When I am out with people or around them, and have a migraine, I don’t like to let them know how much it hurts. Mostly because I just want to be a normal healthy kid. Migraines are one of the only things that can make me feel weak and helpless. My bed is the one place I can be where there are no lights or noise to bother me. I can curl up into the fetal position and do the thing I try never to do in public, cry. Alone is the only way I will cry, because when I am down I bring my friends and family, the people I love, down with me. I feel that I am causing enough pain through this disease and I feel obligated to take a lot of the rough stuff on myself.

I want it to be true that I can do anything that I put my mind to. To do this I would have to get to a point where I am fairly in control of my health, especially my migraines. Health is the biggest thing I desire for my future, as it would open up for me all possibilities. I would like to be an FBI agent, stand-up comedian, or stockbroker. People who really know me know that I have a good shot at what I want in life. I also know that the future because of its uncertainty is open to endless possibilities, and a chance to pursue dreams even when others may scoff at you or hurt you. The future is always waiting to be made.

I have battled daily migraines for over 10 years now. It started in 2009 when my vision blurred and I couldn’t read something right in front of me; that was my first migraine and I don’t have headache free days.

I’ve seen countless specialists, been through countless tests, tried every prescription, and medical procedure to try to get relief. The emotional, financial, and physical toll migraines take on you is exhausting. As a 25 year old, it’s hard to be so limited by pain. I miss events I want to go to, don’t make it to all of my meetings or every class. My service dog and I hike some days and other days just stay in bed. I struggle to hold a job and continue schooling. I have so many goals and I know how well I used to do before I got sick. I’m an independent soul and I don’t like to ask for help or admit how much pain I’m in all the time. Even the smallest commitment I make takes everything from me, noise and bright lights are everywhere and I feel so helpless that I can’t focus on anyone or anything I’m trying to do when I’d rather curl up in the dark in silence.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Henry for years and he never stops fighting for me. Right now, I have a job working from home and am in school online.  I’ve focused on meditation to control and compartmentalize the constant pain and listen to my body. I’m working on not faking it and being honest with myself and others about my limitations. I’ve had people ask me how I do it, but I was never given a choice, you just do it. You force yourself to get up and put one foot in front of the other, because there’s no other way. I think of Danielle often and the ripple affect she and her family have brought to the world. It gives me hope to keep fighting because there’s people out there fighting for me.

I was 16 when I had my first migraine. It was no surprise, as my mom, grandma, aunts and uncles all suffered from migraines. My mom had a migraine most days and we knew not to disturb her in her dark room. As I got older my migraines became worse. I ended up in the ER several times a year for a shot of narcotics to dull the pain. As the years went on the frequency and severity of my migraines became debilitating.

My poor children were watching the same thing I had to watch as a child and I knew exactly how helpless they felt. I literally had a headache every single day, it was just a matter of if it was going to turn into a migraine or not. I felt was so discouraged and felt completely hopeless.

About 3 years ago I was introduced to Dr. Henry. As I cried to him, he listened and held my hand. In that instant I knew this man was going to help change my life. We tried several different rescue medications and daily preventive medications with no success. But Dr. Henry NEVER gave up on me. He continued trying new things and even had me in a migraine study to see if that would help.

 As of today, about 70% of my migraines and headaches are gone. Yes, I still get some migraines, but just knowing that I have someone who understands and will not give up on me makes all the difference in the world.

I was a migraine and daily headache sufferer for about 15 years and visited several doctors in hopes that someone would be able to help me without any luck.  A co-worker (Sarah Fillmore) suggested that I meet with Dr. Henry and  after a few months of convincing, I finally scheduled an appointment.  I was immediately impressed with how thorough he was in his questions and in test taking. For the first time I felt like all of my feedback was actually being listened to and analyzed.  Dr. Henry eventually decided to start me on Amitriptyline to help improve my sleep schedule, Rizatriptan as a preventative medicine, Reglan for nausea, and then he gave me instructions to come into the office for emergency shots/treatment (to avoid another $1200 ER visit). In addition, he gave me detailed charts to fill out each day so we could narrow down my triggers and determine which solutions worked for me. 

While I saw results almost immediately, it wasn’t until month 2-3 when I got to the point where my daily headaches were almost nonexistent and I was getting migraines less and less often.  I went from daily headaches and 2-3 migraines per week to mild headaches 1-2 days per week and MAYBE 1 migraine a month. Rizatriptan works so well for both headache types that all or most of the pain is generally gone within about an hour. I haven’t had to deal with a tough migraine in OVER 5 MONTHS NOW!!!

I truly can’t explain how much better my life is now that my headaches and migraines are under control.  I owe all of my thanks to Sarah, Dr. Henry, and even Danielle.  From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. 

I am 17 years old, and I have been suffering from abdominal migraine since 4th grade. I was in and out of Primary Children’s monthly. I missed weeks of school, couldn’t dance, and wasn’t able to hangout with my friends. I was told I was faking it or that I was just stressed, constipated, etc. I went to dozens of doctors, including psychologists. I was willing to try anything and everything. I was given shots,  pricked, scanned, scoped, X-rayed, etc. They all came to the same conclusion: they didn’t know.

During my sophomore year, I was in the hospital when I experienced the worst migraine I’d ever had. My hands were crippled, and I couldn’t move. I was in so much pain. They referred me to a neurologist later who then referred me to Dr.  Henry. The first time I met Dr. Henry, my mom and I both cried. We were so relieved at finally having found someone who was willing to try anything and everything to help me. 

We are still trying new things. I receive nerve blocks monthly and use a Gamma Core vagus nerve stimulator three times a day. I still struggle with my disease and miss school, but not nearly as much. I have to keep the same sleep schedule and do many other very specific things, but they are worth it. Dr. Henry helped me get my life back. 

