I forgot my family when brain disease wiped my memory… only positive is being able to watch films like it’s first time

WHEN Georgina Ann started feeling light-headed and lost her appetite in August 2024 she couldn’t have anticipated what was to follow. Because, soon after, she was so ill she was unable to stand or walk up stairs. And it only got worse. Georgina Ann lost her memory after being diagnosed with encephalitis Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Georgina’s brain scan shows encephalitis affected the left side of her brain Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media An ambulance was called and on the way to hospital she suffered a seizure. The 28-year-old office manager was diagnosed with encephalitis, a serious condition that causes the brain to swell, and was hospitalised for three weeks. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! Georgina says she was unconscious for much of the time she was in hospital, but when she woke up, she’d lost much of her memory. Unable to recognise the people around her until they introduced themselves, Georgina still struggles to remember people’s names and faces. Georgina was hospitalised for three weeks and was unconscious for much of that time Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media She lost a lot of her memory and now struggles with everyday tasks Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Now unable to work or drive, Georgina has difficulties completing everyday tasks such as dressing herself or making food due to her memory loss. However, she says the “positive” aspect is that she’s been able to re-watch some of her favourite childhood movies, including The Grinch, with fresh eyes. Georgina, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, said: “The first couple of weeks I had no idea who anyone was. “When I first came out of hospital, I wouldn’t have even remembered where the bedroom was or where the bathroom was. Most read in Health “It’s like starting life from scratch, but in a very bizarre way because it’s hard to do it in your hometown when they know you but you don’t know them. “But there are slight positives to the memory loss. “The Grinch was always my favourite film when I was a little girl. “Before my mother passed away, she bought me the pyjamas so I could enjoy it so being able to watch that, as if I was a little girl, was magical. “It brought back a lot of memories from being young, it’s literally like being a seven-year-old girl again – it’s quite a nice thing. “Harry Potter wasn’t my cup of tea before this, I hated it, yet being able to start from scratch has been amazing. “I watched the first movie and I’ve seen it from a completely different perspective – it’s made me really re-value every aspect of life. “I’ve been able to watch those films back like it was the first time.” Georgina says being able to watch films like it’s the first time is a positive of the memory loss Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media She describes her memory loss as “starting life from scratch” Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Still struggling to remember names and faces, Georgina says she often has no recollection of who people are until she bumps into them and they introduce themselves. Georgina said: “One of the worst things for me is that I can’t even remember people’s names. “It’s like when your friends ask you if you’ve seen a movie but until you see a picture of the movie or a picture of the actor, you don’t know who they are. “That’s like me but every single day of the week. “I don’t know who people are until they smile at me or say hello and that’s when things come back to me. “I’ll nip into the supermarket and I’ll see someone’s had a child but I didn’t even know that they were pregnant. “I feel like I’ve been in a coma for the last two years because I’ll ask them whose children they’re babysitting and they’ll tell me they’re their own.” Daily tasks such as making a cup of tea and getting dressed are also a struggle for Georgina and she’d had to move back home with her father for safety reasons. On one occasion she says she almost burnt the house down after forgetting she’d turned the oven on to cook dinner. Georgina said: “One night I put dinner in for my partner, who had come over, and within half an hour I’d forgotten that I’d done that and ordered a takeaway instead. “I left the oven on and nearly burnt the house down. “I can’t shut the fridge properly, I can’t turn the dryer on, my clothes are always on inside-out or back to front. “One time I’d gone to make myself a brew and instead of putting milk in my coffee I’d put cordial in.” Waiting to start cognitive rehabilitation therapy in October, Georgina hopes it will help bring some of her memories back. Georgina said: “I’ve not even reached 30 and I can’t work. “Some days I wake up and I can’t walk, I feel like I need a wheelchair. “I had such an amazing upbringing and such an amazing life but now it’s like I’ve hit rock bottom. “When you get told that you can’t drive and you can’t remember your name it’s not nice, it’s like I’ve been robbed of opportunities in life in a way.” Now, Georgina wants to raise awareness of encephalitis and is encouraging other people who experience symptoms to seek medical advice immediately. Georgina said: “Make sure that no matter what, you have an emergency contact with a red star in your mobile phone. “If you experience similar symptoms to the ones that I did then just ring 999 – it doesn’t matter even if you think you’ve got a cough or a tickly throat, just call.” What is encephalitis? (info from NHS) Encephalitis is a serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed. It can be life threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital. It usually begins with flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature and headache. More serious symptoms, such as seizures, difficulty speaking, and loss of consciousness usually develop over hours, days or weeks. Treatment includes antiviral medications and steroid injections. Many people never make a full recovery and are left with long-term problems caused by damage to their brain. Comment now