Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke

by Debra E. Meyerson, Danny Zuckerman

Overview

Identity Theft is an award-winning book that follows Stanford professor Debra Meyerson’s journey to recover from a severe stroke that initially left her physically incapacitated and unable to speak. In addition to providing realistic expectations for the hard work needed to regain everyday capabilities, Meyerson focuses on the less frequently documented emotional journey in recovery. Virtually every survivor is haunted by questions like: “Who am I now?” and “How do I rebuild a meaningful and rewarding life?” after losing so much of what they had before—capabilities, careers and jobs, relationships, and more. This is a book full of hope for survivors—from stroke or other injuries—as well as their families and support networks.

Debra Meyerson and her husband, Steve Zuckerman, have created Stroke Onward (strokeonward.org), a non-profit initiative of the Social Good Fund, to provide stroke survivors, families and caregivers with more resources to help them navigate the emotional journey to rebuild their identities and rewarding lives. Working with experts in the community, Stroke Onward has developed audience-specific discussion guides for survivors (with and without aphasia), care partners, healthcare professionals, and other book groups to deepen and personalize the reading experience (strokeonward.org/bookguides/).
 

 

Winner of the 2019 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Identity Theft centers on Debra’s experience: her stroke, her extraordinary efforts to recover, and her journey to redefine herself. But she also draws on her skills as a social scientist, sharing stories from several dozen fellow survivors, family members, friends, colleagues, therapists, and doctors she has met and interviewed. By sharing this diversity of experiences, Debra highlights how every person is different, every stroke is different, and every recovery is different. She provides a valuable look at the broad possibilities for successfully navigating the challenging physical recovery—and the equally difficult emotional journey toward rebuilding one’s identity and a rewarding life after a trauma like stroke.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781449496302
Publisher:	Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication date:	05/14/2019
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	363,566
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Previously a tenured professor at Stanford University, DEBRA MEYERSON studied, wrote, lectured, and taught about diversity, gender, identity, and organizational change. In September 2010, Debra’s life and career were derailed by a severe stroke that nearly killed her and initially left her paralyzed on the right side—and completely mute. Years of intensive therapy and a relentless work ethic enabled Debra to regain her independence, but she still lives with physical limitations and speech challenges. Debra wrote Identity Theft to help other survivors and those closest to them navigate the emotional journey that she has found very difficult—and rewarding. Debra lives in Menlo Park, California, with her husband, and has three grown children.
 

DANNY ZUCKERMAN is the cofounder of 3Box, a peer-to-peer social network that helps people create more meaningful connections and communities online. He previously worked on a new digital identity system based on blockchain technology, helped build digital math curriculum at Zearn, worked as a management consultant at Bain & Company, and studied political philosophy and economics at Stanford University. Danny is Debra Meyerson’s son.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part 1 Unwinding a Self 11

Chapter 1 A Slow Fall off a Cliff 12

Chapter 2 Everything Can Fail 24

Chapter 3 A Teacher without Words 34

Chapter 4 Moving Forward 43

Part 2 What It's Really Like, Outside and Inside 57

Chapter 5 The Grind of Therapy 58

Chapter 6 Let Me Talk! 67

Chapter 7 Grief 79

Chapter 8 Lean On 88

Chapter 9 Stroke Is a Family Illness 102

Chapter 10 Partners and Intimacy 121

Chapter 11 People Are Social Animals 134

Chapter 12 How the World Responds 148

Chapter 13 Activities Adapted 156

Chapter 14 Careers and Callings 163

Chapter 15 Dealing with Financial Strain 174

Chapter 16 Advocating in the U.S. Medical System 182

Part 3 Redefining Recovery 193

Chapter 17 Reclaiming the Basics 194

Chapter 18 Choice in Our New Identities 205

Chapter 19 Fulfillment through Growth 221

Acknowledgments 227

Appendix I Survivor Biographies 235

Appendix II Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs 257

Notes 259

References 269

Index 275

About the Authors 281

Editorial Reviews

"What sets this book apart ... is its focus on stroke survivors’ emotional journeys ... An encouraging story of personal growth after a life-altering medical event.”  (KIRKUS REVIEWS)

“Identity Theft is the most powerful book I’ve read on the psychological experience of having and recovering from a stroke. This is a moving memoir—and a testament to the strength of the human spirit.”
  (ADAM GRANT, N- ADAM GRANT, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF OPTION B, ORIGINALS, AND GIVE AND TAKE)

 “Identity Theft is a must read for stroke survivors, their families, and stroke professionals. Using her story and those of others, Debra writes with humor and pragmatism about embracing and thriving in new identities after stroke.”
  (DR. CHITRA VENKATASUBRAMANIAN, MBBS, MD, MSC, FNCS, PROFESSOR, STROKE AND NEURO CRITICAL CARE, STANFORD UNIVERSITY)

 “Identity Theft will provoke thoughts, ideas, and paths to growth for anyone wrestling with identity in the face of life changes. Even while struggling with the aftermath of her stroke, Debra found a way to create this gift to others.”
  (LAWRENCE BACOW, PRESIDENT, HARVARD UNIVERSITY)

“After watching Debra Meyerson’s extraordinary academic career cut short by her debilitating stroke, it is so inspiring to see her create such a powerful book for anyone trying to build a life of meaning in the face of adversity.”

 
(CLAUDE STEELE, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF PSYCHOLOGY, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, AND FORMER DEAN, STANFORD SCHOOL OF EDUCATION; AUTHOR OF WHISTLING VIVALDI)

“Identity Theft is a scholarly yet easy-to-read exposition that addresses so many issues faced by stroke survivors, especially those with aphasia. It is a story of determination and hope that should be of interest to everyone.”
 
(LEORA R. CHERNEY, PHD, SCIENTIFIC CHAIR, THINK + SPEAK LAB, SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB; PROFESSOR, PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY)

“It is a rare book that can begin with medical trauma and loss of selfidentity and turn into a deeply moving, surprisingly uplifting, and profoundly wise meditation on what it means to be human.”
 
(ROB REICH, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, STANFORD UNIVERSITY; AUTHOR OF JUST GIVING)

“With Identity Theft, Debra Meyerson has written what will certainly become a go-to resource for stroke survivors and their families, navigating that critical question—‘Who do I want to be now?’”
 
(JULIA FOX GARRISON, STROKE SURVIVOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY)

“Identity Theft offers a deeply moving, candid, eye-opening, and compassionate picture of life after stroke. It displays the power of resilience, determination, acceptance, and love—and is sure to inspire helpful reflection, no matter one’s age or health.”
 
(KATHERINE J. KLEIN, EDWARD H. BOWMAN PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT AND VICE DEAN, WHARTON SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE, THE WHARTON SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA)

From the Publisher

2020-05-01
Meyerson, a former Stanford University professor, looks at how the experience of a stroke affects one’s concept of identity.

On Labor Day weekend in 2010, while on a hiking trip with her family, Meyerson had a “weird” feeling in her right leg: “neither uncomfortable nor painful, not numb or asleep, just…not right.” It was the first sign that she was experiencing a stroke that reduced blood flow to her brain. It caused her to lose her ability to communicate her thoughts via speech or writing. She’d long studied how personal identity shapes one’s experiences; this book looks at how the traumatic experience of a stroke shapes identity. It also aims to offer hope to stroke survivors as they adjust to their new normal. Although the book is written in the first-person singular, the “I” refers to her writing team, made up of her credited co-author son Zuckerman, her husband, and others—which is “a good example of how life has changed” for the author. What sets this book apart from other, similar guides, though, is its focus on stroke survivors’ emotional journeys. People recovering from strokes are often asked to focus on their physical recoveries, and they often receive relatively little psychological support, the author notes. Her book clearly shows the benefits of focusing on the emotional side of the recovery process. Along the way, Meyerson walks readers through psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and quotes authors, such as Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant, who’ve written about post-traumatic growth and grief. She also assures readers that they, too, can build resilience as she has. The book presents stories of other stroke survivors, including a 13-year-old who suffered his event at football practice; a man whose stroke put him on a ventilator and who can now do four sets of 25 pushups; and a woman who fought to regain her long-term disability benefits. Overall, Meyerson has written an inspiring guide for anyone starting down their own road to recovery.

An encouraging story of personal growth after a life-altering medical event.

Kirkus Reviews