To all of my TheDizzyCook.com readers, emailers, commenters, and recipe makers: thank you so much for inspiring me and encouraging me to be a better cook, writer, and researcher. Every comment or email I receive where someone says they cut their migraine days in half (or more!) because of my recipes and tips warms my heart. It pushes me to keep going, even when some days are extra hard.
To my husband, Casey, who is the best thing that ever happened to me. Thank you for all the late-night grocery runs, the countless dishes you washed, and for picking me up off the kitchen floor and giving me the greatest bear hugs every time I moaned that I couldn’t possibly cook anymore. But most of all, thank you for believing that I was capable of something greater when I was stuck in my dead-end job and when I stayed on the couch for weeks at a time, too ill with this “mysterious illness” to even walk or drive. Every day I’m grateful that the way to your heart was, in fact, through your stomach. Also, sorry for all the times I yelled at you to get out of the fridge because all the food in it needed to be photographed.
To my family and friends, for all your support for this book, but also the countless doctors’ appointments and making an effort to understand that vestibular migraine isn’t just a headache. Mom & Dad, thank you for being proud of me even when I wasn’t proud of myself. And Ann & Van, thank you for allowing me to take over the Wolf family Thanksgiving so I could test my recipes. Your excitement over this book means everything to me.
To my editor, Jen, whom I’m convinced is Superwoman and inspires me to be the best boss lady I can be, even with VM. You believed in me from the very beginning, and I could not be more honored that you chose to work with me. Thank you for your (very) gentle guidance, your encouragement, and your friendship. Rachel, Olivia, and Angie: thank you for also helping me bring this vision to life, and for doing it in such a beautiful way.
To all my migraine buddies, especially Jennifer and Kayla: I value the friendship we have built through an incredible hardship. If there’s one positive thing that’s come from this, it’s knowing you guys and being able to lean on each other through the hard days. You both have helped me in so many ways with The Dizzy Cook, and I cannot thank you enough. Kayla McCain, you are a marketing genius and I owe you many meals as payment for all your help! Also the rest of my Migraine Strong team—Eileen, Danielle, and Marina—who have supported me since day one and taught me so much… and not just about migraine!
My deepest gratitude to Dr. Shin Beh and his team at UTSW for being the first doctor who didn’t make me feel totally crazy. It’s because of you I have “100% days” again. Thank you also to the other doctors who have furthered my education into this illness and become advocates for the VM community: Dr. Edward Cho, Dr. Timothy Hain, and Dr. Michael Teixido.
Dr. David Buchholz, your book gave me hope that I might live a normal life again. Thanks also to Paula, Carl, and the Migraine Again and MWS team for continuing to push for more education, awareness, and research into Migraine Disease. Last but definitely not least, VeDA. I have so much love for y’all and how you spread much-needed awareness about vestibular disorders, like Vestibular Migraine. I’m looking forward to the day that the IHS classifies Vestibular Migraine as an actual type of Migraine!
Thanks to Megan Weaver for making me look good, and to Erin Tindol for the beautiful photographs of Jennifer Bragdon, The Dizzy Baker.