s it Like to Live with Invisible Illness in Singapore? (7 Locals Share Their Thoughts)](https://achronicvoice.com/invisible-illness-singapore-locals/) - [My Responses to “A Day in the Life” Linkup (What Does ‘Normal’ Even Mean?)](https://achronicvoice.com/a-day-in-the-life/) - [Invisible in Florence: Life with Chronic Illness in Italy](https://achronicvoice.com/invisible-florence-chronic-illness-italy/) - [January 2018: Reflections on My Refreshing Holiday in Australia](https://achronicvoice.com/reflections-refreshing-holiday-in-australia-january-2018/) - [March 2018: Sorting My Medications & a Hike Up Little Adam's Peak](https://achronicvoice.com/sorting-medications-hike-little-adams-peak-march-2018/) **Contributor Bio:** ![Sarah Poitras headshot](https://cdn.achronicvoice.com/profile-sarah-poitras.jpg) Sarah Poitras has a [rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis](https://www.thelamfoundation.org/) (LAM) and loves traveling with her husband, Justin. They recently completed a trip around (some of) the world where they ate absurdly well, saw glaciers and fjords and puffins and elephants, and raised LAM awareness. They have been documenting their journey and sharing travel tips for others with chronic illnesses at [ their blog “Travel Breathe Repeat”](https://www.travelbreatherepeat.com/). You can also find her on: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/spoitras9/) & [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/travelbreatherepeat/). ### Comments Archives: Comments imported from previous WordPress site. - Kevin Christopher Thomas Jun 8, 2019 I spent my 20’sand 30’s pounding the Americas alone. I kinda knew something was “off” with my body way back then, but I kept going. Diagnosed this past September with Ankylosing Spondylitis, thankful for a diagnosis, but unfortunately 20 years late. Reading your journey sparked a flame I thought long gone, travel. Raising a teen nephew and may do one adventure trip with him, a little concerned about my occasional sudden onset fatigue and flares, but I’m planning anyway. Thank you for sharing. - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Jun 9, 2019 Hi Kevin, that sounds like it was a fantastic time with beautiful memories. I too remember backpacking across Asia and Europe, with something ‘off’ (a mitral valve prolapse). I’m sorry you were undiagnosed for a whole 20 years…that must have been tormenting. Also glad this post on Sarah sparked a flame! I definitely desire to travel more, but finances are an issue these days, with the inability to work like before. I hope your nephew and you can do a nice little trip together, wherever that may be. Those are definitely the best sort of memories, too 🙂 - Kathy Oct 6, 2017 I loved seeing a bit of the world through your camera lens! - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Oct 6, 2017 Sometimes armchair travelling can be fun, too! 🙂 - [ Lisa Ehrman ](https://chronicallycontent.com) Sep 27, 2017 Wow! I could never do that! I never make it out of my house. - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Sep 27, 2017 I think it’s an inspiring journey, too! But yes we all have different journeys that are equally as exciting! 😀 - Ava Meena Sep 26, 2017 This is such an inspiring journey! I wish I had the guts and money to do what you did. Your photos are lovely! - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Sep 26, 2017 I think so too! More inspiration to come. Take care Ava! **Start a new conversation in the Member Comments below!**