Founded in 2002, For Grace is inspired by the true-life story of our founder and spokesperson, Cynthia Toussaint.  A former ballerina, Ms. Toussaint has suffered, after a ballet injury, with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome for 28 years.  She now has fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as over-lapping conditions.

Today, from her wheelchair, Ms. Toussaint champions awareness of the gender bias toward women in pain worldwide. Since her CRPS diagnosis in 1995, she has been active in the arenas of public speaking, mass media (TV, newspaper, magazine, radio, Internet) and political advocacy for those who do not have a voice. She was the impetus behind the New York Times and Los Angeles Times first articles detailing her disease.  Also, she spearheaded the first-ever California Senate informational hearings about CRPS and the gender disparity toward women who experience pain.

Ms. Toussaint has been featured on ABC World News NOW, NBC’s The Patient Channel, PBS, Discovery Health, The Learning Channel, Home and Health Worldwide and in AARP The Magazine, Newsweek, Woman’s Day, AOL.com and Maria Shriver’s Women’s Conference website, among others.

Also, Ms. Toussaint is the author of her upcoming memoir, Battle for Grace, slated for release in early 2011. 

Note: Ms. Toussaint is currently in her second partial CRPS remission (first in 25 years!)  Read how it happened.

Her 30-year partner and caregiver, John Garrett, also assumes a leadership role in the organization.  It is their shared passion to place the plight of women in pain and their caregivers in mainstream consciousness that provides the backbone and spirit of For Grace.

Shortly before chronic pain touched my life, my mother did this pen and ink drawing. I immediately fell in love with its shapes and lines and I knew it would become important in my life. It’s perfect, soulful beauty spoke to me—lyrical etchings swirling like a ballerina’s movement.

I knew she was “Grace.” My mother’s sister died years ago, long before I was born. Those who knew her always compared us. Our long legs and fair skin, our temperament and love of music. We spoke through the piano often as I keyed her faded notes off the sheet music.

I was told Grace’s passing came too early and with too much pain. She was only twenty years old, a life of promise quieted long before its blossom. I thought her an angel, pure and simple.

John and I always dreamed of having a little girl and naming her after my sweet Aunt. Our own simple and pure angel, filling our lives with light and love…

Slowly, after years of chronic pain heartbreak, I realized Grace and I shared more than others had thought. Life did not grace us with a primrose path or the warm hue of blessed destiny. But we were given greater gifts…

Strength, determination, compassion and courage.

For Grace is named for the child John and I will never have. And for all the Grace’s that will be born to other women in pain who can have children once they’re diagnosed early, treated and cured.

And my mother’s drawing. It now speaks to me in different ways. The butterfly tells of hope and rebirth, the woman for our graces now and forever.

Aunt Grace would have liked that…and she pushes me on.