Dunham Family and My Stroke Story!

It seems like yesterday that my first stroke happened. It has been three years ago today.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOAFIUx5S6c I mark the days since my strokes differently now. It used to be days. Then months. Now years. I could use my time like this Pink Floyd sang, "Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day. Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way." Is that what I have been doing? I do not think so. I cannot be bored. I need to be useful and have a purpose. I need to be busy! However, my body and mind have limitations. On Christmas Eve, I had a "incident." Neurologists call those incident a "brain attack." Nice euphemism until it is YOUR brain.  Before Christmas, I had some headaches and it was compounded with being dizzy, minor chest pains, and a sore left wrist. Normally, I would not think about this. However, given my history, I told my wife. Then we called my neurologist. Back to the St. Al's ER! Great..... ...

2015. A new year.  It is hard to believe. I am 53 years old. It has almost been three years since my two strokes. I have been doing therapy ever since. I never thought my life would be like this. But, it is what it is. When I feel sorry for myself, I often think of Helen Keller. She overcame so much adversity. She said, “Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” Great advice. For my New Year’s resolutions, I try to live up to her example. Here are my resolutions: ·        Make a difference in the world. ·        Be happy. ·        Be grateful. ·        Do not think of thing that I cannot change.   ·        Live for today. ·        Everyday is a blessing and a gift. ·   ...

I was on the news this week about strokes and rehab. Though I am a private guy, I was asked to share my strokes story because my goal is to help other stroke survivors and their love ones and give them hope.  Here's the segment: http://goo.gl/alerts/Dpex

Why Some Stroke Survivors Struggle With Communication From Health Day April 15, 2013 MONDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News)   A shift of language function to the right side of the brain hampers some stroke survivors from recovering their ability to read, write and to say what they mean, a new study indicates. The inability to do these things is called aphasia, and is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control language. The study included 27 right-handed adults who survived a stroke in the left side of their brain. Those who recovered from aphasia showed a return to normal patterns of having language function on the left side of the brain, according to the findings in the current issue of the journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience. “Overall, approximately 30 percent of patients with stroke suffer from various types of aphasia, with this deficit most common in stroke with left middle cerebral artery territory damage,” lead investigator Dr. ...

The lyrics from the song “Once In A Lifetime” includes the refrain “ Same As It Ever Was” by the Talking Heads. I think of the song often when I realize that our son is getting older. He is almost 10 year’s old but he thinks he is older than his actual age. He wants to do so many “adult” things like driving fast expensive cars, have a great career just to buy “stuff,” and to buy a huge mansion. He talks about "his kids" as well. No mention of a spouse yet!  He is planning his life without a clue about what life entails. I let him wander in his hopes and dreams though we try to make sure that he is grounded in reality. I do not want to shatter his dreams but he need to be realistic about life, expectations, and limits. We caution him to know that money and success are not what life really should be about. Being a good kid when you are 10 years old will make you successful throughout your life: spiritually, financially, physically, and emotionally. But he still ea...

I am a very private person. However, a blog is very public especially when you write things about yourself that might uncomfortable. Talking about depression should not be uncomfortable but it usually is.  In my mind, "Depression" is a dirty secret that people do not talk  about. Especially, me.  However, I have been trying to use my blog to educate people about stroke. Warts and all. "Stroke" is not pretty. Depression is not pretty.  I try to do my blog every week; however, I have not done it for many weeks because I have been very depressed.  " Depression" is common when you have strokes. About 6 weeks ago, I was startled when I realized “this is basically it for my life.” Sure, I get better every day, but I will NEVER be back to what I was before. That is a shattering realization for me. Despite brain scans and doctors, I just assumed I would “back.” There is no going back for me. This is it. Even though I have never really liked ...

Last week I attended the Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council in behalf of the College of Western Idaho where I am a trustee. I came early to listen to several higher education intuitions present their building needs and wishes. I know 4 of the 5 council members and many of their staffers. Before the meeting, many people shook my hand saying “It is great to see you!” One person said, “You are completely normal. You are back! Good for you!” I laughed and said, “I was ‘never’ normal, but, seriously, I will never be the same again.  20% of my brain is dead, and I have residual issues that will never get better. It is what it is.  It could be worse.” My statement was met with stunned silence and then a uncomfortable “Wow! But you seem so normal today.” I said, “This is my new normal. I have issues that people do not even know about, but that is OK. I just try to live my life every day like it would be my last day.” Today at my latest therapy session, ...