Thank you, Doctor Henry❤️! 

I’ve lived with migraine for most of my life.  The attacks started when I was 10 and plagued me throughout my teens. I missed many days of school, sleepover parties and family vacations.  I can remember begging my parents to take me to the hospital so they could “put me to sleep”. I had about a 10-year reprieve, but they came back with a vengeance during my second pregnancy. I was a VP with a great career in mortgage banking during the housing boom. I felt that being a woman, pregnant and having an illness was a triple whammy so I needed to hide my illness to not seem weak or a less than desirable employee. I made it through and have two amazing and healthy adult children. 

Fast forward a few years to my 40’s and now came a new shade of migraine. They were less intense but would last for months at a time. Every single day, there was some level of pain. I was very active, competing in triathlons and Tough Mudder races and I just had to drop out and find other interests. I couldn’t bear the thought of putting on a bike helmet or swim cap or running. I didn’t find much relief from any treatments even though I saw many different doctors; neurologist, primary care, dentist, homeopath, chiropractor and acupuncturist.  They all said the same thing...It’s a headache. I wouldn’t give up so finally, I went to an ENT and he told me, “it’s not just a headache, you have migraine disease”. Many of the strange symptoms I was experiencing were actually symptoms of migraine. It’s been three years and while I still live with migraine, I am responding well to new medications that have come to market over the past year and I am hopeful. My ENT happened to be Dr. Frederick Godley, of the Association of Migraine Disorders. He offered me a job as executive director. That was three years ago, and I feel blessed to be able to do a job that I’m so passionate about, where I can help educate, advocate and raise funds for research for migraine.

Fear: The pain is so intense…Is something else wrong? Is my brain being permanently damaged from the constant attacks? Are the medication side effects going to make me feel worse? Will I never have my life back?

Frustration:  I thought I was starting to feel better…Then I wake up to a new day in pain and sickness, never having a waking minute of feeling normal. Why do the medications not make me feel better? 

Anxiety:  Not knowing how you will feel one day to the next making it almost impossible to make plans. Concerns of driving or going in public due to vision disturbances and dizziness. Fear of food exacerbating symptoms. Worry over weather changes and trying to avoid the sun. Concerns over employment, finances, and never-ending medical bills.

Sadness:  I want my life back. Not being able to enjoy all the things I love. There are so many things I want to do. I want a cure.

Grief:  I miss the person I used to be. I don’t want to be a burden to my loved ones. I want to be able to be there for others. Life is passing me by.

Anger:  I have no control over this beast! Why is there not a cure? 

Confusion:  What caused this chronic nightmare that has taken over my brain and body? Why can’t I think straight? My brain feels like mush.

Loneliness:  No one can understand what I’m going through. Hours upon hours of being alone. Trapped within my illness.

Depression:  I am worn out, mentally, physically, and spiritually fatigued.

Thankful: For the love and care I receive from my wonderful husband and mother. The exceptional support I receive from coworkers. The medical professionals that try their best to help me find relief. For fellow migraine warriors who share their experiences, support, and continue to push forward.

Hope:  For greater awareness that is necessary for funding and research.

For new treatments to help symptoms become manageable, for ultimate remission.

Determination:  I will keep fighting to get my life back! I will push forward even when it’s hard to lift my broken body. I will keep seeking knowledge, treatment, and support. Someday I will be knowledgeable and strong enough to help provide advocacy to others that are struggling.

Acceptance:  This is a chronic neurological disease that I did not cause. It is part of who I am now. I will take pride in the small victories, knowing I am doing the best I can. I will experience joy in the beauty and love this life still has to offer.

I am 17 years old and for 3 years, I have suffered with migraine headaches. The pain does not cease and is almost always debilitating. My home has become a prison, my body in shackles from the pain. 

Living with this illness is exhausting physically as well as mentally and emotionally taxing. Avoiding triggers is like navigating a minefield, and flairs are like stepping on one. It is strange to say that I look forward to having painful injections in my neck, head, jaw, and face, but I have to do whatever I can to find a reprieve from the pain. 

For me, chronic migraine is the result of a traumatic brain injury. Unfortunately, the neurologist I saw did not take steps to help me and refused to see me for several months, calling my symptoms “typical”. He eventually saw me again and informed me that he could not help. He proceeded to tell me that I would have to deal with the pain and symptoms for the rest of my life and to see a psychiatrist. 

I started seeing Dr. Henry, who began treatment right away. Very slowly, through trial and error, we have been making progress. It is not a lot, but it gives me hope that not everything will be terrible in the future. 

When I became pregnant, I still suffered from migraine, and they got worse. It should have been an exciting time, but instead, I felt hopeless. I wasn’t sure how I would make it through this pregnancy.  I was so relieved that there were safe and approved ways like nerve blocks to help me get some relief and also get me through the early days and weeks of a newborn. 

I have come to the realization that I will always have to deal with migraine, but I am so grateful for those who are working hard to find more solutions to help people like me deal with this debilitating disease.

To have years of experience dealing with situations and problems can be growth producing and beneficial.  However, there is one predominant problem in my life that I would not repeat, given the choice.  I have suffered from migraine for approximately 40 years, which is the majority of my 67 years.

I have come to realize how fortunate I am because I did not suffer from headaches in my youth.  I was able to enjoy my childhood and, as an adult, raise my two children and work at a job I loved for many years.  Unfortunately, my headaches have become progressively worse as I age.  I have been diagnosed with Hypnic Headaches, which are a rarer form of migraine.  These headaches predominantly wake me from sleep in the middle of the night, and one of the concomitant problems is significant sleep deprivation.  This took its toll on me when I was working, needing to rise early and be "on" and capable of any situation that arose as a social worker.

