It's been nearly 2 years since my last post. So much has happened during this time.
I became a spokesperson for Fremanezumab. An entire production team was at my house for a day. It was exciting and a bit terrifying because I had a migraine attack. We worked around it, and I am proud of the the videos they produced. Here is one of three videos in which I appeared. It's my favorite.
Since using Ajovy, my monthly headache/migraine days have gone from about 17 to 5 or 10. It's truly been life changing.
I did a spot for Biohaven for "Demand More for Migraine" on my local TV station.
I retired from my part-time job as the supervisor of reproductive health for Okemos Public Schools in Michigan. Before I retired in June, 2020, I made sure all the lessons for grades 4 through high school were available digitally. I also did a presentation on using the Google Suite of classroom tools for the Eaton RESA in October of 2019. Little did we know at the time how prescient that instruction would be in this year of Covid.
I volunteered to be the treasurer of the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. We do an annual Hill Day, which will be virtual in 2021. I am learning the online version of Quickbooks, which is keeping me busy. We hired Carole Bernard, our amazing new executive director, and I participated in this search with other members of the board.
I became the secretary for the National Headache Foundation. I am also the chair of the NHF Patient Leadership Council, which consists of a diverse group of about 16 advocates. We provide feedback, ideas, and the patient perspective to NHF initiatives. Our executive director, Mary Franklin, retired in November. Because of my previous experience with the AHDA search, I volunteered to lead the search committee. I am very pleased with our new Executive Director, Tom Dabertin. He brings a different set of skills to the NHF.
I volunteer for CHAMP, and am currently on their stigma committee. It is our belief that stigma and misunderstandings about headache diseases are the root cause behind the lack of employer, educational, physician, patient, and care-giver education. We are creating tools to address this. One project is called Migraine at School, which was designed for students, parents, and educators.
At one point, I think I was working more hours on my volunteer projects than I ever did with my paid position with Okemos Schools. I have a hard time saying "no." The work is very rewarding, and there is so much more to do.
Like most people, I am looking forward to 2021 with renewed hope, commitment to addressing the disparities and stigma associated with headache, and educating patients, physicians, educators, and care partners.
Here's to 2021!
