Pediatric Pain Camp: Supporting Children With Migraine Through Community
As a child growing up with chronic migraine, I often wished I knew another kid who understood what I was going through. Migraine in children can be deeply isolating, especially when no one around them seems to understand this neurological disorder. I started experiencing migraine attacks when I was eight years old, and it changed the trajectory of my life. Instead of worrying about homework, sports, or spending time with friends, I was thinking about pain, when the next attack would strike, whether I would make it through the school day, or if I’d have to miss out on another activity. I felt like no one truly understood what I was experiencing.
MIGRAINE AT SCHOOL
That feeling of isolation is deeply connected to the mission of the Danielle Byron Henry Migraine Foundation. The Foundation was created in memory of Danielle Byron Henry, who lived with chronic migraine from the age of eight until she died by suicide at 17 in 1999. Like so many children with migraine back then, Danielle did not have a community of peers who understood what she was experiencing. One of the Foundation’s programs, Migraine at School, is a national movement that guides children and families through the complex journey of living with pediatric migraine while also providing resources to help students feel seen, supported, and understood.
SUMMER CAMP
This past month, I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer for a week at the U.S. Pain Foundation’s Pediatric Pain Warrior Family Summer Camp at Morgan's Camp in San Antonio, Texas. The camp is held annually through the U.S. Pain Foundation’s Pediatric Pain Warrior Program, with support from sponsors including the Danielle Byron Henry Migraine Foundation.
Kate Whipple, Program & Operations Coordinator at Danielle Foundation, spent the week at Pediatric Pain Warrior Camp.
The five-day, four-night camp is designed exclusively for pediatric pain warriors and their families, creating a supportive environment where they can connect, learn, and have fun together.
Kate Whipple with Nicole Hemmenway on the left, CEO of U.S. Pain Foundation, and Casey Cashman on the right, Director of the Pediatric Pain Warrior Program.
Many people have felt pain, but few understand what it is like when that pain never leaves. Finding even one person who truly understands what you're going through can be life-changing, and that is exactly what I witnessed throughout the week.
On the first day, I watched the campers walk through the doors with huge smiles on their faces, so excited for the week ahead. Looking around, you would not have known the invisible battles so many of them face each day. Throughout the week, I met incredible children with a variety of chronic pain conditions, including many who live with pediatric migraine. It was so special to see them connect with each other and experience the kind of understanding and community that the Danielle Foundation and Pediatric Pain Warrior Family Summer Camp work to create.
Kate Whipple experiences everything the Pediatric Pain Warrior Family Summer Camp has to offer.
There is so much power in letting people witness your pain. It's not an easy thing to do, and it can feel incredibly vulnerable. Sometimes it feels safer to hide what you're going through than to admit just how hard things really are. But when you allow people in, something begins to shift. Sharing your pain won't make it disappear, but it can make it feel less heavy to carry.
I think that's what keeps me going. My own experience with chronic migraine has allowed me to connect with others in a way I never could have otherwise. While I would never wish this journey on anyone, I am grateful that it has given me the ability to sit beside someone in their pain and simply understand.
One of the biggest things I learned this week is that pain doesn't have to define you. Pain changes you, but it doesn't take away your ability to laugh, make friends, or find joy.
I hope every child living with migraine gets to experience this kind of community and understanding. Because while we can't always take away the pain, we can make sure no child has to carry it alone. I'm forever grateful for the time I spent at the Pediatric Pain Warrior Family Summer Camp and for every child and family who reminded me just how powerful it is to be seen, understood, and supported.
SUPPORT FOR PARENTS
Children are not the only ones who need support while navigating life with chronic pain. Migraine in children affects the entire family, and parents and caregivers also need a place where they can connect with people who understand the challenges, fears, and responsibilities that come with caring for a child in pain.
Migraine at School partners with the U.S. Pain Foundation to host a monthly Parent Peer Support Group. The group allows parents to connect with others who understand their journey and reminds families that they do not have to navigate it alone.