Lost identity

Lost Identity: Search for Well-being" by David M. Howie is a poignant memoir chronicling his thirty-seven-year journey after a childhood medulloblastoma diagnosis in 1987. Diagnosed at four, Howie defied a five-year prognosis, earning an MSc in Social Innovation while navigating neurodivergence and societal barriers. Structured around his A-LEAF framework—Acquire, Learn, Educate, Associate, Fulfil—the book explores his pursuit of personal and professional identity amidst retail work, third-sector volunteering, and a failed social enterprise. From Yorkhill Hospital’s care to SNP activism and gym routines, Howie details how chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a stroke shaped his “Jason Bourne Syndrome”—a duality of neurotypical masking and altruistic striving. He critiques neurotypical-designed systems, advocating for well-being over GDP, and shares raw moments: promoting indie bands in 2005, the GP’s delayed diagnosis, and his family’s support. Aimed at health professionals, survivors, and policymakers, this 2025 Scottish narrative blends hope with a call for systemic change, supported by his digital artwork and academic insights.