Donald W.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
By: Donald W.

Survivor

My name is Shemaqua in Shawnee; aka Don. I'm a professional Living Historian, Scouter (I'm a Boy Scout instructor for the Indian Lore Merit Badge and Indian crafts in general), and STROKE SURVIVOR. I'm nominating myself as an advocate for Stroke Survivors. I recognize that my physical disabilities are not as severe as many. I do have some diminished strength all over my body, with mobility issues on my left side.

My memories of 40 years ago are intact, those from four years ago are fuzzy, and 40 minutes ago was about the time I started composing this letter, and I've had to go back twice to remember what I was typing and who it was to.

When I had my first of several strokes in May of 2007, I was getting ready to go to Camp for eight weeks, something I have been doing for years. I didn't make it that year, and I was told by medical professionals that I may never make it again. With much hard work by both me, and my physical therapist, I did make it back in 2008 despite a second stroke at Easter of that year. Since that time, I have had a couple of more strokes, and in spite of that I made it back to camp in 2009, 2010, and am starting a new program for the summer of 2011. It has taken some fighting with Scout officials and demonstration of abilities and guts, but I've made it back.