Check out For Grace's February Story of the Month as we kick off this year's focus on chronic pain and social isolation. As part one of a two part story, woman in pain Kathleen Sutherland shares how chronic pain has kept her mainly inside her home for the last decade. Surprisingly, COVID has proven to be a social boon for Kathleen as many get-togethers are now online, which eases her pain of being cut-off. Also, she has made important connections through spirituality, discovering purpose by praying for others in crisis or need. With that new found community, Kathleen comfortingly concludes part one by sharing, "You are never alone. You are never not loved."

For Grace leaders John Garrett and Cynthia Toussaint have teamed with a video/film editor to craft a sizzle reel - with the aim of procuring underwriting for a streaming series they'll produce and host. Dove-tailing off their successful three-year live stream series that highlighted the connection between pain and trauma, the sizzle will, through video clips, pictures and words, tell the transformative arc of their story along with the need for this groundbreaking series.

State Senator Maria Elena Durazo is once again taking the reins on a resolution which will proclaim September as Pain Awareness Month and September 1st as Women In Pain Awareness Day in California. This will be For Grace's 21st year sponsoring this resolution that will bring crucial awareness and education to lawmakers about the need for early diagnosis, quality pain treatment and the gender bias toward women in their pain care. We extend a heartfelt thank you to the Senator and staffer Fernando Rameriz for again taking the lead on this all-important effort!

In May 2023, the US Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy, issued a stark advisory that isolation and loneliness are a public health epidemic as damaging to Americans as smoking and obesity. Sadly, this devastating duo impacts the Women In Pain community far more than others as they often negatively complicate the chronic pain experience. If you're a Women In Pain who's impacted by accompanying isolation and/or loneliness, please write and share your story with us as we look forward to spotlighting this critical issue through various For Grace projects in 2024.