October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month remains near and dear as our Founder Cynthia Toussaint closes in on her fifth year of remission from Triple Negative breast cancer and her recurrence. That's tremendous - and there's more good news! Chronic pain is increasingly being acknowledged as a relevant part of the breast cancer experience (Cynthia's pain remains worse due to treatment!) in research and media. Ahead of this curve, For Grace took a groundbreaking look at this connection at our 10th Annual Women In Pain Conference in 2021.
When it comes to pain, there's nothing better than a great comeback story - and for our October Story of the Month we keep our 2026 theme rolling along. Natalie Rivan's training as a police officer conditioned her to push through most everything, including pain, until she no longer could. She spent the next years searching for the reason her pain persisted, eventually discovering that her over-reactive nervous system was the driver. Natalie was able to move on to a complete recovery through neuroplasticity and now leads others on their healing journeys.
Going through the day-to-day rigors of chronic pain can be isolating as only those dealing with it really understand. That's why "insiders" need to speak out and tell it like it is. That's been the mission of For Grace's Women In Pain Nation Campaign - and apparently we're hitting the mark as viewership is up 20 fold since our launch in Spring 2024. Through our "Thoughts of the Day" and "Partners In Pain" caregiver series, Women In Pain Nation spotlights the real life experience of chronic pain, providing compassion and comfort during the toughest of times.
With excitement and bountiful hope, today For Grace launches Leona’s Legacy—the most meaningful and personal project in our 25-year history. Inspired by our founder’s mother, who passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, this trailblazing, ever-expanding initiative will examine the intersection of chronic pain and dementia, promote brain health, and work to halt elder abuse. At the site, you’ll find resources, personal stories, and much more, along with the inspiration that sparked this momentous effort—one dedicated to preserving the dignity of an aging population increasingly vulnerable to pain and dementia.“My mother adored everything we did at For Grace, named for her beloved sister. It’s time we honor the strongest, most loving woman I’ve ever known—a woman who, despite her true benevolence, was victimized when she was most vulnerable by those she loved,” shares For Grace founder Cynthia Toussaint. Welcome to Leona’s Legacy.
