At 15, Ella Wright had been battling painful headaches for years when she was eventually diagnosed with accommodative infacility. She went through months of eye therapy, and while her eyes began focusing correctly, the headaches still didn’t go away. That’s when her family returned to the doctor this time, they were referred to Nemours Children’s Health in Jacksonville, Florida.
Before Nemours, Ella struggled with frequent, debilitating headaches. Her family described her as “relying on over-the-counter medication more than five days a week just to get through the day. After school, she’d go straight to bed, needing a dark, quiet room to cope with the pain.” The constant discomfort affected her mood, her energy, and her ability to enjoy daily life.
We live in Georgia and weren’t familiar with Nemours,” her family said. “But everyone there has been wonderful. Dr. Janet Leon, Nemours pediatric neurologist, is outstanding—she’s a great listener, very friendly, and genuinely empathetic. She asked thoughtful questions and really understood everything Ella had been going through.”
Under the care of Dr. Leon, Ella began a new treatment plan that included daily medications, along with better hydration and consistent sleep. “While she still gets them, most aren’t as intense and no longer interfere with her daily activities,” her family said. “We’re feeling very positive about her recovery.”
Dr. Leon shared, “I see children like Ella every day. When the child suffers, the entire family does too. This can be a debilitating disease, but my goal is to empower my patients to use the tools we currently have, like medications if needed, but ultimately not to need to depend on daily medications their entire lives.”
She added, “The reason I decided to become a headache neurologist is because during my residency training at Mayo Clinic, I saw adults who had headaches as children and were misdiagnosed or mistreated. By the time they arrived at the headache specialist 10–30 years later, their headaches were extremely difficult to manage. My hope is that by identifying these children early and educating them, they’ll live happy, healthy lives and never see an adult neurologist who wonders why they’ve suffered for so long.”
Ella is now back doing what she loves most. “She’s very active in her high school band and is excited to participate more fully now that she’s feeling better,” her family said. “With continued care and healthy habits, we’re optimistic that she’ll keep making progress.”
As part of Headache Awareness Week, Ella’s family hopes their story helps others feel less alone. “Looking back, we wish we had asked to see a specialist sooner,” they said. “Keep track of symptoms, advocate for your child, and listen to what they’re feeling.”
