MY NIGHTMARE! My stroke story….

Last fall, I was plagued with a series of massive headaches. Around Christmas, I had 7 of them. I had an MRI on January 6, 2012 but they couldn’t find anything wrong I collapsed on the morning of January 10, 2012. I had a tear in my carotid artery. I was getting better after three days in ICU, and then I had a massive stroke.

I was conscious the whole time, but I could not get to my call button. I laid there alone in the dark for an hour. That was the worst time I ever knew.

Imagine being alone and terrified because I was trapped by my body. I could not communicate. I lost my ability talk.

My whole family came to see me in the hospital. I was devastated because I thought my family was going to tell me that I was going to die. It was a horror I cannot ever forget.

Fast-forward, I was in the hospital 18 days including 7 days in ICU. For 7 days, I could not even say “Ethan or Heather.” My name was a mystery to me. I couldn’t name anything. I had to learn everything again.

Two months ago, Heather drove me to Lucky Peak because I wanted to take a picture about how it felt to be so alone and desperate. Here is the photo.

Now, my life is an array the doctors, therapy, and appointments. I have 6 therapies a week. A have a lot of homework. What is “math!”

It seems like it was so long ago since my stroke, but it was only 4 months ago. Wow! I have a long road ahead, but it is getting better. I have some paralysis with my right arm, and I have some lost sight in my right eye.

I am so blessed because I could have died. In the early days, I thought, that would be the best option for me and my family. My wife, brothers, family, and friends would not allow me to give up. And my 7 year old son Ethan has given me a lot the courage. We have a lot of living to do. I have a second chance. How many people have such an opportunity!

Thank you to all my friends who set up a trust at “Gofundme.com/MarkDunham.” The money is helping with for my therapy.

Thank you for all your donations, thoughts, and prayers.

Comments

What is wrong with us! A lot: Aphasia, Apraxia, and Dysarthria

This morning, from 10:30 to Noon, at St. Lukes in Meridian Idaho, I participated in the “Aphasia, Apraxia, and Dysarthria Support Group” started a year ago through Idaho State University. We meet weekly. So, what is wrong with us? Aphasia is the name given to a collection of language disorders caused by damage to the brain. A requirement for a diagnosis of aphasia is that, prior to the illness or injury, the person's language skills were normal. The difficulties of people with aphasia can range from occasional trouble finding words to losing the ability to speak, read, or write, but does not affect intelligence. This also affects visual language such as sign language . The term "aphasia" implies a problem with one or more functions that are essential and specific to language function. It is not usually used when the language problem is a result of a more peripheral motor or sensory difficulty, such as paralysis affecting the speech muscles or a general hear...

Phantom Blindness and Taking a Break after Strokes

I met with my eye doctor last week about taking some time off from my vision therapy. I have been doing therapy since my stroke almost two and a half years ago. I am tired, and a need a break. My doctor said, “This is completely understandable. Take some time off.” At the appointment, my doctor tested my vision. Because of the strokes, my vision was affected, and I have a problem in my field of vision on the right side. I have a deficit with my right side peripheral vision. However, it is getting better. During the test, I told him that I “sense things on the right side of my peripheral vision.” It seems that I know that something is there, but I cannot really distinguish what it is. He told me that there is a body of thought describing phantom vision or phantom blindness. A Polish researcher, L. Bieganowski, described this phantom blindness this way: “The subject of the paper is the phenomenon of phantom vision. It occurs among the blind (or almost blind...

Anonymous Blogsphere and my strokes!

It is hard to believe that my strokes happened almost two and a half years ago. Sometimes, it is a distant reality. However, most of the time, this is a vivid and startling reality even now. When I wake up in the morning, I have to realize that this is NOT a dream. So, how am I doing? It depends. I continue to be grateful for my recovery. Every day, I know that it could have been so much worse. On the other hand, I still have invisible deficits. I participate in many stroke support groups because, until you have a stroke, no one can really understand the ramifications of strokes, recovery, and deficits. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute have insightful information about “Life After a Stroke.” Their website is http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/stroke/lifeafter.html The intro says “ The time it takes to recover from a stroke varies—it can take weeks, months, or even years. Some people recover fully, while others have long-term or lifelong...

Dunham Family and My Stroke Story!

Search This Blog