Kathy O’Shea, an English professor at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY, has navigated the challenges of living with chronic migraines. Her personal journey with migraines spans 44 years, a topic she delves into in her book, "So Much More Than a Headache: Understanding Migraine through Literature," available on Amazon.

Kathy was deeply inspired by Joan Didion's essay "In Bed" during a terrible migraine episode. As a result, she decided to help others use literature as an additional resource for managing pain. 

Her adventurous side has taken her to explore glaciers in Iceland and navigate the water rapids of Alaska's ANWR (Alaska National Wildlife Refuge).
Recently diagnosed with POTS, Kathy shares her life with her husband and two beloved pets: a cat and a golden retriever named Oliver. 
Here is Kathy’s story on how she turned her pain into strength