Hey Reader,

Sometimes a picture captures a wonderful moment but misses everything it took to get there. That was certainly true in Las Vegas.

In this edition, I’m sharing the difficult hours behind one very happy photo, the people who helped me rally when I wasn’t sure I could, and the perfectly timed reminder that gave me exactly the medicine I needed: Never Give Up.

---

What's Inside

• The Vegas Breakdown Nobody Saw
• A Fortune Cookie Changed Everything
• The Adventures Ahead Are Huge
• Wait Until You See This Menu

---

The Vegas Breakdown Nobody Saw

Here I am on stage at the Plant-Powered Party in Las Vegas with Chef AJ and friends. It was a fantastic weekend of hope and healing and optimism.


It was 4:30 p.m. Saturday when this photo was taken, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Not even close.

Here’s the part that no one saw.

I was alone in my hotel room for hours before the panel I was to moderate with the A-Team of doctors at Lifestyle Telemedicine. My stomach was in shambles, my brain was on another planet, my anxiety was through the roof, and tears were streaming uncontrollably down my face.

All of my progress. How far I’ve come… I thought I was right back where I started before the big surgery earlier this year. How did it all come crashing down so quickly?

Truthfully, I hadn’t been feeling well before coming out west. Perhaps it was travel anxiety or just knowing that my usual daily routine would be upended.

All of this was weighing heavily on my mind. Why was I backsliding? Especially here at the Plant-Powered Party, which was supposed to be another big step forward in my recovery.

God help me, but I was wondering whether I was going to have to hide being sick all over again.

I want this story to have a happy ending, not just for me, but for the countless people who have been praying for me and become invested in the journey. But most of all, I want to succeed for those who are struggling themselves. I want to prove that there is always a way forward and that we should never give up. That’s a responsibility I take seriously.

And there would be no quit in Las Vegas. There would be no letdowns on this day.

Thanks to a very long conversation with my wife, Julie, who calmed me down, and support from my dear friend Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, I rallied once more.

Teamwork got the job done.

So, after staying in bed until 2 p.m., it was go time. We rose to the occasion and had a fantastic panel conversation with the good doctors.

I don’t have super recovery powers, but it helped immensely to be reminded again that I was still early in the healing process. Five months may seem like a long time, but in the post-op recovery world, it’s just the blink of an eye.

Oh, by the way… you’ve also flown across the country, and you’re in a completely different time zone. Your body is going through a lot, ding-dong!

The next morning was definitely better, and life and recovery rolled on. And for that, I’m incredibly grateful.

My response when people ask me how I’m feeling is usually 70-75% better than pre-surgery. Unfortunately, this day was the 25-30% that isn’t so pleasant still.

I didn’t let anyone other than Will and Julie know how badly I was struggling. Unfortunately, this meant declining a once in a lifetime invitation to go dancing with Dr. B, Carleigh and Toni on the Vegas Strip — a regret that will no doubt haunt me!

But this was still a party weekend, after all, and everybody should have a bright smile on their face.

It turns out that having everyone in such a celebratory mood would be super-deluxe important.

---

Never Give Up

Another secret weapon in my recovery? You.

The kindness in your hearts is overwhelming at times in the best of ways.

A Exam Roomie — now new friend — by the name of Vi stopped me shortly after I arrived in Las Vegas. She was so excited!

Now, I may be misremembering slightly because of how impactful her kind gesture was. But as I’d like to remember it, she came up, gave me a great big hug, and said, “Hi, I'm Vi and I have something for you.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out a fortune from a fortune cookie.

Its message?

Never give up!

Too perfect! Little did she know that just one day later, that small white strip of paper with nondescript black lettering would prove to be the perfect medicine.

I needed that reminder. I needed a boost to get me back in gear. I needed the same nudge I give people who ask for advice about perseverance — if you’re drawing breath, you have the opportunity to get better.

It may not always be easy. It rarely is, as a matter of fact. But the journey is also the most rewarding one you will ever take. This voyage is your opportunity to prove to yourself how strong you actually are, even when you feel your weakest.

In short, even if you drive a Tesla, you’ll often find there’s still gas left in your tank when you feel like you’re running on E.

It’s kind of like that Seinfeld episode where Kramer and the used-car salesman test this very theory. (Great show, BTW!)

---

What's Ahead

Now I get to hang out with my friends from Mavy Wellness, Maxime Sigouin and Ivy Teves-Sigouin, at their fitness retreat this week. Luckily, that’s also in Vegas, so there’s no extra travel.

Plus, I love the weather here. I could see myself being very happy in a consistently warm (okay, HOT) climate. The mountains surrounding the city are also so peaceful to me.

I loved waking up this morning and seeing the sunrise over the range. It was a reminder of how much beauty there is in the world.

West Virginia is also gorgeous in the fall, and I can’t wait for Brenda Workman’s Wellness Weekend on October 9–10. My good friends Cyrus Khambatta, Ph.D., and Kylie Buckner, RN, from Evolution Health will be joining us this year.

It’s two days of maximum health during peak leaf-peeping season in the mountains.

And then in 2027… I have two HUGE events coming up in Utopia, Texas (March 18–22), and Lake City, Michigan (Sept. 7–11). Dr. Michael Greger, Kip Andersen from What the Health, Cyrus and Kylie, and so many others will be joining us at the Vegan Wellness Retreats for a bunch of fun!

Kip will also be holding the world premiere of his new documentary at the Michigan event!

You better believe that I’m going to be taking advantage of the zip lines and rope swings over the lake! Let’s gooooooooo!

But can we talk about the menu?!

100% whole-food, plant-based. Oil-free. Refined-sugar-free. Fruit at every meal. And we buy certified organic wherever it physically exists—which typically puts more than 90% of everything served at the retreat in the organic column.

ORDER TICKETS 🙂

Save $100 with the code CHUCK

---

Inspiration

These words are powerful. They were written by a brilliant children’s author named Kevin Henkes. Sometimes the simplest messages are the best ones.

Thank you, Kevin!

---

Wrapping Up

Thank you again to everyone who has helped buoy my spirits. I love and appreciate your messages more than you will ever know.

If there is someone in your life who is struggling, please know that a warm hug and a kind word go a long way. They can be the spark that ignites new life in a weary body. Thus, you are powerful medicine for the world.

Never give up,