Who You Are Now: A Stroke Survivor’s Guide to Becoming Who You Are Now
Who You Are Now is a guided workbook for the identity and purpose side of stroke recovery, written by a stroke survivor. Therapy helps rebuild the body, but many survivors are left asking: Who am I if I can’t do what I used to? What matters to me now?
The workbook walks survivors through naming what happened, separating identity from ability, living in the “in-between,” and redesigning life rather than trying to return to the old one. A “For Two” section helps survivors and care partners work through the experience together, so both people can share what they’ve been carrying.
It was designed to be accessible: short sections, plain language, no deadlines, and a free read-aloud web version for days when reading or writing feels hard. Key takeaway: who you are is not the same as what you can do. A stroke can take roles, but it rarely takes values.
| Brief Bio of Author/Creator(s) |
| Robert Shepard is a stroke survivor and the author of Who You Are Now. In December 2025, at age 41, he had a stroke caused by a carotid artery dissection and spent 23 days in the ICU, acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
An industrial/organizational psychologist with a master’s degree, Robert wrote the workbook he couldn’t find during his own recovery. He speaks at hospital stroke and brain injury support groups and has shared his story on the Recovery After Stroke podcast. He lives in Meridian, Idaho, with his wife and two daughters. |
