I don’t know anything about this person or story, but I think you’re right.
I once landed on a website with a bright, hot pink flashing image, and immediately went into a migraine with the ‘aura’ and everything. It lasted about twenty minutes. And I remember reading about seizures being set off in susceptible people experiencing ‘flashing’ or a strobe effect, when driving through stands of trees when the sun is bright. I think it’s called photosensitive epilepsy.
Heck, sometimes I wonder if I am susceptible...driving with the light coming through trees like that gets a bit uncomfortable for me. I sure don’t like it.