Melbourne launch March 24, 2015
I was thrilled to be invited to The Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia (PPFA) Melbourne launch last night. I originally met Dr Susan Evans when I was invited to present my patient story at AIM Pain 2014. I had cyber met Dr Evans prior, asking if I could include her details on this website, in fact I’ve ‘e-met’ many pain professionals this way. I never dreamt that one day they may all be in the one room together, all of us advocating for pelvic pain and helping start up a National organisation that addresses pelvic pain for women AND MEN.
Needless to say, last night I went on a magic carpet ride!
And, Theo felt the same way. Overwhelmed that we had both been included as part of this event and that a patient voice, our advocacy and mostly online contact could amount to this, he stated, ‘It’s like we met Yahoo, Google and Ebay!’.
I’ve had a fair bit of support from Prof Lorimer Moseley, Lesley Brydon and her team at Pain Australia, and Anne-Florence Plante. In fact it was Anne-Florence, who originally diagnosed me, who shared her research and study notes and encouraged me to build pudendalnerve.com.au.
Being with these significant people made the sequence of events from the last eight years come full circle around me; around my pelvic pain and around my advocacy. This pain journey has indeed amounted to something valuable.
Please help PPFA in any way you can. As mentioned last night, there is something we can all do.
The Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia
The Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia is a not-for-profit body formed to promote education and research in the area of pelvic pain.
The Pelvic Pain Foundation has arisen out of a need at the National Pain Summit Parliament House, Canberra in 2010. The subsequent report entitled ‘The $6Billion Woman and the $600 Million Girl: The Pelvic Pain Report‘ confirmed the special needs of those with pelvic pain.
The Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia aims to rectify the lack of Research, Education and Services in this area for the benefit of teens, women and men with pelvic pain.
Your Donation is Gratefully Received
The Pelvic Pain Foundation is a charity registered with the ACNC and is 100% privately funded. Our directors volunteer their tine and all funds are directed to services to support education, research and advocacy.
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- PPA Launch – Eugenie Lee and Graham Smorgon
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- Dr Meredith Craigie (Treasurer PPFA), Dr Susan Evans and Prof Lorimer Moseley (clinical scientist)
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- Prof Lorimer Moseley (clinical scientist) MC for the launch
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- Ms Tiffany Brooks, Psychologist sharing her personal experience of pelvic pain
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- Ms Shan Morrison, Women’s and Men’s Physiotherapy. Men’s Pelvic Pain- What, Where and Why?
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- Soula with her diagnosing physiotherapist Anne-Florence Plante (The Women’s Hospital Melbourne). Just catching up!
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- Eugenie and Soula, talking art and pain
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- Finally, Soula gets to thank and meet Lorimer personally.
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- Soula with Dr Evans. Initially meeting at AIM Pain 2014 and staying in touch advocating for Pelvic Pain
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- Soula, Lesley Brydon (Pain Australia) and Dr Evans. Pain Australia have been a mammoth support for Soula, it was great to finally get to meet.
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- Anne-Florence teasing Theo
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- After 4.5 years and desperate, Soula took a stab and emailed Lorimer Moseley who kindly replied and suggested Soula contact Anne-Florence Plante. Anne-Florence diagnosed Soula instantly.
Dear Soula,
Thank you for speaking for the many people who are suffering with chronic pelvic pain who don’t have a voice. Your voice is creative and strong and helps others experience the condition on a more personal level. This may spur others to action and help to increase research, treatment options, compassion and hope for those in pain. Great work!
Thank you Mary!
Soula, I am so happy to see your dream (or at least one of them) fulfilled at last. This is a very significant event for so many people in pain.
Thank you John, you definitely understand what this means to me. I’ve been thinking all day that I may be able to retire now!