Far too many people are losing parts of their lives to Chronic Migraine – Experiencing Migraines with headaches 15 or more days per month with the headache lasting four hours or longer a day.^1,2,3 People who live with Chronic Migraine have a Migraine or headache more often than not, a situation that can be devastating.

You may remember that I’ve been telling you about the Rewrite Your Day campaign, a campaign intended to raise awareness about Chronic Migraine and its heavy burden. The Rewrite Your Day campaign invites people with Chronic Migraine to share their stories about important days and events that have been stolen away from them by Chronic Migraine.

Celebrity event planner Mindy Weiss and a panel of five advocates (and yes, I get to be one of them!) are selecting 15 people who share their stories to re-create a special moment or day in their lives. The selection process has been so difficult – in a very good way! The entries are so engaging, so… well, it’s hard to find the words to describe them. As I read them, many of them take me back to the days when my own Migraines were chronic, bringing tears to my eyes at times. I can identify with those stories, and my heart goes out to the people sharing them.

At this time, I’d like to introduce you to the first Rewrite Your Day winner, Patrice Johnson! Patrice is from Prairieville, Louisiana (near Baton Rouge and New Orleans). She is 31-years-old and is an executive assistant and former member of the Louisiana National Guard. Here’s Patrice’s story that she shared and her description of her re-creation:

 “I’ve lived with Chronic Migraine for more than 15 years with frequent headaches that can last 15 or more days a month and are often accompanied by nausea, sweating and loss of my peripheral vision.   My Chronic Migraine has impacted so many days of my life, but none more important than my wedding day in January 2009. 

 

I love to plan special events for my friends and family, as well as for the non-profit and community youth groups I support in my area.  So, when it came to my wedding, I spent months perfecting every detail, including personally designing the centerpieces, selecting the colors and flavor of the cake, and spending hours writing my own vows to recite to my future husband.  The one thing that was out of my hands was the migraine I woke up with on my wedding day, which only worsened throughout the morning and left me in terrible pain.  At the ceremony, the lights from the cameras flashing made it almost impossible to get down the aisle, and I rushed through my vows since the migraine made it difficult to read.  I did my best to greet my guests and enjoy the reception, but I could barely pose for photos or eat the delicious food prepared by our cousin.  During our first dance, I could only put my head on my husband’s shoulder and sway from side to side; he knew I wasn’t able to move much more than that due to the debilitating headache and dizziness.  I wish so much that we could have graced the dance floor the way we had envisioned, but Chronic Migraine doesn’t care that it’s your wedding day. 

 

Now that I am seeing a headache specialist, my migraines are more manageable.  I am sharing my story to let other people like me know that they are not alone, and encourage them to see a specialist who can help diagnose and manage their Chronic Migraine.”

Patrice’s re-creation: