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My Nine Lives as an Academic

Narratives of Identity Storied by a Platinum-Enhanced Brain

American University in Cairo, Egypt, lcharles{at}aucegypt.edu

In this article, I describe my experiences 72 hours after I was told I had a life-threatening medical condition. My experience as an autoethnographer and my interest in embodied knowing put a unique spin on the narrative that developed in those three days. What I present here is an autoethnographic story of my experience, which culminated in a "miraculous" life-saving procedure that probably saved my life—but left me with multiple questions about what it means to live it. As I interacted with professional health providers, friends, and loved ones, I became vividly cognizant of the many character roles I play and narratives I participate in my life as an academic. In this essay, I present nine role-changing moments, illustrating how my various constructed personal and professional identities emerged and changed during my brief, clarifying, brush with death.

Key Words: life-threatening medical condition • narratives of illness & identity • health care access & performance

This version was published on December 1, 2009

Qualitative Inquiry, Vol. 15, No. 10, 1592-1611 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1077800409346410


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