Finding Relief: How Manning Family Children’s Helped Jaycee Brewster Break Free from Migraines

It all started in May 2021. Jaycee Brewster was seven years old and finishing first grade when she began experiencing severe nausea and frequent vomiting. Her pediatrician prescribed an anti-nausea medication, but within a few months, Jaycee’s condition worsened. She started having uncontrollable, acute headaches. 

“These were more than just headaches. They were so severe that they would upend Jaycee’s day routinely,” explained Monique, Jaycee’s mother. “The school nurse was calling me all the time to pick her up. It was so stressful. Jaycee was in so much pain that we focused each day on just helping her get the headache to pass.”  

After searching for answers, Jaycee and her family were finally referred to Rashmi Rao, MD, a pediatric neurologist at Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans — a connection that would ultimately change everything. 

With June being Migraine Awareness Month, it’s a fitting time to share Jaycee’s story and shed light on the serious impact migraines can have—especially on children. 

A complex puzzle of pain 

After months of nausea and taking medication for her migraines, Jaycee still wasn’t feeling any better. The headaches forced her to miss school and kept her from doing the things she loved. Monique, 36, a social worker, and her husband, Will, 39, a police officer in Louisiana, were left scrambling for solutions. And, they were determined to find them. 

Monique shrugged off people who suggested, perhaps, that Jaycee might just be trying to avoid school. “That’s not Jaycee. She loved school and was a great student,” Monique said. “We knew she was in terrible pain. Helping her cope with the nausea and headaches was always our top priority.” 

In February 2022, the pediatrician did more tests and took a more detailed review of family history; both Monique and her own mother had long histories of migraines and nausea. That news led to another change in medication which led to uncomfortable side effects.  

Over the next few months, Jaycee’s medications were changed, increased and decreased. But nothing seemed to help; her nausea and headaches worsened. 

“It was a roller coaster from the start,” Monique said. “In addition to the severe headaches, Jaycee’s emotional reaction to the pain was difficult for our family. She was so sensitive all of a sudden and began having what I can only describe as temper tantrums when the headaches got so bad.” 

By August 2022, Jaycee’s symptoms were so severe that her family sought care at Manning Family Children’s, the only pediatric neurology center in the state. There, she was evaluated by a nurse practitioner who once again adjusted her medications. 

Still, the migraines continued. In fact, January 2023 brought seven severe episodes in one month alone. Jaycee missed 20 full or partial days of school so far during the 2022–23 school year. 

Dr. Rao takes the lead 

Everything changed on July 20, 2023, when Jaycee met Dr. Rao at Children’s. 

“We liked her from the moment we met her,” Monique said. “She said right away, ‘We are going to figure this out.’ She didn’t just rely on what was in the chart—she asked about everything. She took the time to connect all the dots.” 

At that first visit, Dr. Rao adjusted Jaycee’s medications once again and introduced the idea of trying a Nerivio, an FDA-approved at-home wearable treatment for migraines. The Nerivio is a non-invasive, drug-free neuromodulation therapy worn on the upper arm. It works by stimulating peripheral nerves with electronic pulses, which activate the brain’s natural pain-relief response without affecting the central nervous system 

However, this device is approved for children age 12 and older and Jaycee was still several months away from her 12th birthday. Dr. Rao continued working closely with the family, testing and adjusting Jaycee’s medications until she eventually prescribed Topamax as a preventive treatment for the migraines. 

Unfortunately, time went on and, still, Jaycee’s headaches continued. In fact, some episodes were so intense she had to be taken to the ER. 

A new protocol and a personalized plan 

By Thanksgiving 2023, Dr. Rao had developed a tiered medication protocol to treat Jaycee’s migraines. She would take two medications daily and was prescribed stronger medications for mild to moderate migraines. If the pain got to the severe stage, she could take something even stronger. And, if two doses of the stronger medication failed, Monique could administer a “migraine cocktail” – a mixture of several medications – similar to what Jaycee received during ER visits. 

But, despite all the medications and the Nerivio, Jaycee continued to suffer breakthrough migraines.  

On December 14, 2023, Jaycee landed in the ER once again. This time, Dr. Rao met the family there and adjusted her medications. She also ordered the Nerivio device, which is controlled through a smartphone app. Jaycee was able to attach it to her upper arm and wear it during a 45-minute session. The Nerivio can be used either at the onset of a migraine or on a regular schedule as a preventive treatment. 

With a few final tweaks to her medication regimen and the Nerivio in hand, Jaycee began to improve in early 2024. 

Jaycee experienced fewer migraines and no longer needed the “migraine cocktail” or trips to the ER. Then, on November 22, 2024, Dr. Rao made one final major adjustment: she prescribed Zomig, a nasal spray that quickly stops migraines without harsh side effects. 

Since then, Jaycee hasn’t had a severe migraine. 

“There have been no ER visits in the past nine months,” Monique said. “No calls from school since the end of 2024.” 

Now finishing fifth grade, Jaycee is back to being the happy, artistic child she once was. She loves to draw, paint, and sing in the school choir. She is looking forward to assembling a portfolio and getting ready to test into a Talented Art program for sixth grade.  

Hope for other families 

Today, Jaycee still takes daily medication and keeps her emergency treatments on hand, but her life is no longer defined by migraines. She stopped using the Nerivio every other day and now saves it for when she feels a headache coming on. 

“Now she can be a normal kid,” Monique said. “She’s more involved. She’s happier. She likes school better. I credit Dr. Rao with getting her to where she is today. She was so thorough and involved Jaycee in every step.” 

Dr. Rao encouraged Monique to use the MyChart app to stay in touch, offering prompt responses and continued support—even when Jaycee had to visit ERs closer to home. “She always followed up to check on her,” Monique said. 

Looking back, Monique encourages other parents with children who have severe headaches not to wait.  

“Bring your kid to Manning Family Children’s and get them the help they need. It’s been a life-changing experience for us. We no longer have to worry about Jaycee getting a headache in the middle of something and she is back to being a kid again.” 

As we observe Migraine Awareness Month, Jaycee’s story serves as a reminder that with persistence, support, and expert care, even the most challenging migraine cases can be managed—and kids can get their childhood back. 

For more information about the pediatric neurology program at Manning Family Children’s, please visit: https://www.manningchildrens.org/services/neurosciences/neurology/