Dave’s Inspiring Recovery After Waking Up From A Coma After Stroke

I remember waking up to a blinding white light. There were sounds all around me, but I couldn’t make them out. As I came to, the bright light morphed into the fluorescent bulbs above my hospital bed and the muted sounds became the beeping and hissing of machines. I began to panic when I felt something grip my hand. But it was my daughter, Hayley, with tears streaming down her face. I’m sure she could see the confusion and pain in my eyes.

“Dad, you’ve been in a coma for the past eleven months.”

For as long as I can remember, I’ve devoted my life to helping others. I spent more than 24 working as an engineer, raising two daughters as a single father, and running a ranch that provided equine therapy to children with disabilities. Then in a split second, all of that was ripped away and I was left as the one in need of help.

It was January 8, 2020, and I had just gotten home from seeing the doctor for some terrible joint pain and swelling. I made dinner and went to relax when I felt a sharp, shooting pain in my chest, followed by a whooshing sensation in my head. My vision started to blur and my limbs felt like lead. Stumbling to the phone, I called my mom. I told her I was having a stroke, that I loved her, and that this was probably goodbye. Then, everything went black.

A little over 11 months later, I woke up in that hospital room to my daughter’s tear-stained face and a completely changed world. Not only did I learn we were in the midst of a global pandemic, but I also found out I had a massive embolic stroke that had caused severe damage to my brain.

My doctors told me I’d probably be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life and that I’d never regain full cognitive functioning. For months, it seemed they were right—I wasn’t able to walk, move my left side, speak, eat, or even breathe on my own. It was devastating. I didn’t want to live the rest of my life in this state.

Then, someone in my stroke support group mentioned Barrow Neurological Institute. That’s when everything changed for the better. 

Barrow truly believed in me, and through its knowledge and expertise, made miracles happen. My recovery was a team effort – from my neurologists to Dr. Pamela Klonoff and all the therapists in the Center for Transitional Neuro-Rehabilitation. Every single doctor, therapist, and nurse I had at Barrow played an instrumental role in my journey.

Over the course of a year, I went from being in a wheelchair to walking entirely on my own. My speech and cognition have improved tremendously too. I recently bought a house and I’m even learning to drive again. Most importantly, I’m able to spend quality time with my daughters and watch on with pride as they grow and achieve their dreams. Because of Barrow, and support from donors like you, I have my life back.

Now, I am blessed to have an opportunity to be a part of the Barrow Neurological Foundation team calling to personally thank donors for their generosity. I share my own near-fatal stroke story with them and let them know that their support for Barrow helped make my extraordinary recovery possible. That’s why, in honor of National Stroke Awareness Month, I ask you to please join me in supporting the Center for Transitional Neuro-Rehabilitation and the Petznick Stroke Center.

Barrow is dedicated to enhancing patient care, advancing research into treatments, and raising awareness about stroke risk factors, so more patients like me can recover and go on to lead fulfilling lives.

Sincerely,

Dave Allen