Over the years, I have worked with many physicians, including neurologists and headache specialists.  It was not until I became a patient of Dr. Dan Henry's that I have experienced significant periods of relief.  Dr. Henry is committed to helping me design an ongoing management plan, and regular follow-up appointments ensure he will continue working with me.  Doing consistent daily charting as part of treatment is very helpful.  We have worked with a number of different interventions. and there is a plan of where to move forward if one treatment is not successful.  In other words, Dr. Henry does not give up on me.  I now have hope for the future and know what it feels like to be headache free.  I have found a way to deal with my Migraine.  I may also eventually say that it has been a growth-producing and beneficial challenge.

Thank you Dr. Henry.

My story begins in elementary school when I remember getting terrible headaches that would send me home. My parents thought it was just a headache, gave me Advil, and I took a nap and never saw a doctor. Fast forward to my sophomore year in high school when I got my first migraine with aura. This began a 20-year succession of doctors (4 neurologists included), physical therapists, chiropractors, and even an herbalist whose herbs landed me in the emergency room due to a severe allergic reaction. I was put on nearly every preventative medication, rescue medication, and offered most narcotics on the market. I wasn’t making any progress and was pretty desperate.

In 2012 I tried Botox for migraine. My body did not react well at all. I could not hold my head up and was in a neck brace for 3 months. My entire body was weak and my migraine attacks returned with a vengeance. I was on the waiting list for every neurologist in the Salt Lake Valley. No one could see me for months. A friend recommended Dr. Henry. When I first began seeing him, I could hardly walk into the clinic. It took everything I had just to shower and get to the office. I remember crying at that first appointment. Dr. Henry took my hands, looked directly into my eyes, and said, “I don’t give up,” and he stayed true to his word.

It’s been 7 years since that first appointment. I am a completely different person today. I’m on medication that keeps the migraine attacks at bay, and when I do get them, the staff gets me into the office that day for nerve blocks to stop the migraine cycle. I’m able to travel, be a mom to my kids, and live the way I want to live. I’m much better informed about migraine disease.

Seven years ago, I thought my life was over. I cannot express the blessing Dr. Henry and his family have been to me and mine.

3 years ago, I was 18 and not doing very well, but little did I know, I had not yet hit my worst as far as migraine attacks were concerned. The next two years were the worst of my life. I suffered extreme sexual and emotional abuse and isolated myself from everyone that cared about me. Because of all the trauma, the pain got really intense. There is one positive, though: I wasn't hospitalized once.

My migraine attacks were terrible, and so was my life. I should have been hospitalized numerous times. Migraine is a neurological disorder, a disability. but because I've been working with Dr. Henry since I was 15, he knew exactly how to help me. He kept me here. He kept me alive. We started the Botox treatment about a year ago, and I think that's what is saving me. Yes, the pain has still been bad, but it should've gotten a thousand times worse as my life did, but Dr. Henry and I managed to keep it at bay.

My life is finally settling down and getting to a good place again, and the pain is slowly decreasing. It's not cured, but I can feel it getting better. I was one of the patients who had migraine attacks every single day, and now I have 2 days a month without even a headache. I still find it hard to believe.

Through all the pain, I managed to accomplish a lot. I bought a house by myself at 19, self-published my first book, and held a book signing with the famous Richard Paul Evans. I traveled to Europe, rescued a puppy and she has become my emotional support animal. I filed for a protective order against my past abuser and won the case. I'm getting ready to publish my second book and am completely redesigning my website. 

Migraine disease is lethal, so I'm not exaggerating when I say Dr. Henry saved my life, and he continues to every time I want to give up. I still have hope that one day, migraine will no longer be one of the biggest trials in my life.

I have lived with migraine for 38 years.  My first migraine diagnosis was at 8 years old, although I had undiagnosed abdominal migraine since the age of two.   At 27, I was diagnosed with chronic migraine and by 28, I had developed new daily persistent headache and chronic daily headache.

Raising three children, managing a home, and being a wife is challenging when living with multiple chronic illnesses. Migraine is extremely isolating and I felt like the only person experiencing pain on the level I was. I wanted to connect with others like myself, so I sought out support from online support groups. 

In the fall of 2011, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Major depressive disorder and anxiety are a part of my daily life as well. Being in constant pain made the depression and anxiety way more severe and chronic. In September, my antidepressant was increased to the maximum dosage of 375mg a day and in November, I attempted suicide. That event saved my life because it caused me to look at how I was treating my illnesses very differently. I decided to use multiple modalities in treating my pain, depression and anxiety. Incorporating a naturopath, homeopathic treatments, meditation, massage, and acupuncture were important additions to medications other more traditional methods.

Despite living a life of chronic pain, I had always managed to find the strength and will to move forward in life.  Having a debilitating illness which carries a stigma is no easy life to live. Wanting to remove that stigma, educate society, and provide support to other people with migraine prompted me to start my blog, The Migraine Diva.  Through my own challenges, failed treatments, and successes I can champion for myself and for the millions of others who live and fight silently with this chronic disease.

My life changed the Summer of 2012 when I had a headache that came on and never went away. At first, I thought I had a sinus infection but days went by and then weeks with no relief. Pretty soon my headaches turned into migraines. I was experiencing 20-25 migraines a month. My life came to a halt. I am a mom of four kids and I thought, “how am I going to do this?” I didn’t want my kids to remember their Mom as someone who was always in bed and who was limited in being the best Mom I could be or wanted to be. I was devastated and felt like my life had been taken away from me. Then a friend told me about Dr. Henry. It has been a battle to find what works for me but Dr. Henry never gave up on me and would constantly reassure me that we were going to find relief. 

