His name is Richard Horton. On August 4, 2011, my dad had a stroke. It changed our lives, in many ways for the better, as it started a journey of changing the lives of those affected by stroke. It has help us become more aware of how to recognize signs of stroke and help others become more aware as well.
On Friday, December 8, 2023. I receive a call that my father was having slurred speech. As that is a significant sign of a stroke, I contacted 911. When he got to the hospital he had delayed motor skills on his right side which is his dominant side since his strokes in 2011. On Saturday morning, December 9th, I received a call from his ER doctor telling me that he spent time with my dad on Friday and had a full conversation and learned all about him while he held a coffee cup in his right hand but now he had no movement.
Out of all the tests they ran on Friday, no stroke was to be found. After a code stroke was called on Saturday they located the stroke and began the road to recovery. It’s been a long -almost- 30 days! Prior to December 8th, my father had suffered two hemorrhagic strokes in the right hemisphere of the brain which created left side weakness.
These type of strokes are considered the most difficult to recover from. A hemorrhagic stroke means blood has moved through parts of the brain causing damage to as it flows. He recovered though. From not just one but two strokes, less than a month apart.
Being a right handed person, I remember my dad being so glad that he was still able to do his daily activities well. It took about 3 months for him to regain his major ability to function and by a year later he was back to all the essentials he needed to be independent. He had to learn how to talk, moves his arms and walk again. Shoulder subluxation resulting in damage to his his rotator cuff was a big issue. Thanks to participating in studies, with the assistance of robotics, my dad was able to handle foot drop as well.
His recovery has been amazing to watch. Stroke Awareness has become my dad’s American dream. Over the last 12 years he has done a great deal to move awareness to another level for those in his personal community and beyond. He is prepared to fight. I’ve watched my dad make decisions over the last few weeks that have increased his short term recovery which is crucial for his long term gain. He only has that insight because he’s been through it successfully.
Having recovered before is truly helping him make great decisions now. This time is also different because he has my brother, Kareem, and I as advocates. According to his medical team-that is priceless. There is only so much anyone who does not know you, can do to support you. Families help a medical team fill in the gaps to rule out problems and zero in on factors that could improve or impede progress.
Clearly the holiday season has been tough but we’re a roll your sleeves up kind of family who stands on faith. We trust that God doesn’t give us anything we cannot handle and that what we go through is meant to overcome so that others can gain. In community we are strong. Over the last month, family and friends have really held our arms up through the peaks and valleys of uncertain moments. It’s been scary, it’s been triumphant, it’s led us closer to God.
Here is a scripture my brother made sure we had our focus on during the last few weeks:
If you’d like to show my dad your support, I’ve started a Gofundme to jump start his recovery. Although getting him “back to one” is the primary focus right now, his life focus is helping others and continuing his dream of bringing stroke awareness in diverse ways to reach many people of different backgrounds.
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Tugené Davis | Artist & Advocate 