Dunham Family and My Stroke Story!

Recently, I read a short  article  about people in Great Britain returning to work after a stroke. The statistics I read said that about 65% of stroke survivors to return to work after their strokes. When I was a kid, I listened to Paul Harvey. He would often say “ Now you know the rest of the story!” When I think of that statistic and my strokes, I am amused. "Reading" that article was a massive chore for me.  After my strokes in January of 2012, the concept of work was terrifying. I was dealing with unspeakable emotions. I did not know my name though I did know my job. However, I could not speak about my job because I could not speak! In the hospital, one of my therapists said, “Maybe, you will go back to work in November (2012) in a limited basis.” Throughout those next few months, that was my goal. I assumed I would go back to work. Nevertheless, as the months dragged on and the fog in my brain started to lift slowly, I realized ther...

This morning, from 10:30 to Noon, at St. Lukes in Meridian Idaho, I participated in the “Aphasia, Apraxia, and Dysarthria Support Group” started a year ago through Idaho State University. We meet weekly.  So, what is wrong with us? Aphasia is the name given to a collection of language disorders caused by damage to the brain. A requirement for a diagnosis of aphasia is that, prior to the illness or injury, the person's language skills were normal. The difficulties of people with aphasia can range from occasional trouble finding words to losing the ability to speak, read, or write, but does not affect intelligence. This also affects visual language such as sign language . The term "aphasia" implies a problem with one or more functions that are essential and specific to language function. It is not usually used when the language problem is a result of a more peripheral motor or sensory difficulty, such as paralysis affecting the speech muscles or a general hear...

Tomorrow will be a red letter day for me. Tomorrow, I will complete the last day of my therapy sessions. It will be 3 years and 46 days since my first stroke. It seems like a lifetime ago, but it also seems like yesterday. Since the strokes (and assorted other things like seizures, ER visits, and worry) I have been doing all sorts of therapy including speech, physical, occupational, reading, vision, acupuncture, massage, and hypnosis therapy. I cannot fathom the hours of appointments I have had. I cannot calculate the hours of “homework” I have done. I cannot imagine the countless hours striving to be back to “normal.”   And, it comes down to this: I am blessed in countless ways, but I will never be back to normal. However, it has taken 3 years and 46 days for me to count my blessings and realize I have a pretty good life. Certainly, I miss “Mark Dunham.”  I miss a lot of things from my old life. I miss reading. I miss helping my son with his homework. I mi...

When I was a kid, my parents recorded me snoring. I was embarrassed. I was about 10. Throughout my life, I routinely made sure I would not snore. Never sharing rooms, staying awake, etc. My dad snored as well.   Years ago, my doctor asked about my sleep. I thought I slept well usually. However, I realized I was often tired. My wife (bless her) is a sound sleeper but she made sure she went to sleep before me! Dunham Sleep Study 2009 In 2009, I had a sleep study. The results were startling and somewhat concerning. The  sleep doctor noted that I rarely completed a deep sleep. He said it was one of the worst cases of sleep apnea he had encountered. From the Mayo Clinic: “Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and you feel tired even after a full night's sleep.” I have “Obstructive sleep apnea,” the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax. On th...

There have been a lot of stories about the Idaho Legislature’s stance about LGBT  ( lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender). For nine years, the  LGBD community  has sought equal protection using the Idaho Civil Rights Act. For years, the LGBT community, friends, loved ones, etc. have used this tag line: "Add the Words" in reference adding  four words, 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity,' to Idaho’s Human Rights Act This year, the Idaho House State Affairs Committee finally granted the hearing. The three days of testimony was heart wrenching. The committee did not support the legislation but this was a step  in the right direction. It is sad that in general, Republican have the perception of NOT supporting the LGBT community. I have always voted Republican.  But it seems I am “out of touch” because I am an economic conservative and a social liberal. Most of my Republican friends  ...

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. ·   ...