The Chronic Migraine Awareness Group (CMA) lost a kind, warm, loving, beautiful and generous soul this past Friday. But her family has lost so much more-a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and best friend. After a long battle with Chronic Migraines and Chronic Illness, she could no longer take the pain anymore. As a close-knit online community we are truly devastated by her loss. A tragic loss that could have been prevented if there were more awareness of the debilitating pain of Chronic Migraine Disease-that the pain is real and it takes a toll on a person’s life as the pain and suffering is never-ending. People need to realize that Migraines are not “just a headache”. It is a REAL neurological disease that not only involves excruciating head pain, but has many other symptoms as well: Partial or total loss of peripheral vision in 1 eye, dizziness/vertigo, persistent nausea, chills, stomach pain, painful stimuli to light, sound and smell. The list goes on. Even those in the Medical Profession have stigmatized Chronic Migraine and when a sufferer goes to the ER when their at home rescue meds fail, oftentimes they are turned away after a long wait and treated with contempt and disbelief-they (we) are often treated as drug seekers and treatment to ease the pain is withheld. Even with primary care, neurologists and headache specialists the standard of care for Migraine Disease is poor, to say the least. So everyone with this dreaded disease is often cut off and left to suffer alone, which adds to the despair.

Melissa reached her breaking point, and even though she counted on her mom as her true friend who stuck by her through thick and thin, she still could not find relief from her chronic non-stop suffering and chronic pain. This is a tragedy that could have been avoided if there were better awareness and better treatment and medical care for this God awful disease. I pray they find it soon before we lose another beautiful, loving and precious soul. God now has a beautiful angel, but she has gone far too soon. Prayers to her mother and the rest of her surviving family and friends as they try to cope with this senseless tragic loss. And we in the CMA community also will try to come to terms with this tragedy and will not let Melissa’s death be in vain. God’s Speed Melissa. RIP.