Chronic Pain, @Facebook Games and @EA 's Pet Society #savepetsociety

My pet, Miss Hiss (right),
in happier days

Today I want to talk about something that is near and dear to my heart...

If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, then you know I play social games there.  But this is more than just a hobby or a favorite past-time.  Did you know that research shows that playing video games can help those of us living with chronic pain?

VIDEO GAMES HELP PAIN PATIENTS

Sounds weird, right?  Well games help distract us from our pain.  I know this for a fact!  I get so caught in my games sometimes that I actually don't feel my pain...for like a millisecond.

The immediate effects are temporary, but in the long run, playing video games can help us cope better with pain.  Here is some of the proof:

Video Games Help Treat Kids With Chronic Pain
Video Games Help Relieve Pain
Healing Pain Through Videogames

NO!!! MY GAME IS BEING DELETED

So what sucks as much as life with daily, chronic pain?  Finding out your favorite online game is getting the axe!

My favorite game on Facebook is Pet Society.  EA (Electonic Arts), the company who owns it, has announced that they will close the game on June 14, 2013.

I am so upset about this news that I am volunteering what precious, little energy I have each day to help organize players around the world to protest EA's actions. (As a former social worker, I am good at organizing groups.)

REASONS YOU SHOULD HELP ME OUT

1. Pet Society is family-friendly game, unlike the sex and violence rampant in the games that make up most of EA's line-up.
2. EA bought this game from Playfish, the game's creator, in 2009.  Now they are systematically closing down all Playfish games.  And EA is using the money earned from Pet Society to create more games filled with blood, guns and lewd behavior.
3. This game is beloved by its players all over the world, probably due to the connection with pets. For those who can't have a real pet, their Pet Society pet has become the pet they can't have. 
4. Most of all, I thought gaming companies were supposed to make us happy with their games. Instead, EA is going to kill all our pets!  This is making me very, very sad...and mad!

FOR THE NAYSAYERS

Yes, I know, this is a virtual pet.  Yes, I know, maybe I need to get a life...which I would do IF I could get rid of this disabling and debilitating chronic pain!!!

But please don't judge me.

We all have little, quirky things in our lives that bring us happiness and joy.  And I know for a fact that Pet Society is bringing a little joy and happiness to MILLIONS of kids, from 13 to 92, all over the world.  Kids just like me, who also live with chronic pain and illnesses.

How do I know?  Because I have met, and become friends with, several other sick chicks playing Pet Society on Facebook.

HOW TO HELP

Please support the 20,337 (and growing) members of Please Save Pet Society by:

1. Sign this petition: http://chn.ge/11ffPmA (you don't have to play to sign the petiton, just support our cause!)
2. Join the Please Save Pet Society group on Facebook
3. Like our Facebook Please Save Pet Society fan page 

And finally...

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE AT EA?

I wish I knew someone at EA who would talk to us and try to work things out.  At the very least, we players would like to be allowed to download our pets.  I've been told that our pets actually contain personal and private information, information that Facebook says we are entitled to!

But the biggest reason to download our pets?  They will disappear if/when EA shuts down the Pet Society servers on June 14, 2013.  We all don't want that!

Share with me some of the little, quirky things in your life that bring joy and happiness to you when you leave me a comment.

Let Me Give Thanks! #Iamthankful #NHBPM

As I am writing this, I can smell all the good food cooking away in my crockpots: a turkey breast with veggies and potatoes in one and a crockpot apple pie in the other. Hubby and I are watching the Thanksgiving parade and various football games on TV while my pups are snuggled up with me on the couch. It's a sunny and nice day here in Los Angeles, not too cold and not too hot.

It's the perfect time to reflect on the top ten things I'm feeling thankful for this Thanksgiving Day 2012:

10.	All the blessing the Universe bestows on me despite chronic illness, plus the knowledge that chronic illness can't take those things away from me, ever.
9.	My wonderful pet therapy crew who spent a lot of time with me this year on the couch napping.
8.	Improved use of my hands courtesy of dual carpal tunnel surgery last year.  It is easier to use the computer and craft now.
7.	Learning how important container gardening is to me: it is my exercise, my relaxation and a big source of fresh veggies in my diet. I wasn't able to garden at all during my Hep C treatment, but I will be able to resume soon and I can't wait!
6.	A new medication that truly helped me make it through Hep C treatment without a huge flare-up of my dysautonomia symptoms.
5.	All the new friends I have made this year via Facebook who are living with and battling Hepatitis C like me.
4.	All the old friends who continue to love and support me--you all know who you are.
3.	All the support I received from family, friends and health care providers during my Hep C treatment. Thank you!
2.	A wonderful hubby who really stepped it up this year, providing me with daily support when Hep C treatment knocked me down.
1.	Successfully making it through 6 months of Hepatitis C treatment and continuing to test HCV negative! (see the latest results from 11/11/12 below)

3 month post-treatment viral load

Wordless Wednesday: Pet Therapy