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You’re Never Truly Alone


9/29/2021


“I want you to know that you are not alone in your being alone.” ― Stephen Fry


​It is truly common today for one to feel that they are alone due to them struggling with issues in their lives. These issues can range from domestic abuse, to eating disorders, to physical illness, to even chronic pain. Many of the people and children that Bowtie Kids has the privilege to work with have suffered in some part due to chronic pain affecting their lives. Ms. Greene and her family are no exception. Ms. Greene and her children are a family that has been with Bowtie Kids that have given us an opportunity to use their story to show others they are never truly alone. Ezra Archer of Bowtie Kids interviewed Ms. Greene and her children to get their story.


[Start Interview]


Archer: Who here has dealt with chronic pain?


Greene: Well, it starts with me, Niah has a lot of injuries we are trying to figure out with her knee, Nico has migraines, Jeanisha has gastro problems, and then I have one that has pain in her toes. Three of us suffer migraines. Sometimes once a month, sometimes once a week, sometimes every day.


Archer: Are you aware that these things can often be passed down from parents to children?


Greene: Yes! Yes, I know and it’s hard because I don’t know where exactly I got it from which makes it hard to see your children have it. It’s frustrating as a parent you want to see your children go and enjoy their childhood and then that happens to them.


​Archer: Anyone can answer this one, how did you first start experiencing chronic pain and how did you handle it?


Niah: One day I just woke up feeling this pain. I didn’t think much of it, I thought it would probably go away. I didn’t tell my mom at first. I didn’t think it was serious.


Greene: I was frustrated at first, in my mind I was thinking “girl if you would have stopped all these splits and flips and whatever else”. As a parent the last thing you want for your child is to experience this kind of pain.


Archer: How many solutions have you tried to help the situation?


Greene: A lot. I think it was a lot of years later we finally had to buckle down and get surgery for her. And for the other kids I actually had to take them to a neurologist and put them in a study. We’re still waiting on those results.


Archer: I can see how that would be frustrating.


Greene: It is because it’s hard to keep a job when you have so many appointments. It is frustrating, not because of the kids, but because in the world we live in you can’t really afford to stop.


Archer: What has been the biggest help to you on your journey thus far?


​Greene: (Smiles) Bowtie Kids Because I felt like me and my children are not alone. Each Saturday at those events, I learned more about myself and my kids. They learned about each other as well. They believed in each other just a little bit more and became more confident as we went on.


Jeanisha: I made some new friends! Playing games with them was fun. It’s hard for me to make friends since it can be weird. The meetings helped a lot.


Archer: How did you come into contact with Bowtie Kids?


​Greene: It was actually through thanksgiving. It didn’t look like we were going to have a good thanksgiving. I was contacted by another organization I was with, telling me that an organization called Bowtie Kids is giving out free thanksgiving dinners. They came and brought us a huge thanksgiving dinner, which was very good by the way! And that’s when I thanked Karen and she told us about Bowtie Kids. I felt that was good for us because I felt so alone, just my kids and I. Just to know that there were other people going through the same thing, I guess you could say for once I felt normal (Laughs)! Just to know that my kids are normal, it’s not my fault, and that we can get through this was amazing.


​Archer: That is such a powerful message that ties into my last question. What do you think would have helped you the most to hear at the start of your journey?


Greene: That you will be okay, we’re here for you, and you are not alone. We can get through this together. And it’s just amazing to have an organization like this where EVERYBODY is getting through it together.


[End Interview]


Ms. Greene and her children gave a powerful interview that we hope many can take something from. She did not have all the answers, resources, or people to rely on that a lot of people would have in this situation. Yet she and her kids keep going, knowing that there will be many days better than today. With Bowtie Kids help, they know that no matter what, they have support now.


We also hope that anyone else reading this knows they are never truly alone. Whether it is Bowtie Kids or another organization, there will always be those willing to lend a helping hand. Please send someone this article if you think that they might feel alone in their pain. If you support our cause, please consider supporting Bowtie Kids in any way possible, including but not limited to: supporting our social media presence, donating, and/or telling friends and loved ones about us. Stopping pains like migraines from happening isn’t a certainty. Yet, being able to support and encourage those who suffer from them surely is.


​Visit Bowtie Kids to learn about different support opportunities that you can get involved with as you find the best way to support children with chronic pain.


