Meet Lorraine Arvizu of Tucson, Arizona, a woman with chronic migraine and one of 15 winners of the Rewrite Your Day contest. As a winner, Lorraine got to work with celebrity event planner Mindy Weiss to re-create a special moment lost to chronic migraine.
Lorraine's story:by Lorraine Arvizu
Migraines have been a part of my life for a long time, but I was officially diagnosed with chronic migraine—a condition that causes me to experience at least 15 headache days per month with headaches lasting four hours a day or longer—approximately 10 years ago.
Over the years, I've learned how to function with chronic migraine, but sometimes the headache lasts up to two days, making it very difficult for me to push through the pain. As a result, I've had to miss out on many special moments with my family and friends, though none more important than my wedding day in 1983.
Like any bride-to-be, I anxiously awaited the big day and carefully planned every last detail, but all I could do to prepare for a headache or migraine was hope and pray that I wouldn't get one. I woke up the day of the wedding feeling OK, but as I walked down the aisle, I began to feel the pain in the back of my head. The headache came on strong, and I tried to fight through it during the ceremony. My husband could see the disappointment in my eyes, and I finally admitted to him that I had a migraine.
Following the ceremony, I excused myself to lie down in a dark room for blocks of time, while my wonderful husband did his best to greet the guests and explain my intermittent disappearances. I wasn't even able to eat our wedding cake because the nausea was too severe.
All I wanted to do was celebrate my new marriage and dance with my husband and our guests, but I simply was unable to participate in the festivities. I was devastated that chronic migraine caused me to miss out on what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life.
Nearly 30 years later, my husband still sympathizes when I have a headache or migraine and tries to make me as comfortable as possible. Luckily, my chronic migraine is now better managed since I am working with a headache specialist. If you are experiencing headaches at least 15 days per month, with headache lasting four hours a day or longer, I recommend that you see a specialist who can work with you to manage your condition.
My Re-creation:
I was thrilled to be a winner of the Rewrite Your Day contest and have the chance to rewrite aspects of my wedding day. Celebrity event planner Mindy Weiss created an elegant and intimate celebration, which gave me the opportunity to relive the most important moments I missed during my original wedding. I was thrilled to walk down the aisle again and renew my vows with my best friend and husband. And I was actually able to welcome and greet my guests, pose for pictures with my husband and family and even enjoy my wedding cake.
To learn more about the campaign or to find a headache specialist in your area, visit www.RewriteYourDay.com. For more information on chronic migraine, click here.