Within the next five years, one disappointment after another of medications not working and finding little relief, it happened! I finally found something that works for me. The fear of making appointments or events with family and friends, and in the end just having to cancel, was gone. Rescue medications started working and would take away the pain instead of just dulling the pain. I was having headache free days. I went from 20-25 a month down to 10-15 a month. I’m slowly getting my life back. I remember one appointment with Dr. Henry being in tears cause of the joy I felt from doing normal things that seemed so hard now felt easy again. The simple task of grocery shopping felt unbearable but now it was nothing to run to the store. There was light at the end of the tunnel and after five years of suffering I could see it. 

Oh, how I took my healthy body for granted! But after dealing with chronic migraines for almost 7 years, I never will again. I no longer live hour by hour, minute by minute. I find joy in the little things and my kids and husband have learned so much compassion and love for others through this. Their love and support have meant everything to me.

The biggest update is that our entire household has migraine disease now— myself, my husband and all three of my daughters. I am constantly trying to not only manage my own daily pain, but their medications, care and treatment as well. Watching them suffer is the hardest part. 

My 12 year old is trying to adapt to her first year of Jr. High with migraine. She will have an abdominal migraine and be vomiting during the night and several hours later have migraine with aura hit by third period science class. My ten-year-old has chronic daily headache pain that a preventative medication prescribed by Dr. Henry has greatly lessened. 

My 4-year-old was recently diagnosed by Dr. Henry with migraine. She has most likely had them since she was a tiny infant. It was such a relief to discover that her car sickness, screaming every time she was in a car seat, over sensitivity to smells, nightly awakenings, reporting that her “tummy hurting” and “fever hurting” are a result of migraines. Doctor Henry was able to give us answers that I had been searching for since bringing her home from the NICU four years ago.

Dr. Henry, Ruth and team continue to be amazing in helping us navigate our treatment for migraine disease. 

Migraines are real. They are debilitating. We are so grateful for generous contributions and support that give me and my family hope!

I got my first migraine at age 21.  For the next 7 years I had a migraine at least once a week.  The severe discomfort of a migraine is absolutely debilitating and not something I could “just deal with”. I would feel the effects from the migraine for days after, and then another one would hit. Having that many migraines eventually kept me from work, family parties, holidays, vacations and other important life events.  Eventually, I refused to schedule anything or commit to attending something for fear that I’d have to cancel. I lived a life of fear and pain. 

My family and friends watched me suffer on a regular basis, but we all felt helpless. I saw multiple doctors, chiropractors, holistic workers, and piercing specialists. I tried different diets, exercise programs, massage therapy, and even surgery.  For years, there were no generic brands of medications that worked to relieve my pain. The cost of one pill for me was $98. The physical and emotional burden of migraines was now wreaking havoc on my finances. I reached a point in my life where I assumed I'd be alone forever because no partner would want to take on the responsibility of my pain. I believed I would never be able to survive pregnancy or be an attentive parent with how often I was in a dark room, suffering.  

I’m very lucky to have married someone with a strong desire to help me find the medical care I needed. My husband and I continually talked about my migraine with others in hopes of finding some answers. Eventually I was referred to Dr. Dan Henry and my life has been forever changed. With the proper diagnosis and treatment plan, I’ve lived the last 6 years mostly pain free. I haven’t missed a holiday or important event. I’ve successfully carried 2 healthy babies and been able to enjoy motherhood as an active parent in their lives.  I’m living a life I never thought I’d be able to live, all thanks to the dedication, research and care of Dr. Henry. My family and I are forever grateful!  

The physical symptoms of migraine tend to get all the attention, but the emotional distress of living with migraine has had an equally significant impact on my life, the pain, nausea, fatigue, and brain fog. Migraine is the biggest and most constant source of grief in my life. The list of losses I’ve endured because of it is long When I was first diagnosed with migraine, I just wanted my life back. I tried everything I could to make the symptoms go away. About 10 years ago, I found myself sick, frustrated, and stuck. My migraine pain reached at least an 8 out of 10 every day for years, I could barely keep myself fed each day, much less feel like I was living a full life. I was also stuck in despair and grief and fear.

I found myself longing to have a life back. It didn’t have to be the life I had before becoming disabled by migraine and it didn’t have to be a life without migraine. I wanted to feel like I was living again, not merely surviving. I wanted to be happy in the life that I had, not always fighting for the mythical life I didn’t. Not long after that mental shift began, I found myself in a mindfulness-based stress reduction course for pain management. Unsurprisingly, meditation was part of that class. And I wasn’t happy about it. The first time I meditated, I was in tears within minutes. I didn’t have a sudden epiphany where meditation became the answer to all my problems. I never even started a regular meditation practice. What I did learn was how to be mindful and aware of my emotional and physical reactions. I learned that grief is normal and that if you try to run from it, it only gets stronger. I learned to feel my emotions without having them overwhelm me.

This is the point in the story where people want me to say, “I learned how to manage my emotions and my migraine symptoms went away.” That’s not how it happened. In fact, I don’t think these emotional changes have had any noticeable impact on my physical symptoms. Yet the change still feels miraculous. By learning to deal with the emotional distress of migraine, I became more skilled at dealing with the physical symptoms, too. That’s not migraine relief in the way we normally think about it, but the emotional relief has made as much of an improvement in my life as any physical reprieve has.

I am thrilled to be writing this update because I feel like a whole new person since the last time I shared my voice. Life has changed a lot the last two years, and all in good ways. 

Two years ago, I was starting to feel like I had my life back. My migraines were managed with daily preventatives and Botox. I was finally starting to see a future that could be happy, fulfilling, and mildly pain free. In my wildest dreams I would never have expected to be doing as well as I am now.

