This week’s toastmaster’s prompt was “if you could spent one day with a person, who would it be and why?”
It was really not hard to come up with this speech but it was hard to deliver it somehow. I was a little intimated by putting it out there especially because this person is associated with the BU Aphasia Center and I didn’t want to look like a “groupie” or say the wrong thing. This is a person whom I respect for her accomplishments not only after the stroke but she was a respected professor before the stroke and had already written books and numerous papers in her fields of study. But it was her book, Identity Theft, that helped me to process more fully my own journey and gave me hope that I could also write a book about my experiences some day.
Here is the 4 minute talk:
More than anything else I would love to spend one more day with my mother who I miss very much, but that is not who I’m going to talk about today because that would be too emotional. There are many other people who I would I would like to meet.
I would love to be able to spend one day with Debra Meyerson, who wrote the book, Identity theft, Rediscovering ourselves after stroke. I read this book with the BU aphasia group last semester. I was so excited to read the book because Debra’s story resonated with me even before I read it.
In 2010, Debra was on a trip and had a stroke. Her story is similar to mine in that she was a teacher and she had to leave her dream job. She felt like her Identity was stolen from her.
The book not only talks about identity and roles we each have, but also about grief, family, emotions and mental health, therapy, finances, advocacy and core values. It touched me in ways I can’t fully express.
It’s a book of hope and one that made me think positively about my recovery now and in the future.
Before her stroke, Debra wrote other 2 books and numerous articles. She was a professor at Stanford University and taught courses on identity, diversity, and organizational behavior.
After writing this book, she and her husband Steve created a non profit organization, called Stroke Onward, whose mission is to help others rebuild their identity after stroke.
I would love the opportunity to talk with Debra about her journey so far especially what it was like to write this book.
One of my goals since the beginning of my stroke journey has been to document what has happened to me, mostly just for me to remember but possibly also to help others.
With aphasia I find it so hard to get the words on paper or even talk it to family or friends. I have the whole story in my head and it’s so frustrating to not be able to get it out fully.
I am now able to put very short stories on my blog and that helps me a bit but I could use help.
Debra had a lot of help from her family and friends when writing the book. I would love to hear how she was able to convey all that she had in her head and put it in the book. To see if she has any strategies that I can use or if she has any other suggestions for me as I continue my journey.
link to powerpoint....
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