CRPS My Journey: Chapter 31 - Back-A-Buddy: Hope Undivided!

Over the last couple of years I have documented my journey with CRPS through my blog. 

In 2021, my life changed forever when I was diagnosed with this rare, excruciating neurological condition, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), often referred to as the “Suicide Disease” because of the relentless, unyielding pain it causes.

For months, I felt isolated, misunderstood, and defeated. But somewhere in the middle of the chaos, I picked up a pen and started writing — not to escape the pain, but to give it a voice.

Today that voice, that started with this blog, became a memoir: Hope Undivided – Memoirs of an Ordinary Man Living with a Not So Ordinary Disease. A raw, brutally honest account of what it’s like to lose the life you knew, and still find reasons to get up, love fiercely, and hope anyway.

To bring this book to life I need everyone's support. I have created a Back-A-Buddy campaign to help me cover the necessary expenses to have my book published.

This campaign isn’t just about me. It is about getting this book into the world — not for fame, but for purpose. For awareness. For the countless others living in silence with CRPS or other invisible illnesses. For the spouses, parents, and children who walk this road beside us.

Your support will go toward:

Publishing and printing costs (Professional editing and proofreading, cover design, layout, ISBN, first run of books)

CRPS awareness initiatives tied to the book’s launch (Fund CRPS awareness projects and educational talks.)

Translation and accessibility efforts (including audio versions for those living with disabilities)

Distribute my book to hospitals, doctors, and people who need it most.

Stay mobile and present for my wife and two sons—who are my reason for everything.

My dream is simple: to reach those who feel unseen. To show them they’re not alone. And to help shift the conversation around pain, masculinity, chronic illness, and resilience. There is always HOPE!

If you have followed my journey, and Hope Undivided resonates with you — whether you’ve battled chronic pain, supported someone who has, or simply believe in the power of stories to heal — I invite you to partner with me.

My goal is to launch my book in November as this will fall together with CRPS Awareness month.

🎁 Rewards – Thank You for Helping Share This Story

(Every donation matters. Whether it’s a donation, a share, or a message of encouragement—you are part of this journey. To show my thanks, I’ve created a few ways to say thank you.)

💛 R50+ | Gratitude in Ink

• A thank-you email and shoutout on social media
• Name on the digital Supporters Wall

📘 R250+ | Signed with Hope

• All of the above
• Early access to the eBook
• Digital quote card from the book
• Name in the “Hope Undivided Heroes” section

📦 R700+ | Bound by Courage

• All of the above
• Signed paperback copy (SA only)
• CRPS awareness bookmark
• Behind-the-scenes video or voice note
• Invite to a live online Q&A

🌟 R1500+ | Carriers of the Flame

• Everything from earlier tiers
• Name or dedication on the Legacy Acknowledgement Page
• Second signed copy donated in your name
• Option to include a 20–30 word message in a digital tribute section

🙏 Final Words

Your support means more than just bringing a book to life. It’s helping me give CRPS a voice. It’s reminding people that even in suffering, stories matter. People matter. Hope matters.

Let’s publish Hope Undivided together.

With gratitude,
JJ Ritter

Short description of Hoped Undivided

What happens when your life’s path takes an unexpected turn—when dreams shatter, pain becomes a constant companion, and every day is a fight for normality?

In these raw, candid memoirs, JJ Ritter shares his powerful journey living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), known as the "Suicide Disease." Through profound honesty, sharp wit, and deeply personal reflections, JJ explores the turbulent waters of betrayal, resilience, family bonds, and redefining hope.

This book isn’t about finding a cure, nor does it claim to have all the answers. Instead, it’s an honest invitation to walk alongside one ordinary man's extraordinary journey through chronic illness—an inspiring testament that hope, strength, and purpose remain within reach, even in life's most painful moments.

Even when your body betrays you, your spirit doesn't have to.

If you've ever faced a moment that forced you to question your strength or wondered if you're alone in your struggles, this story is for you. Because no matter the challenges we face, one truth remains clear: life, with all its imperfections, is still a journey worth taking.