When I started my chronic migraine journey, I was bedridden for over 6 months. Simply taking a shower would take all the energy I could muster. I started seeing improvements after about 6-9 months of treatments with Dr. Henry. After about 18 months, I had accepted that living with pain would be my life. My husband I decided to move forward in starting our family, although I was terrified what pregnancy and postpartum would do to my migraines. Much to my surprise pregnancy was a breeze! After Nora was born, I kept waiting for THE migraine. You know the one I’m talking about, the migraine that would knock me on my back for days or even weeks. I kept waiting but it never came. My little Nora is 14 months old now and I only have 2-4 migraines a month that are easily treated with my rescue med and I no longer need any preventatives. I feel incredibly blessed to feel as well as I do. I don’t take a single migraine free day for granted. To not only have held a job for 3 years but to have a beautiful daughter is unbelievable to me. I’m not convinced I will never have a bad streak again, but until then, I’m enjoying every ounce of pain free living I can.

If I could say one thing to someone with migraine, it would be  “DON’T GIVE UP!” There is hope and a bright future ahead. Keep moving forward with life and treatments and you will feel like yourself again. I am happy to be living proof that life can beautiful and lived to its fullest while living with Chronic Migraine Disease, all thanks to Dr. Henry and his knowledge of migraine treatments.

I am married with two girls (4 & 6) and I run a business. I began getting migraines when I was pregnant, and they continued after that. 

A couple of years ago the intensity of my migraines increased and I started getting aura migraines meaning my hands go numb and I feel nauseous and my head hurts.  It made it impossible to drive, take care of my kids or work.  I would have to call my husband to come home from work and take care of the girls.  

Since meeting Dr. Henry, I take preventative medicine daily and I have rescue medicine when I do get a migraine and it allows me to continue my day.   If my migraine continues for more than 2-3 days, I get nerve blocks. I also get these before traveling as a preventative.  They have been life changing. They instantly take away my migraine.  

Since taking all the preventative medicine I no longer get aura migraines.  

I’m so grateful for the work that Dr. Henry has put into migraines. It’s allowed me to continue my life, without being in constant pain.  I didn’t realize how often I had migraines until I stopped getting them.

My migraines started when I was around 16. I had just started high school and was getting migraines almost every day. It was very discouraging to not be able to enjoy high school the way I had planned. I had to make major changes in order to focus on dealing with my migraines. My migraines got so bad that I couldn't get out of bed. I wasn't able to find any relief and it seemed like I would never get better. Eventually I was able to get all of my credits to graduate high school and had plans to start college in the fall. I began my first semester but quickly had to drop out. Although I was on medication that gave me some relief, it wasn't enough to take away the pain I was having every day from my migraines. Over the next couple of years, I started going back to school on and off. Trying to move through life with migraines was exhausting and discouraging, making me feel beyond hopeless. I wanted so badly to feel normal, pain free, and be able to enjoy life. 

Fast forward about seven years and my life has completely changed. I am living life pretty much migraine free and am enjoying life the way I always wanted to. I am so lucky and grateful that I had Dr. Henry by my side. He really believed in and never gave up on me. Eventually we found something that worked. I started Botox treatment and finally found relief. As I have continued getting Botox injections over the years, I have now reached a point where I am pretty much migraine free (only getting one or two less severe migraines a month.) I am currently a full-time student as well as working full time. I have loved getting back into school, being able to concentrate, focus, and learn. I am about to apply to nursing school and could not be more excited in this chapter of my life. Looking back, I never would have imagined that I would be where I am today, migraine free, living happily, and progressing towards the goals in my life. I feel like I finally have my life back.

I have suffered from chronic migraines since I was in Junior High, a long time. They affect my life daily, even when I don’t have one. The migraines will come on and it makes it so hard to do my work, be a mom, be a wife, to actually feel human! I know it’s so difficult for my husband and daughter to deal with them, it affects them as much as it affects me. I become a different person with migraines, nothing matters, just wishing the pain away and feeling agitated with everything. The guilt sets in also when I have a migraine, knowing that I am burdening my family. It makes it harder for the migraine to go away when I am stressed about it and feeling like those around me shouldn’t have to deal with me. I wish the migraines would just disappear.

My career suffers as well and it’s really difficult to explain that I have another migraine, when I am just getting over the one I had last week! I am lucky to have the job I have now, and my boss is very understanding, but it hasn’t always been that way and I know I burden her as well when I can’t do my job as well as I know I can.

Dr. Henry has been a saving grace in my life, not only for my migraines, but for everything that comes along with them. I suffer from depression, which makes sense when I feel less then human a lot of the time. We have gone through many treatments together and he is always there for me, whether I need a block for my migraine or just need his compassion. He has remained a rock for me and others, always optimistic and always searching for ways to make life with migraines manageable. I can say that without Dr. Henry in my life, I would not be who I am today! I am stronger in my life and especially more considerate to myself when I do have migraines. There is a light that he has given me and I know I will one day not have to deal with so many migraines. I know I can live a normal, healthy life now.

My daughter, Ava, is a beautiful, bright, creative girl with a quick wit and a selfless heart. But on December 3, 2015 her life changed drastically. She slipped off of “pride rock” and received a severe concussion with whiplash. Our pediatrician advised us to see a neurologist who gave Ava a prescription for gabapentin and told her to take Benadryl, ibuprofen and drink a lot of water. He told me he would see her in four months, that was protocol. If the doctor did not seem concerned, why should we be? Fast forward three months. Ava had a constant headache. Light, sound, smells and movement bothered her head. She had special glasses for the ultra violet lights at school. I worked with the school to get her accommodations, but before long she was unable to sit in the classroom. She finished 9th grade doing the bare minimum which was a monumental task for her. 

When we returned to the neurologist, he briefly examined her and announced that she needed to seek help from a psychiatrist and/or a support group for chronic pain because “this is your life now”. Fortunately, I took her in to see our Psychiatrist, Dr. Rachel McCarthey and she recommended we contact Dr. Dan Henry, a specialist in migraine disease. Ava’s initial appointment with Dr. Henry was the first ray of hope we felt in 3 1⁄2 months. He ordered tests, imaging and started her on basic medications to determine what all she had going on. Ava has been seeing Dr. Henry for 3 years. Dr. Henry has given Ava pain relief, support and is always thinking outside the box to help her. When the constant struggle gets tough, he gives her hope. 

