Personal Background
In 2010, I was a professor at Stanford and experienced a severe stroke. This incident left me without control of my right arm and leg and, even more distressing, took away my ability to communicate. Despite surviving this potentially fatal event, I lost much of my identity: as a Stanford professor, a speaker and writer, an athlete, a mother, and a wife. Although my mind was functioning properly, I felt trapped inside a broken body, unable to partake in activities that were once second nature to me. It was torturous not being able to communicate my experience to others.
Through dedication, hard work, and substantial support, I regained sufficient mobility to be independent and recovered some ability to speak. Albeit, I recognized that I would not fully regain my former capabilities. I'm consistently recouping more of my abilities and continue to reconstruct my identities.
Published Works and Research Interests
I struggled to find resources that addressed the emotional aspects of my journey and discovered that many of my fellow survivors shared this sentiment. This inspired me to write Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves after Stroke.
As a professor, I researched and taught the way small daily actions can disrupt the status quo and bring about positive changes. This work led me to write Tempered Radicals, first published in 2001. Now, I live by the message I previously taught. I persistently strive for recovery through small, conscious efforts and deliberate choices that enable me to discover more about myself and shape my new identities.
My work has been prominently featured in the Harvard Business Review, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Research in Organizational Behavior, Harvard Journal of Law and Gender and other esteemed publications.
Online Presence
For more information and to follow my journey, you can visit:
You can also connect with me on various social media platforms:
- Twitter: @identity_stroke
- Facebook: @identityandstroke
- Instagram: @identityandstroke
- LinkedIn: Debra Meyerson Profile
