family

The picture shows a person smiling at the camera, wearing a tie-dye shirt with yellow, pink, and blue colors. They have short hair, glasses, and a black neck brace with white trim. On their face, there is a small flower-shaped patch on their right cheek. They are holding up a feeding tube. Behind them is a background of various stuffed animals.

Complicated – the must-watch documentary on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

A new documentary on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Complicated, will soon be released. Chronic Pain Partners was honored to preview the film, which dives deep into many of our community’s challenges. Directed by award-winning and Oscar-shortlisted filmmaker Andrew Abrahams and co-produced by TCAPP board member and advocate Donna Sullivan, this film is the most comprehensive and accurate […]

A boy playing soccer in a green garden surrounded by trees. Title: The Game, a short film by Charlotte Gwinner

Filmmaker Suri Ellerton, Her EDS Journey & New Film Highlighting The Challenges Of Disabled Parents

Suri Ellerton is a filmmaker, has three children, and lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and various comorbid conditions. In this interview with Chronic Pain Partners’ Karina Sturm, Ellerton shares her EDS journey, what it means to be a disabled parent, and how her own experiences relate to her latest film project, “The Game.”  Sturm: Hi, Suri! […]

An illustration of a girl with long reddish hair holding a zebra stuffed animal.

Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Book

In May, we published an article about a new children’s book about EDS, invisible illness, and disability–Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An EDS Story. In this book, a young girl named Abigail struggles with her Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and the effect it has on her life. Some of Abigail’s  friends and classmates don’t understand why she […]

A young girl with a stuffed animal zebra on the right; an illustration of the girl on the right in watercolor style on the left.

Pey Carter and Daughter Abigail Speak About Their EDS Children’s Book 

Pey Carter, a public speaker and author from Eau Claire, WI, and their daughter, Abigail Bailey, have a children’s book about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in the works: Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Story. In addition, Pey just finished a Kickstarter for an Ehlers-Danlos coloring book and is working on a memoir of their own. […]

An illustration of a dancing zebra

Zebra Mamas: Parenting a Child With EDS

The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a collection of heritable connective tissue disorders* that affect many organ systems and often come with several other conditions. It’s a genetic condition, which means many families manage the lives of several zebras simultaneously. Living with complex conditions such as EDS as an adult is challenging at the best of […]

Kimby Maxson, a woman with curly brown hair is standing in a bright room with an orchid in the background.

Kimby Maxson And The Bendy Twisty Zebra: The Story Behind The Book

The story of Rose, a young girl zebra, is the heart of Kimby Maxson’s children’s book The Bendy Twisty Zebra. Rose, her friends, and the book’s encouraging message are all based on Kimby’s real-life experiences navigating the world of doctors, hospitals, and diagnoses for her daughter, Jade. Kimby, a massage therapist and bodywork specialist from […]

A woman on a couch reading a book while the sun shines through a large window.

4 Tips on How To Navigate School as a Student with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) as a high school student can be especially challenging. The normal struggle of balancing academics, extracurriculars, and social life, all while trying to figure out who you are as a person, is overwhelming for most teenagers and is made more complicated when having to manage a chronic illness. Many times, […]

Two boys sitting in the grass reading a book.

Book Review: The Bendy Twisty Zebra by Kimby Maxson

Move over, Dr. Seuss! Make room on children’s bookshelves for The Bendy Twisty Zebra written by Kimby Maxson and illustration by Ron Houchens. With colorful characters, catchy rhymes, and a heart-felt message, The Bendy Twisty Zebra brings to mind some of Dr. Seuss’s famous books. While children of all ages (even grown-up children!) can enjoy […]