Hi lovelies,

Cynthia Toussaint was a ballerina with with a role in the show “FAME."

She was strong and graceful and many would have assumed she was the picture of health.

But a minor ballet injury triggered the chronic pain disease, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, leaving her mute and in a wheelchair for years in addition to being bedridden and housebound.

Since 1997, she has been a leading advocate for women in pain. Cynthia gave testimony at two California Senate hearings. The first was dedicated to CRPS awareness. The second explored the chronic under treatment of and gender bias toward women in pain.

Both of these efforts were the first of their kind in the nation.

Watch the interview: