When neurons are damaged, those pathways are lost.

But we aren’t our neurons. We are the pathways which get dutifully recreated by the transporter. Even if the electron bounce that thinks it’s you briefly pauses pulsing, if that same pattern starts up again that’s still you

And Star Trek backs it up. The classic transporter accident that makes a clone of someone? If the transported person is still the same consciousness, what is the clone?

Both “clones” are equally valid iterations of the same person with equal claim on the identity, although they would functionally from that point be like twins as they would begin developing distinct memories as soon as they each open their eyes.