Instagram: @Bowtiekids

Facebook: @Bowtiekids

LinkedIn: Bowtie Kids

​Written by Ezra Archer

Remedies for Chronic Pain


8/8/2021


To many, Chronic Pain is an intimidating, unyielding mountain that can seem unsurpassable at times. A large part of this burdensome perspective is the enigmatic nature of this illness. There is often no direct cause that is attributed to chronic pain, which makes it one of the hardest ailments to treat. Ask any chronic pain patient and they would tell you that chronic pain is not something that can be negotiated with... Despite the mysteriousness and difficulty in handling this illness, there have been several remedies concocted and pioneered throughout the years. Chronic pain may seem impossible to beat, yet these various tools have all had a level of success at times. Today we’ll go into detail about the different kinds of remedies for chronic pain and how they work.


To begin, we’ll address tools from the more scientific side of things, and then refer to more simple remedies for chronic pain. An extremely common tool used is anti-inflammatory/relaxant drugs, both prescribed and non-prescribed. For non-prescribed, we have general drugs you can get at markets such as Tylenol that work to reduce inflammation in the body. These usually help to an extent because many times, an ache in the body (such as a headache) is caused by inflammation. Therefore, anti-inflammatory drugs can be useful for pain relief. These are usually the first level, yet when these do not work many moves on to prescribed drugs. Doctors will prescribe a variety of meds to help soothe serious pain. Among them is Diazepam (which aids anxiety), Antidepressants (which have pain relieving elements), Codeine, and many other prescribed drugs that have pain relieving effects. These drugs can work to be powerful pain relievers yet take note that larger doses have a correlation with increased risk of heart attack and stroke. It can be tempting for many in pain to take beyond what they need, yet moderation is crucial while taking drugs.


According to WebMD, there is an array of available electric therapy/therapy that aids those in pain as well. They describe one of them very well, “Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy, more commonly referred to as TENS, uses electrical stimulation to diminish pain. During the procedure, low-voltage electrical current is delivered through electrodes that are placed on the skin near the source of pain. The electricity from the electrodes stimulates the nerves in an affected area and sends signals to the brain that "scramble" normal pain signals.” This method doesn’t add pain whatsoever. Bioelectric therapy also helps by blocking pain messages to the brain and has shown to be very effective when combined with pain relievers.


Another type of therapy includes physical therapy and exercise. These are vital to pain relief, as research has shown that resting too much can increase pain and leave the body stiff. Exercise is important because it focuses on muscle strength and flexibility, which can greatly help with pain, especially in the joints. Another benefit of exercise is that it releases the body’s natural painkillers, endorphins.


One last therapy to try is psychotherapy, which is overlooked by many. This therapy is valuable as it can help patients to sort through these negative feelings, learn how to cope with their circumstance, and improve their mood. At first glance, it may not seem like a method that can help with pain relief, yet research shows that dwelling on feelings of pain, depression, anger, and grief can increase the pain one feels. Psychological stress certainly contributes to the physical pain one can feel Therefore, psychotherapy can certainly be nurturing to someone facing chronic pain.


Another type of remedy includes those that have to do with the mind and body. For example, there are treatments that aid the body such as Massages, Chiropractic Therapy, and Acupuncture. These therapies help muscles in the body to relax. This, in turn, can help alleviate pain and reduce stress. Techniques to assist the mind in dealing with pain include Meditation, Hypnosis, and Pain Visualization. These remedies help ease the mind and especially psychological stress, which has been shown to increase the amount of physical pain felt. Mind techniques are one of the least used remedies for chronic pain yet can have very pleasant results!


The last avenue that one can take to relieve their chronic pain is improving one’s diet. Diet is essential to aiding the body in functioning as well as possible and can help relieve chronic pain if done correctly. For example, did you know that lactose and dairy products such as milk, cheese, and cream can contribute to increased pain due to their inflammatory elements when digested? It should also be noted that cocoa, vitamin D, fish oils, fruits and vegetables, tart cherries, and ginger can all help to alleviate pain as they have anti-inflammatory properties. Educating oneself about diet and what different foods can do for the body is key to helping their ailments. This tip does not only apply to chronic pain patients, but also to anyone whose body can be benefited with improved nutrition.


There truly is an assortment of ways that one can help deal with their chronic pain, yet the most valuable one will always be the support of family and close ones. If you know someone who suffers from chronic pain, please feel encouraged to send them this article and our other blogs too! If you support our cause, please consider supporting Bowtie Kids in any way possible, including but not limited to supporting our social media presence, donating, and/or telling friends and loved ones about us. Stopping pains like migraines from happening isn’t a certainty. Yet, being able to support and encourage those who suffer from them surely is. Visit Bowtie Kids to learn about different support opportunities that you can get involved with as you find the best way to support children with chronic pain.


Instagram: @Bowtiekids

Facebook: @Bowtiekids

LinkedIn: Bowtie Kids


Written by Ezra Archer

The Mental Impact of Chronic Pain


7/7/2021


“It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience” - Julius Caesar.


