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...

The results are in! I still have brain damage! However, the MRI and MRA procedures I had last Friday show that my brain images are just the same as a year ago. That is good news! The bad news is I still have neck pain since the rear-end collision I experienced last January. Despite PT, X-Rays, and very rough brain scans I have pain. In the hospital after my strokes, nurses posted a “pain scale” for me to describe my pain level. At that point, I needed the chart because I could not talk. During my PT because of the rear-ender, one of my therapists asked about my pain. I said, “In the hospital after my massive stroke, the doctor had to insert a port into my heart. That pain was a 10. It was awful!” The PT is helping. Nevertheless, I still get some sharp shooting pains. I sometimes wonder if the neck pain will just be there forever. I have also considered that I am getting older. Is the neck pain the result of the collision or being 55 years old? Years ago, my...

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.” “Re...