Dunham Family and My Stroke Story!

The other day, I was talking with my 10 year old son about my childhood. He is getting more mature. The nuances of life make him ask questions about my life and our ancestors. He asked about when I was 10 years old like him. “Where did you live? What did you do every day? Who were your friends? What were your interests?” He does have some information, but now he genuinely wants to know. During the drive, I drove him past my dad’s mobile home. “Your dad lived there?” he said surprised.   “Yup,” I replied.  Mark and Stan Dunham! New Mobile Home in 1971 When I was 8 years old, my parents got divorced. We were in Twin Falls, Idaho, but my dad moved to Boise after that because he get a job promotion. Your Grandma remarried and we lived in Twin Falls. However, my dad bought a mobile home. At the point, that was all he could afford.” My son asked, “Did you see your dad much.” I said, “After the divorce, I actually had a much closer relationship this my dad.

After my strokes three years ago, I remember one of my many doctors and/or therapists saying something like “If you had to have a stroke, you are much better off than if it happened even a  decade ago.” There have been so many advances in stroke and aphasia rehab. Rather than stroke survivors not getting intense rehab, many stroke survivors did not have a lot of hope. Sit on the couch! I do remember one doctors telling my family and me that my second stroke was so severe I probably could not do much. “Them are fightin’ words!” In the 80% of my brain that is left, I continue with my recovery. The biggest problem is aphasia. I have blogged about it probably too much. For example: When I wrote this word “probably” I  actually wrote “problely.” I knew it was not correct. In my head, I was trying to type “probably.” Nevertheless, I typed “problely.” The very useful Microsoft Word tool suggested “ potbelly” instead.  So, I cheated and used “Siri” on my iPhone to get th

I love the show “The Big Bang Theory.” I never watched the show until I was it in the hospital after my strokes. Now it is my favorite show. I love the character of  Dr. Sheldon Cooper who has no filters. He said things that I wish I could say. But, I have filters.  I went to a lunch a few days ago where a Congressman spoke. It was like old home week in some respects. I saw so many people from my different worlds: Political, medical, insurance, hospitals, lobbyists, housing, real estate, etc. Many people said things like “you do not seem like you had any medical issues” or “you look great.”  That is nice to hear. But, in actuality, because people know that I had a stroke (or two) and I have no visible disability, those same people think I am just fine and completely recovered. Invisible brain scars.... “Thank goodness you are fine now! So, what are you doing these days?” I smile and say, “Well, I am on some boards that keep me busy.” “Really? So, what else do y

What You Will Learn From This: Living With Head and Brain Injury. – The Manifest-Station http://t.co/c8WRk46CvG