iPain Living Winter 2020

Daniel was chronically underweight and
sickly; he initially blamed his hard-
partying lifestyle. Daniel wound up in
hospital with 108 T cells and weighing
110 pounds. The news he had avoided for
years was now there in black and white.
He had the frighteningly real diagnosis of
AIDS. “Oddly enough, as a kid, I never
saw me going past thirty years old. I al-
ways thought I would die at thirty.” In one
way, a call to action, launching his long career as an activist and edu-
cator. In another way, it gave him the excuse to continue to use. His
parents and family, who had begun to come around to his being gay,
were ill-prepared for an AIDS diagnosis. Daniel found himself lacking
the adequate knowledge and tools to allay their fears. He got involved
with HIV advocacy and outreach, learning as he went along. He ended
up volunteering at an agency where he himself had gone to learn about
his disease. Daniel is now an activist and an HIV Outreach Ambassa-
dor. Ironically, he went back to college and studied to be a drug and
alcohol counselor while still using himself. He sobered up and in 2009
moved to California, where he still resides and is busier than ever
making a difference. He shares his story with students, from junior
high all the way to those doing graduate work in medicine, on their
way to becoming the next generation of physicians.

Megan has a Master of Arts Grad in
2015 with a concentration in Digital
Multimedia Journalism. She is a pas-
sionate writer and reporter and free-
lance travel blogger. Her experience
is in journalism, marketing, promo-
tions, videography, and public rela-
tions. Her main area of publication is
at large coverage of Denville Town-
ship, Mountain Lakes, Boonton, and
Rockaway Township of New Jersey. Responsibilities include
township council and board of education meeting coverage in New
Jersey. Megan’s Health Articles have appeared in The Citizen,
Roxbury Register, Observer Tribune, Randolph Reporter, iPain
Living Magazine and Morris News Bee. Now Megan is the Execu-
tive Editor for My Paper Online. In the past she has hosted a fund-
raiser for iPain through the PAmily and All Access Abdul Podcast.
Earlier this year Megan wrote cover story for iPain Living Maga-
zine on Paula Abdul. Some of her other articles on health and pain
include Wellness Fair Smooths Feelings at Mountain Lakes High
School Oct. 2018 edition of The Citizen Newspaper, Traumatic
Brain Injury leads Morristown Man to new life. Appeared in Mor-
ris News Bee, Father's Day bike ride to raise money for their
neighbor who had ALS.

International Pain Foundation—51

Teresa is an advocate for Multiple
Sclerosis and Heart Disease. She
engages her community by distrib-
uting pertinent information and
sharing her story. She is spreading
her message of hope. Teresa truly
believes that where there is life,
there is hope. She recognizes the
devastation that chronic illness and
chronic pain has on a person's life,
and she is committed to embolden-
ing others to speak their truth. Tere-
sa serves on multiple local execu-
tive boards such as the American
Heart Association and the NAACP. Also, to committees such
as iConquerMS. A writer, speaker, columnist and poet, Teresa
knows that every voice matters and that glory resides in every
story. You can read Teresa's work on her website and her col-
umn for MS News Today titled Patiently Awakened and iPain
Living Magazine. Teresa is now working on publishing her
poetry, memoir and children's book. She enjoys reading, writ-
ing and spending time with her husband and family.

John, along with his 37-
year life partner Cynthia
Toussaint, is dedicated to
promoting better care and
wellness for women chal-
lenged by chronic pain
through For Grace, a non-
profit organization. He is
deeply dedicated to improving the care and
wellness of women challenged by chronic pain.
Assisting in all aspects of media relations and
public advocacy about chronic pain awareness
and education as well as the pain gender divide
issue. His work focuses on speech presentation,
grant writing, research, media outreach, and
event planning. He is also a public speaker,
content development, project development and
branding strategies.

52—iPain Living Magazine