Help Valerie raise money

If you know, you know! 

It is not just a headache, no it is not dehydration, and it is a real Pain to have such a debilitating invisible neurological disorder. I always think back to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Kindergarten Cop, where his character has a horrible painful headache, and the one little boy said it is a tumor, and Arnold’s character responds accordingly with the accent “It’s not a tuma” (tumor). Giggles 

I was 35 years old when I experienced my first migraine. No warning!  The first year I am having migraine attacks two to three times a year for multiple days with intense symptoms. Eight years later, I have 20-25 migraine days per month and no symptom free days. 

I never knew my body would start responding to normal everyday stimuli, with intense pain. Light, noise, and smell sensitivities. Nausea, fatigue, achy tense muscles, dizziness, imbalance, brain fog, communication difficulties, heat intolerance, and the inability to system override my body or “push through” it mentality because that was only making it worse.  

Eventually, I had to stop, listen to my body, take extra care of myself compassionately, and stop blaming myself. I stopped defending my inability to do most things like I once had. I stopped feeling guilty about not being able to make plans or cancel social activities because I never knew if I could make it. 

I was not giving up or giving in to migraine but rather doing everything humanly possible to keep going! I was choosing to look on my disorder as temporary and give myself and so many others a break.  

The Miles for Migraine virtual support groups were an amazing step and tool for my migraine toolbox and where I met others just like me. I am not alone. We are not alone! 

Wait there is more…

Please donate to help with raising money for the Comprehensive Headache Program at Wake Forest Baptist local Headache Program and Miles for Migraine on my behalf. 

Let us help get the word OUT and raise money IN for furthering research, spreading education, improve headache specialist shortage, increase healthcare availability, and addition to advocacy programs. Migraine does not discriminate, join me in this year’s annual Miles for Migraine 2K walk, 5K run, or just come rest with all of us doing our best, just to show up!

With gratitude, your generosity will go a long way. Thank you for all your support, kindness, patience, care, and cheer!