Help us raise money

Adam & I will be walking in the Miles for Migraine walk/run in Philadelphia on September 29th.  Miles for Migraine has made it part of their mission to fund headache research  programs. Their main mission is to end the headache specialist shortage and reduce the stigma of headache disease. There is always a possibility that I may not feel well enough to walk that day due to chronic, daily migraines, but I will make it up on a different date with a virtual walk. As my family and friends know, after being locally misdiagnosed with severe headaches, I went to Jefferson Headache center in Philadelphia. I was correctly diagnosed with a spinal fluid leak and since I had OTC treatable migraines since my early 20s, this leak resulted in exacerbating headaches. After multiple inpatient and outpatient hospital procedures, being bedridden for two years with horrific head pain, failing  every first line migraine therapy, my amazing, Jefferson neurologist found a combination of medication’s that made me more functional. I was also a candidate for a neurostimulator implant used off label for migraines, which helps to control pain. While I am still bedridden several days each month with headaches, am in chronic pain, have limited physical activity, and can’t watch any screens because they are my triggers, I have more functionality & more controlled pain levels. I can do some of the things that I enjoy. 

Being able to even attempt this walk is thanks to my amazing Jefferson physicians, who never give up on me and continually find new medication‘s for me to try, which are new to market, &/orwhen my current medication‘s begin to fail. I will forever be grateful to my neurologist,& neurosurgeon for literally saving my life, Jefferson Headache center and my neurosurgeon are my heroes. 

Below the surface, living with migraine, can mean  days spent in pain, missed activities, and alternate days when I seem fine. There’s so much more to migraine than meets the eye. Migraine comes with hundreds of possible combinations of symptoms, many of which appear invisible to outsiders. For those who don’t know me I may always look & seem fine.

Migraine disease is extremely common, but it continues to be the least funded research area among burdensome diseases by the National  Institute of Health (NIH). A lack of funding leaves, unanswered questions about the cause of the disease, the prevalence, effective treatment, options, and what we all strive for a cure.

We would appreciate anything that you wish to donate, but please do not feel any obligation. Adam and I appreciate our family & friend’s support during our most difficult of times, while I was bedridden, and their continued understanding. Additionally, if you want to walk and/or run, you can join my team which is “Sharon’s team“, number 565976.