I was trying to find a good “hook” quote that sums up the mental impact that pain over time presents, as well as the way it can affect one’s decision making when faced with it. Then, I came across a quote by Julius Caesar implying that it is common for one to prefer death over long-time suffering, which is an apt analogy for chronic pain. Chronic Pain means enduring pain with patience every day. It is possibly one of the hardest things to endure while showing the world your smile every day, and this hardship has even taken lives. This blog will dive into the barrage of negativity that seeps into Chronic Pain Patients’ minds that causes such difficulty in their lives. It is crucial to be aware of the effects of Chronic Pain on one’s mental health- let’s learn about them together:


To understand how pain can influence one’s mental state, we have to perceive long term pain the way Elliot Krane, a pediatrician who focuses on pain management at the Packer Children’s Hospital, does. Krane offered a crucial insight at a Ted Talk in March of 2011, “Pain is a disease. Now most of the time you think of pain as the symptom of a disease and that is true most of the time. But about 10% of the time when recovering from those events, pain persists. It persists for months and often years, and when that happens, it is its own disease”. Most of us view pain as a consequence that happens when we stub our toe on a desk. On the other hand, Chronic Pain patients perceive pain as a companion that will stick by their side for months and years to remind them of their unhealthiness and weakness. To understand how one’s mental health can suffer in these circumstances, imagine how it would feel to have spontaneous pain that could occur any time during your day, whether awake or asleep.


An important possible negative mental side effect associated with Chronic Pain is depression. In the words of the Florida Medical Clinic, “You can’t sleep, you can’t socialize, you can’t work — of course you would feel down. However, some people who endure chronic pain also experience major depressive disorder: symptoms include persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, inability to concentrate…”. Studies indicate that patients with long lasting Chronic Pain are at least four times more likely to suffer from depression than the average person. Depression is a quite common ailment to suffer when one is always in pain. As FMC puts it, one’s life becomes extremely challenging if not impossible to attend basic events such as school, work, and social gatherings. One’s quality of life drops dramatically when it is a struggle to do things that others do without a second thought. Depression can affect all areas of life by bringing sad thoughts, reducing appetite, making you feel as though there is no point in trying, etc.… It can also lead to the next consequence of Chronic Pain.


Suicide. Suicide can come to mind when a Chronic Pain Patient suffers so severely that they feel their struggle and pain is not worth dealing with any longer. According to a study by Cambridge, “Having suicidal thoughts is not rare, occurring in roughly 20 percent of people with chronic pain”. Factors that increase the chance of this happening include depressive thoughts, feelings of guilt, blaming themselves for what is happening to them, and most notably- unbearable pain that does not go away. If you know someone who expresses lack of hope, feels they are a burden to others, has suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to gently talk to them and remind them that you are there for them. It could also relieve them if you assure them that there is hope, they are not a burden, and life is worth living. If they truly feel suicidal, then it is highly advisable for you both to talk to a professional. Another option includes calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.


Another key impact that Chronic Pain has on mental health is isolation. Many Chronic Pain Patients isolate themselves from friends and family, as it can be easier to deal with their pain when they are alone. A patient suffering from high impact Chronic Pain may tell you that social events, coming to work, and obligations made are not a guarantee if their body tells them otherwise. “The feeling of loneliness is painful emotionally and can have a devastating impact on both psychological and physical health; including increased risks of depression, decreased immune system function, and stress to the cardiovascular system, ultimately impacting our longevity over the long run,” explains Judy Ho Gavazza, a Psychologist and Professor at Pepperdine University. If you know someone who feels isolated due to their circumstances, it is beneficial to reach out so that they know someone cares. Even a phone call would be a great way to tell someone you are thinking of them, if they are not in reach.


Finally, anxiety is another impact Chronic Pain can have on mental health. The Florida Medical Clinic puts it well, saying “You worry, and most of your worries are connected to your chronic pain: you worry about why you’re in pain, how you’ll pay your bills, when you’ll see your doctor, if you’ll keep your job. Your pain keeps you up at night, and you find yourself obsessing over what-if scenarios. You become fearful, wondering if the pain will ever go away or if it is actually a symptom of another serious illness.”. As the article conveys, there are many unknowns that accompany Chronic Pain, especially the high impact kind. It is easy to doubt that your pain will let you participate in activities you love, as well as constantly worry how it might affect your ability to gain income and if this condition will ever leave you one day. This condition makes it easy to become anxious about the future in addition to worrying about the present.


