Exposed.

For me, life has always been about putting it all out there. My illness pulled me back before I even knew it was. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2002 after three consecutive surgeries for endometriosis, I now realize I probably battled this syndrome since adolescence.  Up until last year, I was definitely losing that battle. Thankfully, I have been able to find my expression again. In my life before fibro; I was a theater professional, I sang and played guitar, my favorite way to work with clay was on the potters wheel, and I used my MS in early childhood ed in blissful classrooms of walking inspirations. For a time, my illness took all of these things away from me. This sculpture was one of the first pieces I did after I started getting adequate care. At the time, I finally felt like I was not only being seen clearly by friends, family,and physicians but also at long last, making myself heard. My reaction to the societal misconceptions of fibromyalgia and chronic pain in general, was to hide and retreat. Somehow, despite myself, my will pushed me forward and helped me find people who understood. People who knew how to help with the sometimes overwhelming job all chronic pain sufferers share, to live, love and find joy in the things that sustained us before we were blindsided

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