It’s been almost 20 years since I woke up early one morning, stuck a toothbrush in my mouth and quickly discovered something wasn’t right. Looking in the mirror, I saw that the left side of my face was drooping like crazy. The left eye sagged as well. Speech was slurred like a drunk person with drool coming out of my mouth uncontrollably.
A quick trip to the doctor with him running several tests, confirmed that I was fortunate it was only Bell’s palsy (BP) and not a stroke or Cerebral palsy (CP). I’d never heard of the ailment, with Doctor Meinhardt in Anchorage, Alaska, saying it’s quite rare. Research shows that approximately 40,000 people a year get the BP nerve disorder.
Hopkins medical website lists the following about this malady: Bell’s palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis. It begins suddenly and worsens over 48 hours. This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve). Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head.
Bell’s palsy can strike anyone at any age. It occurs most often in pregnant women, and people who have diabetes, influenza, a cold, or another upper respiratory ailment. Bell’s palsy affects men and women equally. It is less common before age 15 or after age 60.
Bell’s palsy is not considered permanent, but in rare cases, it does not disappear. Currently, there is no known cure for Bell’s palsy; however, recovery usually begins 2 weeks to 6 months from the onset of the symptoms. Most people with Bell’s palsy recover full facial strength and expression.
Back to work two days later, co-workers noticed things were askew the moment I hit the building. I’d been prescribed a high dose of prednisone which made my face swell up like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Extra weight followed. Telling them that I had Bell’s Palsy—a couple of guys wondered right away if it was something they’d catch.
I quickly made a sign and taped it outside my office door saying: Come On In – I’m Not Contagious! A smiley face was added to try and inject some humor into the ordeal. Deep inside though, I wondered if I’d be like this forever, asking God more than once, “Why me?” I did all I could to stay out of the public eye.
Timing couldn’t have been worse because I was slated to make a commercial for the local Anchorage Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep dealership that week. A co-worker, Ralph Gorder, and I promised an advertising firm that we’d go on camera with our recently purchased Hemi Ram trucks. With me wanting to back out, Ralph was disappointed, saying that he wouldn’t go it alone.
Chuck Talsky, the owner of the advertising firm reassured me that camera angle would take care of any unusual extremities. Hearing that, I agreed, making Ralph happy. A few days after our “gig” was filmed, the commercial ran and I quickly saw that camera angle didn’t solve all of the problem.
Friends viewing the ad started calling the house immediately afterwards asking what was wrong with my face and voice. Ralph on the other hand, he came across cool and calm. My coworker jokingly remarked that the video made him a movie star with his pals and family.
The commercial ran for at least a year. Each time it aired I refused to watch feeling total embarrassment. My Bell’s palsy symptoms eventually went away except for a pronounced crooked smile. One side of my lips refused to totally cooperate—a moustache and beard now help cover up that anomality.
I always hoped the commercial remained buried forever, yet somehow my son came across a copy and brought it over for Thanksgiving. I was finally able to watch and chuckle unlike previous years.
On occasion, I come cross someone with a drooping lip or cheek believing that they too incurred Bell’s Palsy in their life. Out of privacy and rudeness I never ask. Actor George Clooney suffered a bout yet it didn’t hurt his looks or smile one iota.
The other day, I walked into a grocery store on McCulloch Boulevard and a person shopping there undoubtedly had Cerebral Palsy. Unlike Bell’s Palsy, CP remains with a person until death.
I’ve come across a couple of folks over the years having CP—all of them overachievers in spite of such. My son’s mother-in-law, Simone Robertson was born with it. She had more energy and courage than most people I know. It wasn’t out of the norm for Simone to drive halfway across the country by herself to visit friends and family. She did this up until succumbing from complications of dementia at age 75.
David Ring is an evangelist and motivational speaker having CP. His unusual way of talking and moving does not prevent him from getting a strong message across. To this day David still jokes about his malady. There’s quite a list of highly successful people having Cerebral palsy, with Anne McDonald (author), Dan Keplinger (screenwriter), Josh Blue (comedian), Nicolas Hamilton (racecar driver), and Stephen Hawking (theoretical physicist) being just a few.
Early on, I was one of those people that after noticing someone talking or walking strange, I immediately felt sorry for them, wondering why God would allow this to happen. Now looking back on things, I believe he picked certain people because of their strength. Not everyone can go through life, enduring constant stares and behind-the-back whispers, yet still leave a positive influence on those around them.
Unlike me, who wanted to remained hidden during my Bell’s palsy episode, most of the folks having Cerebral palsy are out and about, living their lives with zest to the fullest. To them, a bout with Bell’s palsy would be no more than a Sunday walk in the park!
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