Overview
In Lost Identity: Search for Well-Being, David M. Howie, MSc, delivers a deeply personal memoir that spans thirty-seven years since his diagnosis with medulloblastoma at age four. Structured uniquely around his failed social enterprise A-LEAF, the book delves into the challenges of living with a post-cancerous brain, exploring themes of lost identity, neurodivergence, and the pursuit of subjective well-being. With chapters like 'Acquire, ' 'Learn, ' 'Educate, ' 'Associate, ' and 'Fulfilment, ' Howie reflects on his academic achievements-holding two undergraduate degrees and an MSc in Social Innovation-alongside his struggles with employment, family dynamics, and societal norms. He critiques the medical and third-sector systems for failing to recognize long-term effects like ADHD-like symptoms, supported by his experiences with Glasgow Disability Alliance and the Scottish Government's lived experience boards. Dedicated to survivors and their supporters, this work combines raw honesty with a vision for empowerment, urging better support and dignity for those affected by childhood brain tumors.
