Dear Chronic Pain Partners Community,

As we approach the end of the year, we find ourselves reflecting on a season of growth, change, and deep gratitude. This year also brought profound loss. Our founder, John Ferman, whose dedication shaped Chronic Pain Partners from the very beginning, passed away a few weeks ago. John built this organization on compassion, community, and a belief that people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and chronic illnesses deserve access to reliable information and support. His legacy continues to guide every step we take, and we remain committed to carrying his vision forward.

Despite this difficult moment, our team has accomplished more than ever. In May, our newsletter celebrated its fourth anniversary—growing from a simple collection of EDS news into a bimonthly publication that now reaches more than 13,000 readers worldwide. With over 150 original articles and 40 issues, our newsletter has become a trusted resource on EDS, comorbidities, research updates, and personal stories. 

Our documentary film projects have also flourished. Lego Oma has been selected for 23 international festivals, earning awards and recognition while generating income to support our work. Proud Stutter and our newest short documentary, Much More Than That, continue to reach audiences around the world and bring visibility to disability and chronic illness experiences.

Thanks to our funders and your donations, we have maintained a strong team—including two professional writers, Kate and Jacqueline, two podcast hosts, Marcia and Cassandra, and a committed social media manager, Jan, who all work under the leadership of editor-in-chief Karina and CPP founder Deanna—for the first time in our history. 

We also began a major upgrade of the Chronic Pain Partners' website, enhancing content organization, modernizing design, improving search visibility, and ensuring that every page meets better accessibility standards. 

If our work has informed, supported, or encouraged you, we hope you will consider making a year-end donation. Your contribution directly sustains our journalism, films, accessibility initiatives, and community programs—allowing us to continue John’s legacy and expand our impact.

DONATE HERE

From all of us at Chronic Pain Partners, we wish you a peaceful holiday season and a gentle start into the new year. Thank you for being part of this community—and for helping us continue to uplift, inform, and empower people with EDS and chronic illnesses around the world.

With gratitude,
The Chronic Pain Partners Team 

Shopping for someone with chronic illness or chronic pain can feel weirdly high stakes.
Should you get something comforting?
Something fun?
Something practical?
Something that has nothing to do with their medical life at all?

The answer: Yes to all of that.

This guide mixes comfort items, purely-for-fun treats, and practical helpers that can make life a little easier. Use what fits your person and leave the rest.

Author and EDS advocate Christie Cox, who spent years supporting the mission of Chronic Pain Partners as a volunteer and member of our media team, is extending an early pre-release offer of her upcoming ebook, Connection Rx, to the EDS community in honor of the late John Ferman and the many connections he helped foster to build a vibrant community and help people establish support groups everywhere. 

Connection Rx is rooted in the lived experience of countless patients navigating EDS, dysautonomia, MCAS, and other complex chronic illnesses. It explores how isolation can take hold, how social health in addition to physical and mental health influences healing, and how meaningful relationships can be rebuilt even in the hardest times. Designed specifically for chronically ill patients, the ebook provides practical tools, emotional validation, and strategies for creating connection in a world that often overlooks invisible illness. All donors to Chronic Pain Partners will receive a free copy of the book as a thank you before it becomes available through retail outlets, and the ebook will be available only for a limited time accessible to anyone who needs, regardless of resources. 

Those who wish to support Chronic Pain Partners’ small-but-mighty patient-led media team can donate here: DONATE. 

Every contribution helps carry forward John’s legacy of community, education, and connection for zebras everywhere.

Download your free copy here: 

Connection Rx