Dunham Family and My Stroke Story!

For several months, I have been updating our upstairs with new carpet and paint. It seems simple really. For my “DYI” projects, we have new carpet in two bedrooms plus new paint in three rooms and an upper hallway. Those jobs took days! In addition, also helped a couple of relatives repair some carpet issues. Those “simple jobs” took several hours. In the “old days” that would have been simple. In high school and college, I installed carpet for a living. With my older brothers who owned a residential construction firm, I learned a lot such as painting and finish work. Those skills served me well throughout when I flipped house as a hobby. I still have the tools and the skills. However, because of my strokes and aphasia, updating carpet and paint tested my brain and stamina.   For example, measuring carpet used to be easy. When my brothers would build a house, I would install the carpet. Carpet rolls are usually 12 feet by whatever we need. I would get a huge roll of car...

Recently, I was told about two wonderful people I know who are experiencing some tough times. I know that I document my life through my blog. I also think that my blog is often complaining about my situation. Originally, my blog was intended to keep a “digital diary” about my son. Obviously my blog transitioned from my son’s life to my stroke story. That is pretty selfish. Thinking about my friends who are dealing with some devastating news, my wife and I have said that we are so lucky! Despite robbery, strokes, diseases, etc. we consider that we have a great life. It is so rough when friends and relatives are dealing with really bad “stuff” because we feel so helpless. The adage “thoughts and prayers” just does not cut it.      

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a research project on aphasia. It was fascinating and exhausting. The three and a half hour session tested many cognitive functions. At the outset of the testing, the researcher asked about my strokes. I mentioned that on January 10, 2012, I experienced a carotid dissection. During that awful day, the doctors determined that I have a rare disease called “fibromuscular dysplasia.” Three days later, I had a massive carotid dissection which left me with aphasia and other assorted issues. 20% of my brain died. The research team asked me of there has been any family history of strokes. Thinking of the fibromuscular dysplasia diagnosis, I replied “no.” However, in retrospect, my maternal grandmother did die of a cerebral hemorrhage. I did not really know my mother’s real mom. My mother found the identity of her biological mother when my mom was 22 years old.   That relationship was not a “Brady Bunch” situation, the contact was lim...