For the most part, life is made up of a series of "natural" steps - going to school, finding a career, starting a family, on and on. But what happens when you develop chronic pain so severe and disruptive it throws you out of the flow of life? How do you adjust and what can you do to get back on track? Women In Pain Nation leaders Cynthia Toussaint and John Garrett interview mother-daughter team, Glenna McPartland and Christine King, for a "Partners In Pain" panel that dives into the ins and out of losing step due to pain and how to reconnect with life force.
Comeback stories of renewal and redemption from the depths of the chronic pain experience is this year's Story of the Month theme - and we kick it off with an account filled with inspiration. At age 45, Mary Ruth Velicki had a full life, complete with family and a successful career. Then pelvic pain struck and her world came crashing down. Instead of giving up, Mary Ruth took control of her healing which included confronting long repressed traumas. Now pain free, she is once again whole and back on track authoring a book series to encourage others to fight on!
Having championed a pain awareness month resolution for 22 years in California, our 23rd finds itself without an author. But Team For Grace has been there, done that and we're not going to throw in the towel now. Recently, we were informed by Assembly Member Nick Schultz's office they need to decline for a repeat in 2026, so we're burning up the phone lines to Sacramento in hopes of ID'ing a legislator who'll take the lead on this effort that brings needed awareness of the plight of millions challenged by daily, persistent pain. Please send positive mojo!
Acute pain is something everyone on the planet will experience at one time or another, as it's the body's alarm system that tells us about injury, infection or disease. Indeed, we wouldn't survive long without it. But when acute pain ignites, it needs to be addressed to prevent it from becoming something worse. Team For Grace rolls into 2026 with a new project, our Acute Pain Awareness & Education Campaign, that provides resources, tools and real-life stories to help you make a plan of action when, not if, the acute pain alarm sounds. Let's stop the pain!