Ava should be finishing the 11th grade in June. She has not been able to attend school since the 9th grade. When she is able to do school work it is going to be an uphill battle for me to get her the accommodations she needs. 

When I look at Ava today, I see her potential. The milestones might have changed for the short term; however, her future is bright and I can’t wait to enjoy every minute with her. Ava is strong, brave, patient and resilient. She makes it easy for me to continue to focus on the good, the beautiful, and successes because that is Ava.

I am 41 years old and I had migraines since I was 13 years old. I have been to many doctors and specialists and had many lab and diagnostic tests. I have tried multiple prescriptions, homeopathic remedies, and integrative medicine with little to no relief. 

I have had over 28 years of unrelieved pain, missing school, work, vacations, family time, and a multitude of other activities because of my migraines. My kids and my husband were on eggshells every time I got a migraine because the pain was so intense, it was all I could do to breathe. There are times that if I had a guillotine, I would have very seriously considered using it. Because of the stigma of migraines, I always did my best to hide it but that proves very difficult when you are puking your guts out because the pain is so overwhelming. 

Then I heard about Dr. Henry and his team from a cousin. I was skeptical because many specialists had failed to help me in the past, but I was desperate to find anything or anyone that can help. Dr. Henry and especially his NP, Ruth Kennedy have completely changed my life! I had a very thorough first visit including exam and history. I was educated about the different types of migraines that I was experiencing and was given a regimen of meds for each type and education about migraine triggers and how to avoid them. I had already learned what some of my particular triggers were and the education just reinforced it. Ruth was exceptionally kind, understanding, educated, and thorough. I have been seeing Ruth Kennedy for about 4 months and although I still get migraines, they are less often and less intense. I also have the means to relieve the pain when I do get one.

There is no way to express my gratitude I have for Dr. Henry and his team and the work they are doing. My quality of life has improved dramatically.

My story began when I was in fourth grade, I went to Dr. Henry on a whim, a recommendation by my mom’s coworker. I have been seeing him and participating in clinical trials since I was 9 years old. Dr. Henry has made my life easier and helped me progress through the hardest time I have gone through. 

My migraines were never debilitating, they were only a constant nagging in the back of my head. Days when I wouldn’t have a headache/migraine were scarce when I was 14-15. With the medications I have been put on, we have been able to reign the headaches in and now they are scarce. Recently, I have progressed to such a high point in my life all thanks to Dr. Henry.

It took over 30 years to discover that I had migraines. Standard pediatric diagnoses of GI bugs, motion sickness, food intolerance (certainly nothing neurologic!) danced around, hinting at abdominal migraine. I had headaches too at times, but pain seemed manageable: a specific, perceptible hurdle to outlast. Many days I felt like a fraction of a person, with persistent fatigue, nausea, and mental fog, but still I was thankful that my worst headaches only happened once or twice per month. These days were horrible; unrelenting symptoms of pain with vomiting for 24-48 hours. And I justified that it was my fault for working night shift, eating the wrong food, exercising too much/not enough, or daring to air travel. Occasionally the word “migraine” emerged as a descriptor, like a minor footnote to the whole ordeal.

I fervently researched anything I could in RN school, NP school, and among hospital protocols- hunting for any clues into this problem whose only consistency was interrupting my life. I found little information, and even less in terms of effective treatments.  It wasn’t until I met Dr. Henry that the pieces of the puzzle finally came together- that I had a lifelong neurological condition worthy of attention and treatment. After a nerve block at my first appointment, I had 10 days completely headache-free. I realized that instead of being a fatigued half-human with occasional good days, life was supposed to be full and vibrant with a few headachy days as the exception. I was so hungry for any and all information into my disorder- this unpredictable, life-wasting monster finally had a name, a pathophysiology, and a treatment. It is because of this gift that I received from Dr. Henry that I am compelled to pay it forward— and delighted to do so— working alongside as a nurse practitioner treating migraine disease. Simply having access to hope- hope that there are treatments for migraine now, and there are many more to come- has proven to be the most transformative concept both for my patients and me.

My morning alarm goes off, and I lay there wondering what today will be like.  Will I have a migraine, will I have a mild headache, or God willing, will I have no pain at all? Some say not knowing what tomorrow might bring is exciting, but not to a migraineur. Not knowing, to someone with migraine disease is petrifying. Not knowing what tomorrow might bring, makes me plan for the “what ifs”. I need to have the laundry done, and the refrigerator full, and the house in order just in case I get hit with a migraine. Because if Mama is down, the ship goes down with her! Every time I start to get that horrible pain sneaking into my neck and head means I have to retreat to my “cave” with the blackout curtains, soundproof walls, and no smells. No matter how wonderful and helpful my husband is, no matter how much my kids can now do on their own, I still feel the guilt that I myself have let them down. My pain is not only excruciating physically, but I have struggled mentally as well. Not being enough, not doing enough, and being too much of a burden on others.  My family is my foundation. When I have a migraine, my youngest daughter usually asks me “what pain level are you?” I have to laugh sometimes, because what child knows the pain scale, and also when to and when not to worry? What I want most is for my children to look at me and think I am a strong woman. I don’t want them to look at me and think sick, illness, or pain. 

With the help of Dr. Dan Henry “stronger” is becoming a more attainable adjective for me.  He has helped me cut my migraine days in half and my pain is completely manageable.   I owe so much to Dr. Henry and his staff. I am so grateful for all of his time, his study, and life dedication to this disease. Dr. Henry has changed my life, and he has changed the life of my family.

