Ellyn Robare

My name is Ellyn and I recently celebrated my 22nd birthday, although it felt as if it were my 90th. Due to the past year 9 years of battling every single day living with chronic pain, I am not only hurting physically, but mentally and emotionally. Although I have had two major jaw joint replacements within the past two years, I still continue to fight a daily battle against the chronic pain, one that also leaves me feeling hopeless and helpless, wondering if I'll ever gain control of the life I once lived. Despite my two major jaw joint replacements, the last one taking place on December 20th, 2011 at Boston Children's hospital, my days are dictated around my pain. To put it bluntly, my pain controls me and my life, when in reality, I should be the one in control. So here I am, 22 years old, working towards a road to recovery, instead of being stuck in this vicious cycle of relapse. I know gaining control of my life will not be easy, as it has proven itself over the past years, but it's a dream I have and a battle I will fight and will not allow myself to lose. I hope to inspire, educate, motivate, encourage, and help those facing one of the most challenging aspects of it all; accept the reality of living a life of chronic pain and associated illnesses and the struggle that comes with it. Although facing and accepting reality is one of the most difficult steps to gaining control over your life and your pain, it is by far one of the most important steps in the process. It may not come quickly, easily, or necessarily by choice, but in order to begin the road to recovery, it's a step each and everyone of us must take. My goals may seem simple to some, but as many people suffering from chronic pain know, it's a battle you must face every single day and one that some fear they may never win. As many of us, especially myself, feel so alone and isolated, we have to remember that our strength within from years or even months of fighting, keeps accumulating as time goes on and continues to give you the strength to face the several challenges that lie ahead. Although we may feel alone, we have to remember that we're NOT. Some of us may be surrounded to family, friends, support groups, co-workers, peers, children, and sometimes even strangers, but it's important to always remember that we're not alone and that there are others out there going through similar experiences, we just need to connect so we can build a support group that for some, may save lives, or i