Chronic Pain takes away smiles, birthday parties, job opportunities, goals, security. Lives. As we learned today, Chronic Pain can also lead to a variety of negative effects on mental health. The mental health of patients deteriorates quicker and more when loneliness sets in. You cannot control the pain that those close to you feel, yet you can control how you support them- remind them they aren’t fighting alone. At Bowtie Kids, we try to send this message to every child that we can reach who is fighting through this sickness. Whether it’s supporting children through our K.E.E.S. (Kids Experiencing Empowered Support) groups or providing guidance through our many platforms, our mission is to convey to every kid with chronic pain that they are part of the Bowtie Kids Family and that we care about them. If you support our cause, please consider supporting Bowtie Kids in any way possible, including but not limited to supporting our social media presence, donating, or telling friends and loved ones about us. Together, we can reach those in need.


Written by Ezra Archer

Migraine and Headache Awareness Month


6/16/20211


The month of June is officially recognized as “Migraine and Headache Awareness Month”. This is a month pioneered by CHAMP, the Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients, dedicated to raising awareness of migraines and headaches, as well as encouraging people to support those dealing with them. Bowtie Kids places a large amount of importance on migraines and headaches as well because we know first hand the amount of suffering that chronic migraines can cause an individual. Chronic migraines are a type of chronic pain that close to 5% of people in the US experience (ClevelandClinic.org). This blog will convey the importance of Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. Together, we can learn how we can support those dealing with this illness.


Migraine and Headache Awareness Month not only exists to help raise awareness of this pain, but also has specific days meant to raise support for different types of migraines that one can have as well as the various types of people that suffer from them. Down below are the 7 days of the month that CHAMP has chosen to be observed. This list can be found on the official website for Migraine and Headache AwarenessMonth: https://www.migraineheadacheawarenessmonth.org/migraine-observance-days/

June 1st- Migraine at Work. This day is meant as a way to show solidarity with those that have to deal with these pains at work.

June 6th- Veterans With Headache Diseases. This day is meant to show support for army veterans that suffer from migraines. “According to MHAM, veterans are more likely to develop migraine and headache diseases, per the Department of Veterans Affairs, and some researchers believe this directly results from their military service.”

June 7th- Remembrance Day. This day is a day meant for us to remember those that suffered chronic head pain which we have lost either through suicide or other means.

June 20th- Headache Diseases and Men. “According to MHAM, 6 to 8 percent of men live with migraines.” It coincides with father’s day, and serves as a reminder that chronic head pain is not picky between genders.

June 21st- Shades for Migraine. This day is one that encourages all to wear purple sunglasses or even regular ones as a way to stand with those that may have to wear sunglasses often to reduce pain.

June 29th- Chronic Migraine Awareness Day. This is the final designated day of raising support for the month, wearing red and purple is encouraged.


A headache is described simply as a continuous pain in the head. A Migraine is defined as a recurrent throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, Migraines are the 3rd most common illness in the world. Migraines are not just simple pains in the head either, the symptoms they can bring are visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell, and tingling or numbness in the extremities or face (https://migraineresearchfoundation.org). The more support they get, the closer we get to more people being pain free.


Migraines, Headaches, and other pains related to the head is something Bowtie Kids takes very seriously because we work with and support kids that deal with different types of chronic pain every day. We know how hard it can be to suffer a pain everyday that is invisible to others. Chronic Migraines, Chronic tension-type headaches, Hemicrania continua, and Chronic tension-type headaches are all impairments that can be classified as chronic pain and affect millions daily. We highly encourage you to visit https://www.migraineheadacheawarenessmonth.org/ to learn more about the month and its significance in the wellness community.


It is imperative to learn how this illness affects others so we can offer support and remind those who suffer that they are not alone. If you support our cause, please consider supporting Bowtie Kids in any way possible, including but not limited to: supporting our social media presence, donating, or telling friends and loved ones about us. Stopping pains like migraines from happening isn’t a certainty. Yet, being able to support those who suffer from them surely is. Visit Bowtie Kids to learn about different support opportunities that you can get involved with as you find the best way to support children with chronic pain.


Written by Ezra Archer

The Truth About Chronic Pain


4/3/2021


Imagine there is a newfound virus that has spread throughout the U.S. over the years. It can result in death, affects people to the point where they cannot perform necessary daily tasks, and has affected 50 million people throughout the country. How long do you think it would take for members of society to concern themselves with the state of the virus and those it affects? This hypothetical virus is chronic pain, which has affected over 50 million people, with 20 million having their daily functions limited by it. COVID-19 has had approximately 26.5 million cases thus far. Chronic pain is an illness that has ravaged the lives of millions of families economically, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. With other well documented illnesses taking center stage, such as Breast Cancer, Mental Illnesses, and Heart Disease, effects of chronic pain fly under the radar when it comes to illnesses represented by mainstream media. What flies even further under the radar is the children affected that have to come to terms with this life altering pain.


Chronic pain is a condition where one feels continuous pain anywhere on the body that can last for years, usually due to dysfunctional nerves or is an illness that is particularly cruel to the youth because it can take away things from lives that have not experienced most of what life has to offer yet. In the slightest of cases, it can mean that a child will have to live with a physical discomfort most of the time, likely for the rest of their lives. In a severe case, a child will have to live with a debilitating illness that ties them to a bottle of pills and limits their ability to do even the most basic tasks for the rest of their lives. Chronic pain is a tricky illness to overcome with children, due to the reality that if doctors cannot pinpoint a visible cause for pain, they likely have to take the patient’s word for it and operate from there. John Stork, a doctor in pediatric pain management tells CNN in an interview,


“With Chronic Pain, you often can’t find any specific reason for it. Because the original injury has gone away and yet the patient still has pain. And they say they have pain but you can’t point to anything that’s really causing that pain. In fact a lot of it may be psychologically generated, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still real pain.”


Some cases of Chronic Pain can take years and thousands of dollars from families, just to get an indication of what is ailing their child. There are a myriad of those brave enough to share their stories online, which detail the difficulty of finding answers to their pain. Jessica responds to a Harvard health blog on Chronic Pain, “My feet were on fire all of the time, I had pain in my legs and back, pain in my neck and down my arms and numbing in my fingers. I lost count of how many doctors I went to in the end, but it was well over 20, maybe as many as 40. Before this I had had the pain of bulging discs, and other pain. The pain that I experience now was/is severe and debilitating.” It is very common for stories to mention the patient seeing 20+ doctors throughout their journey, usually getting referred to the next one. This continuous cycle can be damaging to the morale and attitude of a patient and family when it seems that there is no finish line to this illness. It is common for children with this pain to suffer depression from all the things in life that Chronic Pain takes which ties into the next point.


It is imperative to address the pain that children with Chronic Pain go through, because in many cases, it can mean death. Chronic pain can take away family and friend time, hobbies, sports, normal daily functions, enjoyment of life, and more from a child that has yet to experience most of what life can offer so far. For some patients, when the cycle of pain, doctors, and more pain starts to wear on them, suicide starts becoming a real option for them. A study conducted by John Bisney and others of NEMA Research concludes, “Chronic pain has been associated with higher rates of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and completed suicides [6]. The prevalence of suicidal ideation in chronic pain patients is about three times as great as among those who do not suffer from chronic pain. Indeed, the individual may perceive suicide as the only means of escaping physical and/or emotional pain [5]. Chronic pain patients are at double the risk of suicide compared to others not in chronic pain, with a lifetime prevalence of attempted suicide ranging from 5% to 14% ”.


Pain kills. It takes and takes and takes from those with it and can be unrelenting. A large number of cases in children can be aided in some way, shape or form with physical therapy, Lifestyle change, Art Therapy, Counseling, or even hypnosis. Many young patients with Chronic Pain will find ways to help their condition and find more enjoyment in life. Yet, many young patients will find that they will have pain that limits their ability to take their pet for a walk, to shower without pain, or even just standing, likely for years to come. Those who face this struggle should be supported and even praised for not giving in to the “Invisible Disease” because it is a matter of life and death. It can be said that those who deal with Chronic Pain daily show levels of strength that are truly commendable. Eric L. from Texas tells CreakyJoints.org in an interview,


“The thing is I’ve got an incredibly high tolerance to pain, much higher than I used to. I can function every day with levels of pain that I couldn’t have even imagined before.”


​The National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine has conducted research that points towards the following conclusion, “Pediatric chronic pain is a significant problem with conservative estimates that posit 20% to 35% of children and adolescents affected by it worldwide.” It is important for those who suffer from this illness and even for those who don’t to understand that those who have Chronic Pain are not alone in their struggle and that there is support, even if they may not see it. Bowtie Kids is a non-profit with the sole purpose of empowering and supporting children living with chronic pain to find purpose and enjoyment in life. Whether it be through our K.E.E.S.(Kids Experiencing Empowered Support) groups or our bowtie picture contests to help bring a smile to their faces. Bowtie Kids is founded by Karen Prescod, a notable humanitarian and author, who knows the exact pain many other children face. The Bowtie Kids organization won’t give up on any child in need suffering with this ailment. If you would like to support the vision, please consider showing your support either through donations or following our social media presence.


Written by Ezra Archer

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