Check out For Grace founder Cynthia Toussaint's most recent "The Fire Within" blog post where she shares a bittersweet remembrance of her mother, her hero, who recently passed. Revised from a presentation given at her church on Mother's Day, Cynthia writes about her beloved mom who forever shared a generous brand of light and love despite her many misfortunes and traumas, a mother who fought fiercely alongside her daughter who took on a cruel, misogynistic healthcare system that labeled her pain problem as all in her head. And in a moving story about 9/11, Cynthia brings us close to a woman who rocked hope in the darkest of times, who's love will forever push her daughter forward. Here's a link to this heart-tugging post.

For Grace's 22nd year of proclaiming September as Pain Awareness Month and September 1st as Women In Pain Awareness Day in California is marked with change! Taking over the reigns as author is Assemblymember Nick Schultz, a first term legislator out of the San Fernando Valley. Earlier this year we announced Senator Sasha Perez heading this effort, but she had to step aside due to her district being impacted by the recent wildfires. A big THANK YOU to Assemblymember Schultz and staffer Jim Metropulos for your care in the 11th hour to bring the plight of Californians with chronic pain to policy makers and legislative leadership.

Check out For Grace's extra special May Story of the Month as we take a look at the intersection between chronic pain caregiving and social isolation. Anthony Rosario has been a 30-year caregiver for his wife Pattie who's challenged with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Anthony provides intimate insight into the hardships that come with pain support, with lack of understanding from family and friends topping the list. Still, he wouldn't have it any other way. "I will always be there for my wife, because love and perseverance are the only constants..."

During an extraordinarily challenging time for our founder due to loss and grief, For Grace has been blessed to collaborate with fellow advocacy organizations in an admirable display of pain community unity. While we seek compelling stories for our Share Your Story Project that highlight the interconnection between chronic pain and social isolation, the American Chronic Pain Association and US Pain Foundation have reached out to encourage membership to submit stories. We send thanks to US Pain and ACPA for stepping up while the chips are down!