wise words
NAME: Sheila Jones-Lineberry RESIDENCE: Orangeburg, S. C. CONDITIONS: Migraines, cluster headaches
FIRST DIAGNOSED: Suffered an aneurysm in 1978, and headaches began shortly after the surgery
Photography by Morgan Anderson
What’ s the most frustrating thing about living with migraine? I can’ t articulate what I go through when I have a migraine. People look at me and say,“ You’ re always so happy-go-lucky. You couldn’ t be as sick as you’ re saying.” That’ s what the public thinks when they look at you— you’ re pretending. I’ ve stopped trying to convince people I’ m sick.
What are you most thankful for? Having a supportive family. My mother suffered from migraine so she was really, really supportive. My dad was supportive of my headaches, too. And now that I’ m married, my best support system is my husband, Isiah.
What’ s your greatest achievement? I think my greatest achievement is the fact that I was able to rear wonderful, God-fearing children.
How do you live your day-to-day life? When my kids used the word“ can’ t,” that was like profanity in my household. We’ d say,“ What do you mean you can’ t? You can do anything.” And that’ s the way I try to live. Anything I think I can do, I try to do. I’ m the little engine that could.
What’ s your favorite book? The Bible— reading the Healing Scriptures.
What’ s your idea of happiness? Living from day to day and week to week with as few migraines as possible.
SHEILA JONES-LINEBERRY is an early-childhood coordinator for Save the Children at Dover Elementary School, Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5.
48 HEAD WISE | Volume 1, Issue 2 • 2011