ATTAINING HER GOALS — Gabrielle Mazzaro obtained two degrees from Franciscan University of Steubenville despite having to struggle daily with migraines. Her accomplishments come from behind-the-scene journeys which involved having a routine to follow. The 23-year-old Weirton woman won the AbbVie Migraine Career Catalyst Award. -- Contributed

WEIRTON — Migraines. Those who do not have them will never truly understand them.

The pain. The fog. The effects they can cause, the way they steal hours, sometimes days, from a life.

For Gabrielle Mazzaro, they have been a constant companion since childhood.

She was only 10 when the first migraine struck.

Now, at 23, she reflects how she has lived more with migraines than without.

VOLUNTEERING FOR OTHERS — Weirton resident Gabrielle Mazzaro shows her online work volunteering for the Migraine World Summit, an online education and advocacy community that brings together experts and patients from around the globe. -- Contributed

“I have lived more years with migraine than I haven’t,” she began. “It has shaped my entire life.”

Mazzaro grew up in Weirton, attending St. Paul’s Catholic Grade School and Madonna High School before earning two degrees from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

She obtained a bachelor of science in accounting, cum laude, in May 2024, and a master of business administration in May.

Throughout those years of study, migraines were a constant shadow.

“Much of my journey happened quietly and behind the scenes,” Mazzaro explained. “So much of migraine happens in silence — and this recognition feels, in many ways, like someone finally hearing it.”

In November, she was named one of 20 recipients to receive the AbbVie Migraine Career Catalyst Award, a national initiative that invites people living with migraines to share their stories and professional aspirations.

The recognition comes with support for career development — whether through education, training or creating healthier work environments.

She never thought she would win the contest, she explained.

But, being encouraged by a group message from the Migraine World Summit community, she decided to submit her essay anyway, assuming her chances were slim.

“People were applying from all over,” she said.

The contest drew entries from across the country, representing a broad mix of professions and life stages.

Each story carried a common thread: Resilience, ambition and a determination to redefine what is possible … despite the challenges migraine presents.

Two weeks later, she received the message.

At first, she thought it was spam. Then came the realization.

She had, in fact, won the contest. “For the first time, I felt as though someone had finally heard me,” Mazzaro recalled. “And that meant everything to me.”

The statistics are staggering.

Migraines affect one in six people, which translates to 40 million people in the United States alone having the illness.

With this many people suffering, it should come as no surprise how the effects touch nearly every workplace across America.

There are 113 million work hours lost every day due to migraines.

These numbers might speak to the enormity of the challenge, but still do not speak to the courage it can take for these individuals to keep moving forward.

Yet despite its widespread impact, awareness and understanding remain limited.

Mazzaro knows this quite well.

“Migraines began for me at a young age, long before I understood what was happening” she stated. “Living with an invisible illness can be incredibly isolating. You can look completely fine on the outside while battling something that affects your ability to think, function or even stand upright. Throughout college and graduate school, there were days when I wondered how I would keep going.”

Her neurologist and care team played a meaningful role.

“They didn’t just treat me — they believed me,” she recalled. “I truly believe I would not be the person I am today without the support they continue to provide, along with the support of my family and friends.”

“Having people who validated my experience made a tremendous difference,” she continued. “It taught me that seeking help is not something to delay or feel ashamed of. Migraine can be unpredictable, and asking for help early can make a profound difference.”

That search for understanding eventually led her to the Migraine World Summit, an online education and advocacy community that brings together experts and patients from around the globe.

Hosted every March, the summit is free and accessible to anyone.

“It was the first place where I felt truly understood and reassured that what I was living with was real,” she exclaimed.

In August, she began volunteering with the summit’s social media team.

“That experience gave me a sense of purpose and connection that reshaped the way I viewed my own story,” she continued. “I found community in the Migraine World Summit, and it makes the work we do feel deeply meaningful. Every part of that experience helps me show up today with a stronger voice, and it’s one of the reasons being selected as an honoree means so much to me.”

Daily life with migraine requires pacing, limits and communication.

“On difficult days, I focus on grounding myself, stepping away when needed and doing what I can to stay centered until the pain passes,” Mazzaro added.

Migraine, she said, taught her resilience long before she entered the workforce.

“It shaped the way I organize my day, adapt to challenges and show compassion for others. People with migraine show strength that most will never see — but we feel it every single day.”

As a recent graduate searching for her first full-time role, Mazzaro carries those lessons into her professional life.

“Migraine taught me patience, adaptability and the ability to problem-solve — even when circumstances are difficult,” she stated. “It also taught me empathy — you never really know what someone else might be carrying. These are qualities I hope to bring into my career.”

Her advice to others living with migraine is heartfelt: “Seek help when you need to. I waited too long to seek help. But now, I have a treatment plan and a team that is amazing and supportive to me. They make me feel heard.”

And her message to the wider community is one of hope.

“You’re not alone — there are communities, resources and people who understand,” she concluded. “Migraine does not take away your talent, your ambition or your potential. You’re allowed to take care of yourself and still chase big goals. Advocating for your needs is not an inconvenience or a burden — it is a form of strength.”

Many living with migraine continue to face stigma, bias and insufficient support in their professional lives.

For many, migraine carries stigma. It is too often dismissed as “just a headache.”

But those who live with it know better.

They know the way light can pierce like a blade, how sound can rattle the mind, how even the simplest tasks can feel impossible.

And they know the quiet victories — the mornings when they rise … despite the pain.

The days when they push through.

The moments when they refuse to surrender their dreams.

The AbbVie Migraine Career Catalyst Award is meant to honor those victories and was created to help close that gap, providing resources and visibility for those whose careers have been disrupted by migraine.

“We recognize that migraine doesn’t just interrupt workdays, it can alter career trajectories,” stated Jag Dosanjh, senior vice president at AbbVie.

The company, which offers three prescription treatments across the spectrum of migraine, has partnered with patients, providers and advocacy groups to better understand the challenges faced in the workplace.

AbbVie is the only company to offer three prescription treatments designed to meet patient needs across the full spectrum of migraine.

Its commitment goes beyond medicine.

Through research and partnerships with patients, health care providers and advocacy organizations, AbbVie has sought to understand the challenges people living with migraine face in the workplace.

For Mazzaro, the recognition is more than just an award.

It is a validation of her journey — a reminder that her struggle is seen, her perseverance honored.

It is a light in the fog.

A reminder that her future matters. That her resilience is seen.

Migraine may shape her days … but it will not silence her voice.

For Mazzaro, the journey continues.

The pain may not vanish, but the recognition offers hope.

And in that hope lies the possibility of a future where her story — and the stories of millions like hers — inspire change, compassion and progress.

With this award, Mazzaro is stepping forward, carrying the weight of her struggle but now, the hope of her dreams.