SKYDIVE FOR OUCH

Hey everyone,

My name is Layla, 4 years ago, i received a diagnosis that changed my life. I was diagnosed with cluster headaches, many of you would have never have heard of this diagnosis, neither had i. The diagnosis is also known as "suicide headaches" pain so excruciating, unfortunately it drives people to take their own lives, people with a cluster head diagnosis are 20 times more likely to commit suicide.

It took me 3 years to get a diagnosis, 3 years of countless arguments, incorrect diagnosis, wrongly given medication, countless hospital appointments until i seen a specialist in Manchester where i was then living, i was so relieved when i finally got the correct diagnosis because it finally meant

1. I could be treated correctly

2. I wasn’t insane!

Cluster headaches are so commonly misdiagnosed, meaning suffers much like myself have to injure long unnecessary trails for other illnesses that obviously don't help. It so tiring fighting the clusters, and battling for the right treatment.

People hear the term "headache" and have told me to "lay down" "take a paracetamol", the pain is excruciating, it has drove me to physically hurt myself, breaking my fingers and regularly biting through my skin. The thing is i don’t get angry at the people who suggest these thing as not enough awareness is made about this condition.

The Attacks last anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours, i use oxygen and inject myself with sumatriptan to abort the attacks.

After attacks, i can't walk, i lose motor skills and struggle to string sentence together.

Some days are good days, some days are awful, but everyday is a chance to spread awareness...

I will be doing this skydive with my sister who has been by my side supporting me since my diagnosis, and continues to now..

Recently a young girl has been in contact with me who has been diagnosed, she has inspired me to talk out about the condition and raise awareness..

I want to raise as much money and awareness for cluster headaches, as not all disabilities are visible!

Thank you for reading this

Thank you for your support :)

It means the world