CHYP is an amazing organization that provides enormous support to many teens and youth with chronic pain. The founder Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer is a true visionary. She is very close to my heart as she helped my daughter emerge from a terrible situation where she was wheelchair bound in middle school due to chronic pain, to her life now where she dances and has learned how to live with and manage her pain so she can live the life she wants to live. When a youth or teen is faced with chronic pain, they tend to feel very isolated and alone; often standard medicine does not understand these types of conditions or how to help someone heal. When my daughter was going through the worst of it, what she needed most was someone who understood and could provide the right resources for her to heal, as well as peer support. There's so much value to knowing others who are going through what you are going through, and not feeling alone. CHYP provided both for my daughter and for many others around the country. Please donate to CHYP -- it's a life-changing organization for youth and teens with chronic pain.
My daughter began suffering from pain at the age of 8 but was not diagnosed with CRPS until she was 12, after we were fortunate enough to meet with Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer. In the years prior to that, she met with countless doctors and specialists. She gave up dance, piano and art - activities which brought her joy, because of the pain.
Through the Zeltzers, we were introduced to CHYP and through CHYP's Creating Bonds for Parents, I was able to connect with others who were on similar journeys. We support one another, and share our feelings, experiences and resources. It was through these conversations that I learned of Rady Children's Hospital Chronic Pain Management Program, which helped my daughter immensely.
The youth CHYPchats were great for my daughter. She suddenly didn't feel so alone as she joined a group of others experiencing the same challenges.
It takes a special village to raise a child with chronic pain. We are so thankful to CHYP for welcoming us into their community and becoming a part of our family's village.
Please consider donating to CHYP so they may continue to help children and their families.
I am proud to be a Board Member for CHYP. We have an incredible team, from the nonprofit Board members, to the advisory board members, to our Executive Director, our providers, and our founder. Our online platform provides accessible support to children from across the country who would not otherwise have access to these resources. I know we are serving an important need as the numbers of people accessing our website continue to grow exponentially.
The work CHYP is doing is incredibly important and unique. CHYP provides information and resources to help children (and their parents) who are often misdiagnosed and struggling to find a path to healing. I am very grateful for the help they provided to my family and the new chance at life that resulted for my daughter which was facilitated by this organization and the amazing people who lead it. The work CHYP is performing is innovative, widely respected and a true labor of love.
I was a volunteer at CHYP summer camp on thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The staff were so helpful and it is an amazing organisation for young people to express themselves creatively make amazing friendships and I know that it actually also benefits me a lot as a person who knows of the chronic pain finding a creative outlet and an opportunity to try new experiences through creativity really helps me to express how I’m feeling and manage my symptoms. I think that they’re doing such amazing work and I’m proud to be a part of the organisation
CHYP has changed my life.
In the 8 years since I was first diagnosed with chronic pain, I went from being a bedridden high schooler on the cusp of dropping out, to enjoying life nearly pain-free at my dream college and abroad. To achieve such a feat isn’t possible alone.
While it did indeed take an enormous amount of self-determination and the support of a small village to confront my constant health challenges, CHYP was the missing piece that would point me towards remission. Their approach of empowering youths and educating families and doctors alike through creative healing seems simple, but where I stand now is a testament to their help. To understand why, you need to attend one of their virtual summer camps.
While CHYP camps host numerous activities and creative healing workshops for us to cope with our chronic pain, it’s the combination of their welcoming and empathetic community with whom we could share our stories that make them special. As brief as they may be, interactions with others bring about a sense of normalcy previously uprooted by pain. During my first week of camp, all of us were smiling, laughing, and perhaps most importantly, engaging again with one another. For me, spending time with my peers revived my confidence as I listened to their health journeys. Today, they continue to be my inspiration. Such moments are why I consider 2020, when CHYP first reached out to me, as one of the best years of my life.
Because CHYP was created by people with chronic pain, CHYP also understands that everyone’s experiences with chronic pain are unique and that no “one size” or approach fits all. Therefore, they often ask for and welcome feedback from campers, youths, our families, and volunteers on what CHYP can do better. Having grown alongside CHYP, I have witnessed their unwavering commitment to help as they continue to improve and provide monthly and summer workshops, webinars, and CHYPChats to suit our different needs…all for free. Where doctors may struggle to believe or empathize with what we feel, CHYP bridges the gap by truly listening to our feedback and trusting in what we have to say. Those with chronic pain will understand how liberating it is to hear this.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again. CHYP has changed my life. But they’ve also changed the lives of many others. If you or someone you know lives with chronic pain, or perhaps you are interested in volunteering or supporting our cause, know that we will always welcome you with open arms.
CHYP is an amazing platform that focuses on building community in adolescent pain patients. These sufferers spend their entire childhoods in immense pain waiting for a miracle. CHYP steps in and supports and encourages expression of their emotions using creativity.
Chyp has been a true blessing! I have a close friend who lives with chronic pain and thanks to chyp I now have a better understanding of what they go through day-to-day. Thanks to their educational resources and workshops my friend no longer has to feel like they're alone and we can find creative ways for them to heal together. THANK YOU CHYP!!!
CHYP is an extraordinary nonprofit that helps youth in pain and their caregivers learn about creative healing techniques that are scientifically proven to help rewire sticky pain neural loops, gain access to expert advice via informative webinars and a vast virtual resource library, and perhaps, most importantly, find support in community via chat groups, virtual summer camps, and other bonding experiences. CHYP seeks to break down geographic and socioeconomic boundaries with its web-based approach...and it's working! The testimonials from CHYP's youth and their caregivers speak for themselves!
There are plenty of nonprofit organizations in America. Those who give their free time and funding to help others are the most consequential in changing people's lives thus positively impacting our society.
Creative Healing For Youth In Pain was a high-minded concept that came to fruition, in the past decade and has helped tens of thousands of youth in pain. across the world who suffer from chronic pain, and among them, is my son Matthew Kuan.
The benevolent heart of Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer at UCLA's Pediatric Pain Clinic has not only lit the path for Matt's healing but also opened a door to a life without chronic pain, enabling him to pursue a college education at Notre Dame University. A whole new chapter in his life. was possible by a gift from the Founder of Creative Healing For Youth In Pain, Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer, MD.
We are grateful and cognizant that the CHFYIP organization cannot continue to do such important work without your financial support. Together we can create miracles like the one that happened to Matthew Kuan.
I got to be a camp counselor for CHYP's summer camp and had a wonderful experience. CHYP provides a place for youths to gain new tools to help cope with their pain, as well as connect with each other and feel less isolated. The organizers are very helpful and easy to talk to, as well.
I had the pleasure of volunteering for chyp’s summer camp ‘24. I am currently finishing my final year of a masters in clinical mental health counseling. This camp offered so many valuable tools to campers dealing with chronic pain. I can't say enough about the resources and care chyp provided participants. Thanks to Kim and everyone who made this summer happen.
CHYP is an incredible resource for reputable knowledge; for opportunities for community for youth in pain, and their parents; and for valuable access to experts. Families who have a youth in chronic pain are often isolated, frustrated, and unsure of where to get help, education, and support. CHYP provides answers for all of these challenges.
CHYP's mission and its programs are vital! The board is about as passionate a group as could be imagined, and that passion has led to support for so many children and their families. Chronic pain for teens and children is so poorly addressed among primary care physicians, which makes CHYP such an important piece for healing. Their approach is research-based, and provides remarkable outcomes.