Why is this project inspired by *that guy*
Luigi Mangione?

The friendship that started stressed.sick

Chronic pain creates a kind of shorthand language – knowing glances, canceled plans, and the unspoken difference between a "good day" and a "bad day." It's a language you hope you never have to learn, but when you find someone else who speaks it, it can feel like a light in the darkest of times.

Luigi and I spoke this language with each other.

As roommates in Hawaii, we bonded over the frustrations that come along with chronic pain conditions. He talked to me about spondylolisthesis, and I talked to him about things like endometriosis and Lyme (I’ve got a lot of comorbidities going on!).

While our roommates went surfing, we swapped war stories about dismissive doctors, hacks that eased our pain, and books we were reading. I felt like his big sister, even though I kinda could’ve been his teen mom.

I'll always be grateful for the small moments: him trying to teach me how to tie a hammock (I still dislike hammocking), picking up my food delivery on a rough day, or reminding me to appreciate the sunset.

And even after we parted ways, with me returning to Canada, where we have a radically different healthcare system from the US, we stayed in touch through some difficult times.

Chronic pain can often feel quite isolating, so finding someone who gets it without explanation can be like catching your breath after being underwater. That feeling is the reason this site exists.

You may have found your way here because Luigi's name is in the news. This site isn't about that, and I'm not here to discuss his current situation, the accusations, or the legal proceedings.

But in a way, this work is for him. It's also for me. And it's for anyone else who feels the fight in them slipping away because they are exhausted and hurting. You will not find a "fix" here because I've learned that health isn't a 100% end destination.

It's a journey—and for many of us, it's a fight that we shouldn't have to face alone.

So, this project is about helping people in pain, like Luigi and me, to come up for air and take a breath.

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