Our group was conceived in 2006 by Jodie Stewart, who originally named it FMGC (Fibromyalgia Group of Gloucester County). Jodie had an intense flare up of her fibromyalgia symptoms and said that, "I decided that when I got better, I was gonna start a group and give back." She added that, "You feel alone, and I wanted to provide a place where people could relate to each other. It's so important to have people you can relate to." She also commented, It's really tough with an invisible disease, so I tried to help put people's minds at ease."
Jodie began holding meetings at Kennedy Hospital in Washington Township and explained, "We don't complain. We vent to each other." She recalled that, "My main objective was to help others. People told me the group was life changing; people who were considering suicide changed their minds."
If she could pass any of her experience and wisdom to the fibromyalgia community she said she'd impart, "People need to find what helps them find peace and some joy. Music is my passion and feeds my soul." Jodie enjoys all forms of entertainment including music and movies.
Further reflecting on her tenure as the leader of our group she shared that, "I think helping others is more rewarding than people could ever imagine. [For me] It was more rewarding than I could have ever imagined."
Heather Crossin attended meetings led by Jodie for 2 years, and the two became close. Heather explained that when Jodie's daughter was preparing to go to college, Jodie found it to be too much to run the meetings and assist her daughter, and at this point in 2010, Jodie decided to resign from her role.
Heather took over managing the group and recounted, "I felt like it was worthwhile to continue. I couldn't see the community losing the group." She changed our group's name to South Jersey Connections and helped countless individuals.
Heather led our meetings for six years at the Camden County library in the Echelon section of Voorhees, NJ. She was hosting at Kennedy Hospital as well at first. Eventually, this became too much for her, and she began holding the monthly meetings just at the Voorhees library, which was much closer to her home.
Heather lives with severe fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and was a dedicated and devoted advocate for our community. She enjoys reading and finds Zen Buddhism helpful in coping with her condition. One of her primary messages to group members was always "Focus on what you can do!"
Heather Crossin decided to step away from conducting group activities in 2016. Soon after this occurred, a group member asked Jay if he would consider taking over Heather's role, and he accepted the opportunity. Jay said he took up this mantle because, "I want to be as helpful as I possibly can to our community and to people in general. He continued, "I find helping others helps me a lot too. I find it ironic that helping others makes me feel happy and at peace, but it does."
Years before, Heather hosted the first support group meeting that Jay ever attended, and he felt tremendously grateful to have the opportunity to meet others like himself. He believed that if there were no local group to provide this service, it would have been a bleak, harsh, and isolating reality. Therefore, Jay decided that he wanted to be there for others in the way that Heather had been there for him when he first showed up for validation and support.
In 2016 Jay began hosting meetings on a bi monthly basis at the library in Echelon. This library is actually within walking distance from where Jay grew up. During this time, he has provided much needed support for many, and he has found the effort to be very fulfilling. Jay details that some of the most helpful aspects of his pain management program are, "Pacing everything, finding ways to laugh, dwelling in the positive/joyous moments, counting blessings, and finding little ways to help others."
Jay Steele has been a professional recording artist for over 25 years. He released a song called What I Can Do, dedicated to those with fibromyalgia, on his album For Tha Love. He also released a song called Musical Soup for tha Soul (Ways 2 Cope), with lyrics detailing various coping strategies, on his album A Refreshing Contribution.
The group was on hiatus from March of 2020 until September 2022 because of the Covid 19 pandemic. During this time, the library was shuttered for an extensive period of time.
Heather has since bought an RV and embarked on a journey around the U.S. with her husband Chris. Her and Jay still keep in touch and have a bond like family members do; because not only have they spent many hours in meetings and group related social events together, but they are like a family - a fibromyalgia family. They understand each other in ways that virtually no one outside their community of people with invisible disabilities can.
