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❤️ Kudoboard for Raquel
🏡 Instructions for Visitors
09/29/26 – from Raquel
I have 3 cardiac stents already. But my heart is still struggling. So now my medical team is recommending a double bypass operation (CABG) to graft two new arteries onto my heart. It was difficult to hear this news. It is an intense surgery with an arduous recovery, and I am debating whether I want to undergo it.
09/21/26 – from Raquel
I am sad to report that I was hospitalized twice in the past 3 weeks for heart failure. There is a problem with one of my cardiac stents. It was repaired with a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using the new shockwave technology on Aug 26. Then I needed the exact same surgery again on Sept 21.
08/05/26 – from Raquel
I am sorry for the radio silence. I have become very ill.
But yesterday was one of the most memorable days of my entire life: there was a special event in honor of my work in the ketamine field (and the broader psychedelics movement). The event had several components: Justin Drobinski made a video about KRIYA Conference and my professional life; then I gave a lecture with reflections on the ketamine field and frameworks for the future; then Dr. Jason Wallach made a very special announcement; then we had a celebratory reception. Izzy Ali was the emcee for this lovely event. It felt really good to finally say some things that I have been wanting to say for awhile!
Everything was video recorded, and the videos are in editing now. We will post them for you here as soon as they are ready.
10/23/25 – from Raquel
Some folks have asked if they could receive an alert when there is an update to this page? I’m not able to coordinate that at this time, but there an easy solution: Visualping. It is a simple and free tool that will automatically detect updates to this page and send you an email.
9/27/25 (reorganized on 10/08/26) – from Raquel
Hello friends and colleagues. I have some difficult news to share: I have become seriously ill. I have been diagnosed with Stiff Heart Syndrome, which is a cardio-metabolic disease which affects the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, skeletal muscles, immune system, and mitochondria. As a result of this, I have had multiple major cardiac events, including a STEMI heart attack in 2024, and I am currently in Heart Failure (class III). I am now receiving a great deal of medical care from a multi-disciplinary team.
This condition was caused by an unfortunate convergence of genetic and environmental factors: I tested positive for a genetic mutation that causes Familial Hypercholesterolemia (disorder of lipid metabolism), and I had exposure as a young adult to a medication which causes Metabolic Shift. (Note that manufacturer, Eli Lilly, lied to the FDA about this known outcome.)
I have slowed down a great deal as a result of my ill health. I am in the process of retiring from my career as a Ketamine Consultant. It has brought me a great deal of joy to serve in this way. I feel a lot of sadness about this change.
My friends and I have started a Kudoboard for me. We would like to invite all of my friends, colleagues, and students to make posts there. I enjoy seeing people’s faces (also cats and/or gardens), so feel free to include a photo of yourself or us together. I would love to be reminded of how we met, the adventures that we had together, or how my teachings influenced your work. This is a lovely moment to reflect on my career and relationships. Also here is some info about visiting me at home.
Please bookmark this page and check back in the future. My friends and I are planning to post updates here as needed.