Dunham Family and My Stroke Story!

Selfie! When I started to do my blog, it was basically for a diary of sorts. I realized that I needed a way to share memories of our son. Life is short, and sometimes I do not remember funny or insightful things our son says.  Here are some random anecdotes collected for three months: “Daddy! When you try to sing, it's like a horror movie on radio !” Seizure  Shorts “I'd like to get a rabbit or a video game or a bow & arrow. Never mind. I'm not responsible enough to have a weapon or pet so I'll just have a video game instead .” Getting ready one morning, Ethan kept trying to find his "seizure shorts." I asked what he meant. He said, "These shorts are neon orange with crazy patterns Dad. They could cause a stroke and  seizure like   you had!" And he laughed. We all laughed which is a good thing! Driving with me, Ethan said, “Oh no! I am cursed! I repeat things, I talk too loud, and talk a lot. The Saxton gene!” That is hi...

What is a hometown? Often I'm asked what my hometown is. I always answer “Twin Falls, Idaho.”  In reality I moved to Twin Falls Idaho when I was three years old and I left when I was 18 years old. August 7, 1964 through May 28, 1979:  5,407 days or 772 weeks and 3 days. Since that time, I have lived in Boise, Idaho. Nevertheless I've always considered Twin Falls to be my hometown. I had great memories growing up there. Last month, I went to Twin Falls for a meeting. I drove past my parents’ house. The house seems the same other than weeds in the driveway.  The circumstances of my parents’ death were difficult because they died 13 days apart. It was worse because some relatives disgraced the memory of my parents’ marriage. Even though that house is in my stepfather's family now, but I realized that the house is a shell and only memories linger. It's almost been two years since they died, but the headstones are gray and dirty. There is some water damage also...

I am on the board of the Idaho chapter of the American Heart and Stroke Association. It is common that people know someone who had a stroke. Maybe, an old cousin or a friend of a friend. Before my strokes, I had a vague concept of a stroke. Old people who did not take care of themselves? However, now I know the truth about strokes.   Here is some information about strokes from the American Heart and Stroke Association: Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability. Up to 80% of strokes are preventable; you can prevent a stroke! What is a stroke? A stroke or "brain attack" occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves through the body) breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain.  When either of these things happens, brain c...

My wife and I were thinking about our childhoods. We had siblings. We would play board games and ride bikes. However, during the hot summer months, it is difficult to play outside and ride bikes. When we were kids, the default activities when it was hot outside was too played boardgames or read books.  For our son and his generation, they are so wired. Video games, Xbox, iPads, iPods. That is his world. We are starting to try to break the spell of technology for our son. Though television is technology, we are forcing him to watch a Disney classic movie on Sunday nights. We are trying to play board games rather than watching TV.  We play Risk, Chess, Go Fish, Old Maid, Clue, Monopoly, the Game of Life, and the like. Because of my strokes, simple games are challenging for me. Reading game instructions is difficult when you cannot read very well. If I have to concentrate I usually get a headache. Sometimes I get confused if it is a complex game...

One of my favorite movies is "Kings Row." In the film, Ronald Reagan's character, Drake McHugh, has both legs amputated by a sadistic surgeon, played by Charles Coburn. When he comes to following the operation, he screams in shock, disbelief, and horror,  "Where's the REST of me???"  After my strokes, I often said to myself,  "Where's the REST of me?"  Though I am getting better everyday, and I have NOT plateaued, I am tired of years of therapy.  I am taking a break from therapy during this summer. Nevertheless, I did have an appointment with my eye doctor yesterday just to make sure that I have not lost ground. Dr. Scott Lewis and his staff are miracle workers. “Focus Vision Therapy Center” is helping so much. The clinic focuses (pun intended) on children; however, many adults with issues like strokes get much needed vision therapy. After my strokes and seizures, I lost all hope about reading. ...

When you have a stroke, I realize that priorities are different. People who survive strokes cut to the chase more often. Often, “filters” are gone. I remember my mom quoting a famous poem called “When I Am Old” written by Jenny Joseph. Here is an excerpt:    "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me, I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired, And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells, And make up for the sobriety of my youth. You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat, So people who know me  are not too shocked and surprised, When suddenly I am old  and start to wear purple!" When I read that poem now, my perspective is different. My parents said I was “always the ambassador.” I just wanted people to get along. My career as a lobbyist was well suited for me.   But now, I simply do not care what people think normally. I am not politically correct often now. ...