A Parent ' s Lament by Sandra Jaspen Hughes
THE POWER OF WORDS
HEADACHE THERAPY COMES IN MANY FORMS. Although most sufferers need help managing the physical pain, others are looking for an emotional release. For these people, putting their thoughts, emotions, struggles and triumphs down on the page can be a great way to reach out to others who don’ t understand what it’ s like to live with a potentially debilitating headache disorder.
A Parent ' s Lament by Sandra Jaspen Hughes
He was just a baby, but I knew The signs were there, I could see his pain. A sudden shriek, alligator tears. He clung to me in his anguish. Help me. Help him. Help me help my son.
Blond, blue eyed, and smiling, Running, climbing, tumbling, laughing-and then He needed to stop. He needed to sleep. It hurt. He hurt. I hurt.
I can’ t go to school, it’ s too bright. I need to stay in bed, turn off the light. I’ m missing my friends. I’ m missing my field trip. I’ m missing my life. He’ s not making this up. Can’ t someone help?
Mama, I can’ t see one side of the TV. Mama, I can’ t see all my fingers. Help me, Mama. I’ m scared, Mama. Make it go away, Mama. Make it go away.
In April, winners were announced for the Putting Our Heads Together Migraine Poetry Contest— the brainchild of patient advocate and author Teri Robert. She started the contest, which she runs on her website www. helpforheadaches. com, in 2001 to help raise awareness of migraine and headache disorders.
“ These disorders can make people feel very isolated and lonely,” Robert says.“ Writing is a good creative outlet. When we write and share poetry about our migraines and headaches, it helps relieve those feelings.”
This year, she received 80 entries, all of which are posted on her website.
“ The entries were dazzling,” Robert says.“ Judging them took us from smiling to laughing to crying and back again. The depth of emotion and the impact of the poems entered in this contest never cease to amaze me.”
The following poem won first place.
Tall, blond, athletic, dynamic. Playing forward in the Big Game. The noise is unbearable, The court is swaying; Come pick me up, I can’ t drive home.
Of course he’ s in school. What do you mean? He’ s not in his class? Where is he? Find him, don’ t punish him, help him. Safe! Sound asleep in the school library.
My baby is sick and needs help. My son just wants to be normal. He’ ll say he has the flu. He’ ll say he has a cold. Putting on a face, he tries to mask the excruciating, yet invisible pain.
What will happen when he grows up? Can he earn a living? Will someone love him? It’ s not“ just” a headache. It defines his every decision. Did I do this to him? Is it my fault? Is it his?
If nothing can stop the pain, what will happen next?
The man has a headache. The headache has hold of the man. Relentless is the pain. Brave and courageous, he searches for relief, for cures. Help him. Help us. Help him live his life.
© Sandra Jaspen Hughes, 2011 www
If you want to read more great poetry from the Putting Our Heads Together Migraine Poety Contest, visit www. helpforheadaches. com.
www. headwisemag. org | National Headache Foundation 47