Identity Theft, Second Edition: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke

Identity Theft, Second Edition 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 and Zuckerman focus on the less frequently documented emotional journey as she and her family rebuild identity in recovery.

Virtually every stroke 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 life-changing injuries or illnesses--as well as their care partners, families, and communities.

The first edition of 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 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 and frequently unspoken emotional journey toward rebuilding one’s identity and a rewarding life after a trauma like stroke.

This second edition is written by Debra and her husband, Steve Zuckerman. As they have shared in countless talks, ＂Just as the original book was headed to the printers, we decided that ’the finish line had become a new starting line.’＂ They co-founded the nonprofit Stroke Onward, where they have been working side by side to build an organization that can catalyze change in the healthcare system to better integrate the emotional journey of rebuilding identity into a lifelong recovery process. This edition draws on five more years of experience as a post-stroke couple and what they’ve learned from thousands more survivors, family members, and healthcare professionals. They’ve added new insights about the long-term recovery process and how we can change the stroke system of care to better support all survivors and their families.

Their 4,500-mile bike ride called Stroke Across America in 2021 helped raise awareness for Stroke Onward and stroke suvivorship care.

Debra Meyerson is an author, advocate, and a professor at Stanford University Graduate School of Education. Following her severe stroke in 2010, Debra wrote Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves after Stroke (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2019). Writing the book began as a critical part of her personal journey to rebuild her own life outside mainstream academia. It became the foundation for maintaining meaning and purpose in her life despite her ongoing disabilities. Prior to her stroke, Debra’s academic work focused on feminism, diversity, identity, and organizational change. Debra’s most significant contribution from that period was Tempered Radicals: How Everyday Leaders Inspire Change at Work (HBS Press, 2001). Debra currently serves on the board of the Pacific Stroke Association (PSA), and the BU Sargent School Constituent Advisory Board.

Steve Zuckerman is an experienced executive who has held leadership positions in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. His first career involved 14 years as a managing director with a private equity firm. In 2006, Steve launched a California presence for Self-Help, a nationally recognized economic justice nonprofit based in Durham, NC, and in 2008, he co-founded Self-Help Federal Credit Union. Steve served as President while Self-Help Federal grew to ＄1.5 billion in assets; in 2021 he transitioned to a special project role to make more time to build Stroke Onward with his wife, Debra. Throughout his career, Steve has served on numerous nonprofit boards supporting economic, social and health justice, including Tides Foundation, Positive Coaching Alliance, and Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. He currently serves on the BU Sargent Clinical Advisory Board.