State Ambassadors

Midwest Regional Ambassadors

Hello, I’m Karlyn ( car-Lynn) Beavers and I am the Ambassador for the great state of Michigan, and Regional Leader for the Midwest ( MI, IL, IN,KY, and OH). I am 52 and have been a chronic pain patient for 34 years now. I joined the APDF to help others who have been affected by these guidelines and state regulations that have forced a group of people who are already fighting with their bodies to have to find the energy to fight for the treatment that will give them a good quality of life. I love being able to help where I can and if need be stand up and have my voice heard. I look forward to helping chronic pain patients, until the day when we don’t need to fight for our rights in the future.

Karlyn

Vicky Lawerence, CO

I was born and raised in Romania. I live in colorful

Colorado with my husband and our 13 year old

daughter. I have a Financial and Accounting Degree

and Tax Preparing Certification.

I came to US in 2006 to pursue “The American

Dream”. When my disabled husband’s health and

medical care started to deteriorate I started my

research about opioid pain medication and untreatable

severe pain conditions as he was on a high but stable

dosage that allowed him to have a semi-normal life.

A few years later I joined several support groups for

chronic pain patients and started learning even more

about the struggle of the chronically ill to receive

proper care. The hundreds of gut wrenching stories that

I heard determined me to start advocating for the

chronic pain community. I was fortunate to meet

people like Johnna, Sherri and Gina that are looking to

do more for this community. I am determined to keep

fighting for change and continue to help those in need.

Sherry Champion SC

We all have significant dates in our life that change the trajectory of our lives. The day we

graduate, the day we get married, or the birth of our first child. For me, that date was August,

21, 2014. I received a Master’s Degree in Library Sciences after falling in love with a job I took

after I received my undergrad. I truly loved helping people learn wether August day when after

going to the dentist for fillings and the anesthetic wore off, I was met with the most

excruciating pain I had ever experienced. I eventually got a diagnosis of Trigminal Neuralgia, a

rare and painful disorder that affects the facial nerves aka “the suicide disease”. After several

bad experiences with pain management I quickly became aware of a side of healthcare not

everyone sees. I was given medication that affected my memory and personality over other

reasonable treatment and live in fear of losing the treatment that brings my pain down to a

manageable level. I learned about the American Pain & Disability Foundation and their mission

to fight for adequate pain a management and healthcare for people with intractable pain and

disabilities and knew I had to do everything in my ability to help the fight. My two cats and

dog bring me comfort and I love writing poetry.

“Better to light a small candle than to curse the darkness”-Chinese Proverb

Carol Adams, PA

I’m happily married with two sons and two granddaughters. I have worked as a cook, in

factories and doing door to door sales before following my calling to care for others working as

a nurse’s aide and receiving my Practical Nurses License. In 1998 a work injury caused

thoracic outlet syndrome and was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I injured myself again in

2003. I had a sacral lumbar fusion and was able to return to work. In 2009 I suffered another

work injury that ruined the fusion and unable to return to work. I have tried every solution

offered to me by pain management including two different spinal stimulators. I had an

intrathecal pump implanted that has been the most helpful treatment option. In the spring of

2020 I fractured both bones in my lower right leg that caused me to develop CRPS

(Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome) otherwise known as RSD an intractable pain disease fo

which there is no cure. In the beginning of my nursing career I witnessed people screaming in

pain for hours. Repositioning and massage can only do so much. I have seen and know first

hand the difference in quality of life with and without pain management. I feel I have to fight

for the right to have adequate pain management, patient care and patient rights overall.

Treatment plans should always be between the doctor and patient without government

interference. Quality of life if a basic human right and should not be political.

Nance Seefeldt, IL

I worked as a CNA and in rehabilitative physical therapy before pain changed my life, I have

been suffering with intractable pain for 25+ years. I have full body Chronic Regional Pain.

Syndrome (CRPS) also known as RSD as a result of an ACL injury and a car accident. CRPS is

among the most painful diseases and is commonly known as “the suicide disease” but I refuse

to give in. Over the years I have tried several different therapies and lifestyle changes to

manage as much of my pain as possible. I have lost my pain management several times due

to the DEA overstepping and misappropriated pain medicine guidelines. One thing I would like

people to understand is that pain medicine helps me live my life, not escape it. I have been

advocating for chronic and intractable pain patients for 14 years and it truly brings me joy to

help people get the care they need. I do this to give a voice to the voiceless. So many people

in pain have lost their lives due to inadequate pain management. I want to change that. I enjoy

cooking for others, making jewlery and spending time with my grandson. Always remember,

what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and as Gloria Gaynor once said, “I will survive”.