Our November story features Dr. Shannon Stocker who has seen the Women In Pain experience from both sides of healthcare. As a medical student, Shannon witnessed doctors deriding women with ongoing pain complaints as "train wrecks." Then as a CRPS sufferer who went years without a diagnosis, she was told by a neurologist her pain was "psychogenic." With the help of a devoted husband, Shannon fights on telling other women in pain to "never give up."

On Sunday we learned with heavy heart that Founding Board Member Dick Freed passed away from natural causes. Dick contributed to every facet of For Grace - and was indefatigable with ideas and actions to help women in pain. He was Cynthia's meticulous editor, forever laboring over every word and theme.  At For Grace we heard from Dick almost daily and it wasn't unusual for John and Cynthia to share a three-to-four hour workday with him. We are forever indebted to Dick for his never-ending care and love. Mostly, we just miss him. As Dick ended every conversation, "Bless us all."

For Grace's Change Agent Pain Summit: Part One was a great success, far exceeding our expectations. People in pain and their caregivers were heard loud and clear - and their barriers to care and solutions will be embedded in our efforts to implement the NIH's National Pain Strategy in California. Catch the magic of the day by watching our webcast archive on For Grace's website,  viewing photos with detailed captions on Flickr and enjoying our wonderful day's highlight reel on YouTube.

For Grace founder Cynthia Toussaint doesn't like it when others get in the way of pain care. In a recent Pain News Network article, she supports a boycott of CVS and their new policy to restrict opioid prescriptions. Cynthia also takes issue with other pain advocacy organizations as For Grace stands alone in this action that defends pain patients. Link here to read this provocative piece.