City & state: Fremont, California
Age: 41
Pain warrior role: U.S. Pain advocate since 2018
What type of health conditions you live with: Chronic migraine disease, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency (caused Cushing’s disease), trigeminal neuralgia, IBS, and IBD.
What is your favorite tip for others with chronic pain: “I cope by advocating. Talking about my experiences and connecting with others that have just begun navigating some of the hurdles I’ve overcome helps me feel like I’m giving back.”
On July 10, U.S. Pain Foundation took its INvisible Project: Migraine Edition displays to Sacramento, CA, for an educational event at the state capitol building. The INvisible Project is a print magazine and traveling display that highlights the stories of real pain warriors. By bringing these stories to state capitols, the hope is to educate lawmakers about the challenges of living with chronic pain. Prior to California, the tour visited Providence, RI; more locations will be announced soon.
You are invited to connect with legislators and fellow pain warriors–and help create awareness around the issue of chronic pain, especially migraine disease–during our July 10 INvisible Project event at the California state house!
The INvisible Project is a print magazine and traveling display that highlights the stories of real people with pain. This year, we’re bringing the displays from our most recent edition on migraine disease to state houses across the country.
On May 21, U.S. Pain Foundation held the first stop of its INvisible Project state house tour at the state capitol in Providence, Rhode Island.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nicole Hemmenway at nicole@invisibleproject.org
Middletown, CT (June 1, 2019)– In time for Migraine & Headache Awareness Month, U.S. Pain Foundation has released its third edition of the INvisible Project focusing on headache and migraine diseases. The publication depicts the reality of life with pain, and why people living with headaches diseases need and deserve more help, treatment options, and research. It also serves as an inspiration to those living with the disease, offering hope and resources.
Earlier last month, U.S. Pain Foundation published its 12th edition of the INvisible Project, the pediatric second edition. The issue features the stories and photos of 10 children living with painful conditions ranging from spina bifida to complex regional pain syndrome. It is the fourth and final edition to be published this year. The magazine was released in conjunction with the first-ever pediatric pain retreat, held Nov. 9 through 11.
MIDDLETOWN, CONN. (Sept. 24, 2018)—This month sees the release of U.S. Pain’s latest issue of the INvisible Project, the only magazine of its kind dedicated to the sharing the stories of people living with pain. This issue focuses on osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain, two of the most common causes of chronic pain, which affects as many as 100 million American adults. Due to that focus, this issue hopes to resonate with a record number of people.
While National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month (MHAM) wrapped up in June, U.S. Pain Foundation is continuing to raise awareness through its traveling display of the INvisible Project: Migraine second edition. Below is a photo recap of June and the ongoing efforts to bring about change for people living with headache and migraine disease.
End of May
The INvisible Project: Migraine second edition was released in time for MHAM.
Members of the pain warrior community came together June 2 for U.S. Pain’s third annual “Real Hope, Real Heroes” gala in Scottsdale, AZ. This year’s event specifically honored participants in the migraine and rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease editions of the INvisible Project.
Guests were surprised with a special appearance from Karen Duffy, an actress, TV personality and model best known for her work as an MTV video jockey in the 1990s and from roles in hit movies like “Blank Check,” “Reality Bites,” and “Dumb and Dumber.” Duffy lives with chronic pain as the result of sarcoidosis, a rare disease that impacts the brain and central nervous system. She has become an advocate for the chronic pain community and is the author of two books, including “Backbone: Living with Chronic Pain without Turning into One.”