Living with Pain
Unlike most kids who get to live a normal childhood, kids suffering with chronic
pain are confined in a box, unable to fathom why this would ever happen to them.
My name is Tess, and I have suffered with New Daily Persistent Headache for 3 years. For the next two years I missed over 75 days of school and had to stop all extracurricular activities, including my passion for tennis. My story happened just like many other kids. I first had a sinus infection and then a debilitating headache appeared out of nowhere and never went away. From endless doctors appointments to medical tests and hospital stays, I have been through it all.
Fast forward to September 2019 and I am in my sophomore year of high school and back to school and tennis full time. I have not missed a day so far and am the #1 player for the Varsity tennis team at my school – and won MVP this year.
Although I still suffer with a 24/7 headache and have had other health setbacks, I am able to function and be a regular teenager. From going to Friday night football games to dancing with my friends at homecoming, I am proud and grateful of the progress I have made to be in this position. I created Stronger Than Pain to help other kids suffering with chronic pain – to know there is a way to enjoy life and not let pain control you.
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Read Tess' Poem to Her Pain
our MISSION & VISION
I started Stronger Than Pain (STP) to share my experience with kids and teens struggling with chronic pain with the hope that they, too, could regain control over their pain and find a way to enjoy life. I know that if there was a site such as this during my initial period of diagnosis, it would have been impactful and motivational for me.
I will share my own experience dealing and combatting pain. These consists of techniques I learned from Cleveland Clinic and University of California San Francisco Pediatric Pain management programs. Additionally, I hope to have specialist doctors and experts in pediatric pain management share their knowledge and experience of conditions, new treatments and management techniques on this site.
Finally, I hope to have this site serve as a social site that allows kids and teens to connect with each other, so that they know they are not alone in fighting this invisible disease.