My migraine journey started when I was 15 years old. For many years, they were predictable, surfacing around my menstrual cycle. In my 20's, the pattern changed and I got them more often. I began journaling and tried what seemed like a hundred different "remedies". In my 30's, it got worse, sometimes 20+ migraine days a month. 

In 2009, for the first time in my life I felt suicidal. The depression and anxiety that comes from living with chronic migraines is very real. I managed to start my own business, get two bachelor’s degrees and even go to graduate school, but that doesn't mean I didn't suffer. When I felt suicidal I wanted to end the pain. I didn't necessarily want to die. I wanted to live, but I didn't know how I would get through the next day. I went to many specialists, trying all the medications and any suggestions they had. 

Finally, my PCP told me about Dr. Henry. We tried various treatments, but again to no avail. I asked him if I could try Botox one time. He felt that since I have more than 15 migraine days a month, insurance would cover it, but I had to show one more month of 15+ days to meet the "requirement." I shook my migraine journal in his face and said, "with all due respect, I can't DO THIS another month." Dr. Henry did something unexpected. He gave me a hug and whispered, "I hear you." It gives me goose bumps as I write this. I FINALLY FELT HEARD! Two weeks later, I had approval. The first round was nothing short of a miracle! My migraines decreased from 15+ days down to 4-8 a month. I felt a whole new lease on life! I was a newly single Mom who had just finished grad school and I finally felt like I could "function.". 

While I'm not cured, I feel like I can start living my life. I received my master’s degree in Marriage and Family therapy and hope to specialize in chronic pain and help those who suffer from migraines. I am forever indebted to Dr. Henry and his staff! They CARE and they LISTEN! THANK YOU!

Fighting migraine is:

Life changing for those of us that are diagnosed with it.

Invisible to those that do not have it.

Gut wrenching for those that love us and can do nothing to ease the pain.

Humbling for the doctors struggling to find effective treatments.

Tragic for those who lose the battle and those that love them.

“I'm not… any of the things that caused me pain
I am not the pieces of the dream I left behind,

 I am light.”

-India Arie, “I am light”

Being a 24-year-old college student with migraine disease is often lonely, depressing, and painful. Every morning, I wake up feeling weak, tired, and uncomfortable. It’s a struggle to get out of bed. On my “good” days, I’m still in pain—often hiding the stabbing, aching, and throbbing that so painfully remind me I’m not normal—and I might never be. In 11 months, I will finally graduate from BYU with a degree in communications. Dr. Henry is confident that I’ll be healthy enough to commit to a full-time job upon graduation. I’m not as sure as he is, but I’m pretending to be. My greatest fear is that I’ll never be able to be a mom. Or if I do become a mom, I won’t be a good one. But there is something inside of me that tells me that I will graduate, I will be able to work a full-time job, and I will become a wife and mother. That something is called hope. And it’s the reason I’m still here. My hope is fed by the hope of others who love me—my parents, Dr. Henry, my grandparents, my Savior, and my Heavenly Parents. This hope gives life to what often feels like a lifeless Amanda. This hope sustains, lifts, and carries me. This hope enables me to love, not blame, my Father in Heaven. Above all, this hope is evidence of God’s love, awareness, and never-ending grace.

Ever since I can remember, I've struggled with migraines and headaches. 

My earliest memory of having a migraine was when I was about 4 years old, but it was just a part of my life. Throughout my childhood, I was always nervous about going to sleepovers or participating in activities at friends' houses because if I got a migraine, it would ruin everyone's day, night, or plans. 

This feeling still keeps me from making too many commitments because I feel that if I say "yes" and have to cancel due to a migraine, people will think it's just the "same old excuse," even though it’s the truth. 

In my 20s, my migraines got much worse. I saw many neurologists who wouldn't even look me in the eye, just asking me what medications I wanted and sending me on my way. I didn't want medication; I wanted help—some sort of resolution. 

After many failed neurologist appointments, a friend referred me to Dr. Longe at Foothill Family Clinic. He was such a blessing and a wonderful doctor, and the most amazing thing he did was refer me to Dr. Dan Henry. 

I've been under Dr. Henry's care for about 8 years now, and although I still experience migraines, they are much better than when I started seeing him. 

Dr. Henry truly shows compassion and understanding for and about this disease and his patients—qualities that no other medical professional I've seen has. 

He has a passion for helping his patients, and I am so grateful for all the help he's given me. I am SO excited about what the future holds for the migraine community with Dr. Henry at the forefront of migraine treatment and research!

Thank you Dr. Henry!

Panic is the best word to describe how it feels. You are so ill that you are rendered paralyzed. How will I take care of my family? Who will take care of me? I used to cry out to my husband, “Please help me.” For all my pain, he too was suffering. No physician seemed to know how to deal with me. Depression set in, and even though I put on a show of “everything is fine,” I was slowly dying inside.

I got my first migraine when my fourth child was about six months old. My three older children were 5, 3, and 1½ at the time. Fast forward 17 years and another six children, and I’m now in a much better place!

Dr. Dorothy Williams and Dr. Dan Henry became my salvation when I found them about two years ago. These physicians are fully committed to listening, understanding, and responding in the utmost kind, compassionate, and professional manner. After incorporating a multifaceted approach (with a lot of trial and error with medicine and other treatments), I am finally seeing a decline in the number and intensity of my migraines. 

I live my life to the fullest, not letting the disease prevent me from doing the things I love—taking care of my 10 children and living an active life: playing tennis, skiing, singing, hiking, going to concerts, volunteering, teaching, creating art, and spending time with my awesome husband! 

“Life is good” is no longer a clever motto for T-shirts; it has become my reality following almost two decades of living in a hellish prison inside my head. I’m sincerely thankful that I made it out alive, and I love how it feels to feel good.

