We invite you to participate in chyp’s Poem-a-Day challenge! While we are all at home during this COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage you to try writing a poem each day about your experience. It can include mundane activities like cleaning or imaginative daydreams as you stare out the window… anything that you want to write about!

Check back here to see how others are processing this experience and creating art — starting with a Poem-a-Day!

Note: You can submit your poem in the “comments” section of this post. Once it is approved by our admin team, it will be up for everyone to enjoy!

Caroline interviews Emily about her creative healing, which includes drawing cartoons she calls “buddies.” Emily shares how she comes up with her characters and how much they have meant to her during her chronic pain journey. Both Caroline and Emily are on chyp’s Youth Advisory Board!

Matt writes and plays songs for his creative healing! He was able to use his music as an outlet during (and as a way out of) the dark hole of chronic pain at a young age. He performed his two original songs “Civil War” and “Mending Sound” for a chyp fundraiser in Bakersfield. Thank you for sharing your story and talent with us, Matt!

Naomi (18) on chyp’s Youth Advisory Board shares stories about assumptions that have been made about her chronic pain in the past.

Natalie (13) shares a story about when she had to educate a peer about her pain. She explains that her chronic pain is different and more complex than what most people think. Natalie is on chyp’s Youth Advisory Board.

Gabi is on chyp’s Parent/Caregiver Advisory Board and shares an important message about not giving up hope, from the perspective of a parent with a child in chronic pain.

Natalie interviews Naomi about her chronic pain story, including samples of Naomi’s creative healing process. She discusses how art and writing has helped her find her voice, even sharing poems from her journal. Both girls are members of chyp’s Youth Advisory Board and look forward to sharing more stories of strong and creative young people!

Lynn shares the story of her two daughters who have chronic pain. She discusses her support system, and the crucial role that her own family and friends played throughout this process.

Emily (age 13) shares a story about peers at school asking her if she was “faking” her pain… and how it made her feel. Unfortunately, this accusation of “faking” chronic pain is all too common. chyp is proud to have her on our Youth Advisory Board where we can show that there is nothing “fake” about pain.

Lilly openly discusses the challenges she faces while parenting a daughter with chronic pain, including having to determine what moods are based on “normal” teenage hormones and stress is stemming from the pain itself. Lilly is on chyp’s Parent/Caregiver Advisory Board and hopes that sharing her story will help other parents feel like they are not alone.