Finding Relief: How One Young Soccer Star and His Family Took on Migraines With Help From Manning Family Children’s

At just 13 years old, Eli Dunn-Mangum is already accustomed to performing under pressure. As a competitive goalkeeper in the Olympic Development Program and a standout on Louisiana Fire’s ECNL soccer team, he spends most of his time in cleats. He trains multiple days each week and spends weekends traveling for games. When he is not on the field, he’s in the kitchen or the classroom. He enjoys cooking and is a dedicated student who consistently makes the honor roll. Soccer is the center of his world, and his family has rallied around his passion. 

“Pretty much everything revolves around soccer,” said his mom, Emalie Dunn-Mangum. “Eli is really driven. Soccer has given him amazing experiences.” 

Some of those experiences include training in Madrid with top youth players and receiving invitations to programs affiliated with West Ham United and Manchester City. He also trained with FC Barcelona when he was younger, an opportunity that helped spark his love for the game. 

While Eli has had many exciting moments on the pitch, he has also faced a quiet struggle off the field. Around the age of 8, Eli began to complain about headaches. At first, the symptoms were easy to dismiss; but over time, they became harder to ignore. 

“He’d say his stomach hurt, and then he would ask to lie down,” Emalie said. “That was unusual for him. He’s not the kind of kid who naps or wants to rest. He’s always been full of energy. That’s when I started to suspect something more was going on.” 

Eli’s mom Jennifer Mangum was also starting to get concerned. “I knew things were serious when Eli wouldn't want to go to soccer practice.”  

Because Emalie has experienced migraines herself, she recognized the signs, but finding the right kind of care for a child with migraines proved difficult. When the family moved to New Orleans in 2020, she began searching for a pediatric neurologist. Through their own research and advice from friends in the medical field, including Elizabeth Swanson Milvid, MD at Hales Pediatrics in New Orleans, they found neurologist Jessica Gautreaux, MD, at Manning Family Children’s. 

“Dr. Gautreaux has been amazing. She’s the kind of doctor who talks directly to Eli, not just to us, which really made him feel valued. From the very beginning, she was focused on what he was experiencing,” Emalie said. 

During their first visit in 2023, Dr. Gautreaux diagnosed Eli with pediatric migraines and explained that his symptoms were very typical, even though they presented with stomach discomfort first.  

“He would get them three or four times a month,” she said. “And once he had one, he was out for hours. The only thing that helped was putting him in a dark room and letting him sleep through it. That’s hard to watch as a parent. You just want to help, but it felt like there weren’t many options.” 

At first, Eli tried a medication known as a triptan, which is commonly used to treat migraines. The medication helped with the pain, but the side effects left him exhausted. “It would knock him out for hours,” Emalie said. “That wasn’t ideal for a kid who wants to train and stay on top of schoolwork.” 

Then came a new opportunity. Dr. Gautreaux told the family about a clinical trial testing a novel migraine medication in children. The drug was already approved for adults and Eli met the criteria to be part of the study. 

“We left the decision up to him,” Emalie said. “He thought about it and said, ‘I want to do it because I know there are other kids like me who could benefit from this.’ That was his choice. He felt it was important.” 

Since joining the trial, the results have been life-changing. “Now, when he starts to feel a migraine coming on, he can take the medication and be back up in 30 to 45 minutes. That’s a huge difference from being out for 4 to 5 hours,” Emalie said. 

She still remembers the first few times Eli tried the new medication. “It was honestly emotional,” she said. “We were told to be with him when he took it, just to observe. Within half an hour, he was up, smiling, saying, ‘Let’s go!’ It was such a relief.” 

The team at Manning Family Children’s has been with the family every step of the way. Emalie says the experience has been nothing but positive, from the doctors to the research staff to the person who greets them at the door. 

“Everyone there is kind. They’re trained to work with children, and they treat Eli like a whole person. Not just a patient, but someone who has opinions and a voice. They listen to him, they explain things clearly, and they make him feel like he belongs there,” she said. 

One of the staff members who stood out was Katy Peneguy, who oversees documentation for the clinical trial. “Katy was wonderful,” Emalie said. “She met us on day one, gave us a full tour, and built a connection with Eli. She walked us through what to expect and made him feel comfortable with the whole process.” 

Although the trial is almost complete, the family will continue seeing Dr. Gautreaux for regular care. Emalie said they are hopeful the medication will be approved more widely soon, so other children can benefit from what has helped Eli. 

“We’re so grateful for this experience,” she said. “There is nothing harder than seeing your child suffer, but this gave him a chance to take control of something that felt out of his hands for so long. It’s given him part of his life back.” 

As the family nears the end of the study, they say they’re incredibly thankful to have found the care they needing at Manning Family Children’s. 

“They gave us a solution we didn’t know existed. They gave Eli his energy and freedom back, and for that, we’re incredibly thankful,” Emalie said. 

If your child is experiencing frequent headaches, stomach discomfort, light sensitivity, or needs to lie down more often than usual, it may be worth speaking with your pediatrician. Specialists like Dr. Gautreaux at Manning Family Children’s can help families find relief and reclaim the moments that matter. To learn more, visit the Pediatric Headache Clinic at Manning Family Children's. 

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About Manning Family Children’s:

Manning Family Children’s is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Manning Family Children’s offers a comprehensive array of specialized pediatric services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, Children’s operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Children’s offers primary care at 17 convenient locations, along with a network of statewide pediatric affiliations. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at manningchildrens.org.