As you may know, For Grace keyed on the connection between chronic pain and loneliness/social isolation for our ongoing Share Your Stories project in 2024 - and we extend our deep gratitude to those who poured their hearts out for us. Because your inspiring stories resonated so deeply with our community, we'll be focusing once again on this theme in the New Year, and are seeking additional stories to spotlight. We hope you'll contribute to this powerful campaign with your unique telling by linking here. Thank you in advance for helping women in pain feel less alone!  

This year we've been focusing on stories that connect chronic pain and social isolation - and so it is with our November Story of the Month. After losing her mom at 14, then later losing twins to heart complications, Demeshia Montgomery found herself alone and a "hot mess." Soon thereafter she noticed a serious skin condition that, after years of misdiagnosis, was eventually dx'd as scleroderma. Despite partial amputations and "indescribable" pain, Demeshia found herself unable to attain proven pain relief due to the opioid crisis. Finding better health through self-care and a cause to fight for, Demeshia now advocates for those who need opioids for daily functioning.

Recently For Grace leaders John Garrett and Cynthia Toussaint spent a wonderful day with Board Member Dr. Jane Goodall celebrating her 90th birthday at her Los Angeles Peace Day event. A UN Messenger for Peace, Jane was in town to promote her ongoing Roots & Shoots youth program along with her Vote for Nature movement that encourages all to vote for leaders who support protecting the natural world. Jane continues to find her greatest hope in those who persevere despite great physical challenge - and that includes women in pain throughout the world.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a cause that is near and dear to Team For Grace as our founder Cynthia Toussaint has been fighting Triple Negative Breast Cancer since 2020. In the same vein of her work to highlight healthcare's failing of women in pain, Cynthia sees many breast cancer patients plagued with over-treatment, lack of individualized care and not having a voice in their treatment. As such, she collaborated on Healing and Cancer, a book that promotes whole person care for better outcomes. To help highlight the book, Cynthia will be speaking with its co-author, Dr. Alyssa McManamon, on an upcoming Women In Pain Nation Hot Take interview.