Meet The Team
Sara Gehrig, Owner/Peer Support Facilitator
Hello, I'm so glad you're here. I created Hello Pain Peeps, LLC because I know firsthand how isolating life with chronic pain and illness can be. I wanted to build the kind of community I longed for myself; a place where people feel seen, supported, and genuinely understood. I understand the uncertainty, grief, and daily adjustments that often accompany chronic pain and illness. While every journey is unique, I understand how powerful it is to connect with others in a peer support community that truly understands your struggles.
Above all, I want you to know that you are welcome here. Whether you've been living with pain for decades or are just beginning this journey, you don't have to explain yourself or pretend to be okay. My hope is that Hello Pain Peeps feels like a place where you can exhale, feel understood, find connection, and belonging, and be reminded that you are never have to face this journey alone. Thank you for allowing me the honor of walking alongside you.
I have two adult sons, Gavin and Connor, of whom I couldn't be more proud. They are what awe is made of.
To my beloved support system, thank you for seeing me, walking beside me, and believing in me.
Board Certified Patient Advocate, Peer Support Group Facilitator, Doctorate in Theology
Board of Advisors
Jesse Tampio
Jesse Tampio
Jesse Tampio
Jesse is a lawyer who lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC with his wife and two sons. His chronic pain journey developed slowly at first until he was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease in 2019 and then 2020 marked the beginning of a series of very painful and lengthy bouts of tendon and ligament pain wit
Jesse is a lawyer who lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC with his wife and two sons. His chronic pain journey developed slowly at first until he was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease in 2019 and then 2020 marked the beginning of a series of very painful and lengthy bouts of tendon and ligament pain with some periods of remission and a relative return to normalcy. However, even when the pain levels have not been high, Jesse knows the intense fear and perpetual anxiety that another flare up is around the corner. He has been a regular participant in Zoom pain support groups, particularly those led by Sara, as well as several chronic pain-related Facebook groups. His main hobbies are reading (mostly speculative fiction), music and vinyl collecting, swimming and pickleball (when possible), and spending time with his sons and pug Zoe.
Shelly Moody
Jesse Tampio
Jesse Tampio
Shelly K. Moody BA Psych, MA Couns, BA Divinity
After successful careers in Human Resources, Psychotherapy, Social Work and Education, the
limitations of chronic pain from childhood spinal issues, multiple traumas and spinal stenosis in
8 areas of the spine, my pain journey brought me here to today.
The first leg of my journey was the grief a
Shelly K. Moody BA Psych, MA Couns, BA Divinity
After successful careers in Human Resources, Psychotherapy, Social Work and Education, the
limitations of chronic pain from childhood spinal issues, multiple traumas and spinal stenosis in
8 areas of the spine, my pain journey brought me here to today.
The first leg of my journey was the grief and loss of my ability to work, losing both parents and
becoming single at 55, it was a dark and lonely path. It took nearly 5 years to find Sara and her
Pain Peeps peer support group. Sara’s Rogerian approach coupled with creating a space of
safety and inclusion were exactly what I needed to slowly come out of the crippling depression
and listen to others and finally speak for the first time and realize I was not alone. I felt heard
and understood and cared for the first time in years…maybe decades. I learned new skills and
tools to cope with daily pain, flare ups, emotions, relationships, and self care. And, for the first
time, I realized that I had endured the past and had many tools and perspectives to share.
My hope is to use my past knowledge as a professional along with my experience with pain to
support my peers and support peer led groups for those with Chronic Pain.
Caroline Jester
Caroline Jester
Caroline Jester
Hi, I'm Caroline.
I'm a 30-year-old Army veteran who's been living with chronic pain since 2019. Like many of you, I know what it feels like to wake up hurting before your feet even touch the floor. I know what it's like to want to work, stay active, build meaningful relationships, and live a full life while your body constantly reminds yo
Hi, I'm Caroline.
I'm a 30-year-old Army veteran who's been living with chronic pain since 2019. Like many of you, I know what it feels like to wake up hurting before your feet even touch the floor. I know what it's like to want to work, stay active, build meaningful relationships, and live a full life while your body constantly reminds you that things have changed.
Living with chronic nerve damage in my spine, SI joint dysfunction, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain syndrome has taught me that healing doesn't always mean becoming pain-free. Sometimes it means learning how to keep living anyway.
I'm honored to serve on the Board of Advisors because I believe our stories matter.
Some days are horrible. Some days are better. Some days I doubt myself, and some days I don't back down. But every day, I keep moving forward, and I hope my journey reminds others that they can, too.
Krista Mortland
Caroline Jester
Caroline Jester
Hello Pain Peeps! My name is Krista and I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now live in New York City. While I love visiting my home whenever I can, I've enjoyed exploring everything NYC has to offer.
My chronic pain journey began in 2022 when I was 25 and went through a failed spinal surgery and contracted Covid-19 at t
Hello Pain Peeps! My name is Krista and I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now live in New York City. While I love visiting my home whenever I can, I've enjoyed exploring everything NYC has to offer.
My chronic pain journey began in 2022 when I was 25 and went through a failed spinal surgery and contracted Covid-19 at the same time. The surgery resulted in permanent nerve damage and chronic low back pain, and since then I've been navigating a complicated health journey that has included small fiber neuropathy, erythromelalgia, possible CRPS, long COVID complications, and heart issues. Like many people living with chronic illness, it's been a journey full of ups, downs, uncertainty, and a lot of learning.
One of the biggest things that's helped me along the way has been finding community. I love attending chronic pain and chronic illness support groups because there's something incredibly comforting about connecting with people who truly understand what you're going through, people who just get it without you having to explain yourself. Those connections have reminded me that none of us have to face this journey alone.
I work full-time managing a department at a law firm, which definitely keeps me busy! Outside of work, I love coloring, art projects, listening to true crime podcasts, and watching documentaries. I also grew up playing tennis, so I'll always have a love for the sport. I enjoy watching matches whenever I can, and I try to make it to the US Open every year.
I'm honored to be joining the Board of Advisors and to support Sara and the incredible work she's doing to create a welcoming community for people living with chronic pain and chronic illness. I hope to share my own experiences, provide support and perspective when needed, and help contribute to a space where people feel understood, connected, and less alone in their journeys.