Since last year’s fundraiser, I have continued to learn how to live with chronic migraines. During the first three years of living with chronic migraines, I adjusted my life in practical ways, such as testing food intolerances, adjusting sleep schedules, and staying hydrated. Last year, I focused on understanding emotional triggers, specifically how to listen to my anxiety and depression. I have learned so much about my body’s limits.

This year, I’ve continued to listen to my body but have come to the realization that stress is a significant trigger for me. Living with chronic migraines at 21 is difficult because I should be going to school and building my future. Unfortunately, my future has been put on hold until I learn to manage my body under stress.

Thanks to the success of last year’s fundraiser, the Danielle Byron Henry Migraine Foundation has created the Headache School and an adolescent support group. The adolescent support group has been the most impactful for me. The other participants have been incredibly supportive. I love having a group of friends who truly understand what I’m going through. I no longer feel so alone.

I’ve changed my lifestyle and will continue to make adjustments until I’m able to live a life that is as close to normal as possible.

Thank you for supporting me and my fellow migraineurs by coming tonight! You don’t know what tonight means to us.

My migraines started in February of 2009. I remember looking at a Valentine’s present that a friend had gotten for his girlfriend when my vision began to blur, and I could not read an engraving right before me. Since then, I have never had a full day without pain. I've seen over ten doctors, all of whom knew exactly what was causing the problem and had the magic answer. I went through multiple tests, medications, and other treatments, all ending in the same frustration of being turned away. Being told there was nothing more to try and to start from the beginning with a new doctor starts to feel hopeless. Everything in life is planned tentatively around whether it will be a good day or a bad day, knowing that at any moment, I can go from tolerable to laying flat out in the dark. 

I've been seeing Dr. Henry for over two years now, and since then, I have been able to hold a steady job and return to school. Dr. Henry is the first doctor who has not stopped trying; he refuses to turn me away and is constantly looking for something new to try. He helps me manage my pain and nausea which can become unbearable. Whether it's fitting me in for a last-minute IV, working around my 70-pound service dog, or planning a nerve block right before my final so I can focus on the important things in life rather than the pain, he is always supportive. 

Being able to cope with and manage pain is very different from having it cured. I am enthralled to see how much awareness this has raised that migraines are far worse than any headache you can imagine, and it's never as easy as popping an Excedrin and powering through. Managing depression is a constant battle, but having hope is what drives me to keep trying to live a life as normal as possible. I believe that this is something that can be beaten and that eventually, something will take away my pain.

Migraines have been a recurring nightmare in my life ever since I was 5 years old. Unpredictable, they rear their ugly heads whenever they want to remind me that they are in control of me and my life. No matter what measures I take to prevent them, they are always there in my head and can easily be triggered by even the slightest emotion, like getting excited about something. They have instilled a constant fear and anxiety in my body—never knowing when the next one will come. They are unpredictable. At times, I am scared to open my eyes in the morning because of the pain I may feel indicating a migraine. I'm scared to walk into an unknown area because I might encounter a triggering scent. I'm ever so careful about how I position my neck because the wrong angle can give me an automatic migraine.

Migraines have robbed me of the life I'd imagined for myself and my family. I’ve had to mourn and accept the fact that the perfect picture life I’d always envisioned and worked for wasn't what I thought it would be. I’ve always wanted to be a mom, and in 2009, my husband and I were blessed with a healthy baby boy. He is the world to us! After many health challenges and failed attempts to get pregnant again, we’ve come to the realization that we aren’t able to have any more children of our own. That has been earth-shattering for me. Migraines took my successful career away from me as I had to resign because I could no longer hide them, and a 9-to-5 was impossible for me to be dependable for. They have taken away some of my hobbies and interests because just doing them can cause a migraine. Migraines have stolen relationships from me because I’m not always dependable, having to miss outings at the last minute because an attack has sequestered me to my bed in a dark room. I confuse those I love, and it’s hard for them to understand that I can look completely fine one minute and, within a matter of seconds, be disabled by a migraine. I’m misunderstood by so many people because my migraines are silent. They slowly sneak up on me, sometimes with no warning signs at all. The left side of my face sags (like a stroke patient), and I lose the ability to comprehend others and the world around me as my speech is taken from me. I feel helpless as I try to communicate what is going on to those around me. Anxiety creeps over me daily, wondering if the headache I have could turn into a never-ending migraine (which has happened for 90 days at a time). Looks are deceiving because sometimes they are invisible to the naked eye. They leave me with guilt—guilt that I have to ask for help and take other people away from their busy lives. They steal time and memories from me because I’m unable to attend events. The guilt is insurmountable when I have to explain to my 8-year-old that mom can’t come to something special of his because “I’m sick again!”

Migraines can steal a lot of things from me, but they can’t steal my smile or my life—I won’t let them! I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I can’t control them, no matter how hard I try, what preventive meds I’m taking, or how well I am treating my body; they are in control of me. Giving into that truth petrifies me every day because I’m afraid if I ever do, I will lose my fight. My fight and stubbornness have become a great strength and power in helping me fight off depression, self-doubt, and pity. I’ve learned to be easier on myself and to have compassion for the battle I’m fighting, even when others don’t. Migraines are a lonely disease, and when I found Dr. Henry, he was the on-call doctor for my appendicitis. I quickly realized that he was and is a gift from a higher power. From the moment I met him, I knew deep down that he understood my pain and that he would do everything in his power to help me manage my migraines. I suddenly realized that I no longer had to fight this horrible neurological disease on my own. He has always been there with an optimistic attitude, the latest knowledge, and, most importantly, an empathetic heart. Having a doctor who understands migraines has helped ease my burden of carrying this alone. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Henry and his staff for the time and energy they put into my healing. I will win this fight because of their help.