I want to make this post as a shout to my current and former migraine sufferers. There is a certain toughness and determination that I find in some migraine sufferers. Those who know, they may not have a full work week because at any moment a migraine may creep up on them and spoil it, so they work and live harder other days. Those who have braved far greater pains than the normal course of life typically throws at you.
When I was under 10 and suffering from headaches and migraine regularly, my friends and I used to wrestle each other. It was kind of like an every man for himself brawl of sorts. I had some big friends growing up but for some reason it regularly came down to me (who used to be much more frail) and one of my shortest friends. He and I would typically fight for another whole hour and I would win an overwhelming percentage of matches, which made me feel like the toughest friend around. There wasn't a single 7-10 year old who could put me in a headlock more painful than any migraine.
One day all the way back then, my friends and I were sitting around and the conversation came up about who was the toughest in the elementary school. Many names came up, but not mine. I waited and even suggested my friend who would regularly last the longest with me in those wrestling matches. After a long while when it seemed the conversation was dying down, I finally suggested myself and to my surprise was met with a roar of laughter. I didn't think it was so funny as I was regularly beating these big dudes up, but according to my one friend, I couldn't be the toughest because I was always getting headaches and migraines. Everyone seemed to share his sentiment. I remember not even taking it so personally, they were kids and couldn't understand what I was going through.
As CEO of Rayforma, I am fighting for all those migraine people who are seen as some kind of soft whereas most migraine people are far from it. I am fighting for the people who may be misunderstood because of their susceptibility to migraine and feel they are unable to be the best version of themselves. I am fighting for the professional who thinks they'd be the best at their craft if it wasn't for their crippling migraines. I am fighting for the athlete who plays through the headache but cannot possibly play through the migraine (Rayforma's planned device has a good track record of dealing with headaches & migraines for what it's worth). The mom who cannot attend all of her children's' events because of migraine even though she desperately wants to be there for her family. So many examples with one billion people currently experiencing migraine worldwide...
Rayforma will be funded because even if my painful migraines disappeared, the grit that was gained from fighting through so many didn't go away. I hope it never will.
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