Dusty Wentworth

You often hear people, after a major life event, talk about some kind of rebirth — how they’ve discovered a new passion for life and no longer want to waste a minute. That wasn’t me. I wasn’t reborn. I was broken. At first, I was confused, angry, suicidal. I grieved for the man I used to be — because he was gone. What was left felt like a shell: no identity, no sense of self, and the crushing weight of being a burden on my wife. I couldn’t see how life could hold any purpose or meaning anymore. The Day Everything Changed On 23rd October 2023, I collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital. Stroke was ruled out, but scans revealed I had an ACA aneurysm. Errors and delays meant that by the time doctors carried out a lumbar puncture, the 12-hour window for accurate results had already passed. It wasn’t done until 16 hours later, making it inconclusive. Instead, I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) — a debilitating condition that disrupts signals between ...

Summer. Just the word itself conjures up images of sunshine, ice cream drips, and the delightful chaos of kids who suddenly forget what bedtime means. For me, this summer isn't just about longer days and warmer nights; it marks a pretty significant milestone—my first real summer holiday as a dad on wheels, and a new kind of adventure for our whole family! After spending 11 months in hospital, and now 10 months post-discharge, this season isn't just a stretch of warmth and light. It's my first real test in this new life. Since returning home, I've been locked in a daily battle—not just with the physical consequences of my condition, but with the psychological toll that disability can exact. Adapting to life with new physical limitations is one thing; it's another entirely to confront the emotional weight of a fractured identity. Losing 14 years of memory has created a chasm in my life—memories of raising my children, memories of love, struggle, growth—gon...