Chronic Migraine Awareness

Are you aware?

Getting to know CMA’s Director of ARMS; Alicia’s Story

For as long as I can remember, I have lived with migraine disease. Except that, growing up, I didn’t know that’s what it was because no one took me seriously. I was finally diagnosed after my son was born in 2000, when I almost immediately became chronic. Currently, I am considered chronic, intractable status migrainosus, and I have reached the point where medications are failing me.

I came to advocacy by accident, actually. In 2018, I stumbled across CMA and a discussion of something called Headache on the Hill. Cat reached out to me about attending, connected me wit Miles for Migraine, who sponsored my first trip to DC, and the rest is history. From HOH, I discovered both Retreat Migraine and that my voice could be loud, my story important, and my ability to help looking for more opportunities. That has led me here, to be the Director of ARMS for CMA.

In addition to an advocate, I have been married to the love of my life, Chris, since 1996, we have one son, Brogan, and I am the Operations Manager for The Bixby Eye Center in Peoria, IL. Through work, I have the opportunity to work with several community organizations and charities.