2014 May 28 PR NFMCPA Applauds New Book Why Does Mommy Hurt
First Children's Book for Kids Who Have Parents with Chronic Pain, “Why Does Mommy Hurt?”
Living with chronic pain is hard enough, but how do you explain it to your kids?
LOGAN, Utah--(28 May 2014)--The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association applauds Elizabeth Christy for recognizing the need for explaining pain to children. "Why Does Mommy Hurt" will raise awareness that families are also affected by chronic pain illnesses.
Two years ago, a young mother had a problem. Her son was beginning to ask questions like “why does mommy hurt?” and she didn’t have the tools to explain her illness to her two-year old… and neither did the library...or Amazon.com...or, apparently, anyone else! She was shocked and disappointed to find nothing on the market written for the children of people suffering from chronic pain, and “ invisible illness” and the most common health problem in the world today. So, she decided to write one herself!
“This book will help millions!”
-Jan Chambers, President of the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association
“This is a beautifully illustrated book which helps children understand the experience of their parents' chronic illness or pain. This book helps open up communication about some of the most common problems for those with a chronically ill parent-child relationship, including fatigue, forgetfulness and frustration. I advise it for all of you parents of small children out there with fibromyalgia or chronic pain”
-Dr. Kent Smalley, Neurologist and Fibromyalgia Specialist
Chronic pain affects almost 50% of adults in the Unites States according to Gallup Healthways. The children of people with invisible illness suffer quietly, and often blame themselves for their parents pain. This book is a wonderful resource for families; It is a joyful, yet honest, portrayal of family life burdened with the problems of chronic illness. This delightful story is told from the point of view of a young boy learning to understand and cope with his mother’s chronic pain (she suffers from fibromyalgia). The story is told in a way that creates natural opportunities for families to talk about both the symptoms of chronic illness (such as pain, fatigue, anger, frustration, and memory problems) and how they affect family life. Even more importantly, this story puts power into the hands of the children in these families by validating and giving a voice to their feelings, explaining chronic pain in a way they can understand, providing a model for thinking and acting positively, and showing them how they can help a loved one afflicted by chronic pain.
This book is appropriate for the families of young children who have a parent or caregiver experiencing any of a wide-variety of illnesses associated with chronic pain, such as: Arthritis, Lupus, Lyme Disease, ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, lower back pain, Multiple Sclerosis, and many others.
“Why Does Mommy Hurt? Helping Children Cope with having a Parent or Caregiver with Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, or Autoimmune Disease,” is available now in both paperback ($9.95) and eBook ($3.95) versions. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association (NFMCPA).
About the Author:
Elizabeth M. Christy is the author of many freelance and online publications, and writes potomacfallsmama.blogspot.com, a blog for parents with chronic pain and other invisible illnesses. She also runs the nonprofit "Books and Bottles" that provides mental and physical nutrition for needy children and infants. Elizabeth suffers from autoimmune disease and FM, and lives in Sterling, Virginia, with her growing family.
About the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association:
Founded in 2010, the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association is a 501c3 organization whose mission is to build a united patient and medical community to create a strong voice and organizational base to educate and execute advocacy programs regarding access to care, scientific research, diagnosis and treatment for people suffering with chronic pain from fibromyalgia and overlapping conditions. For more information, visit www.fmcpaware.org
