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Would your life lose all meaning without a memory?

7/1/2015

11 Comments

 
PictureSource: freeimages
A woman, who goes by the name Sam, was found barely conscious by firefighters in US southern California in the seaside resort of Carlsbad in February this year, NBC 7 reports. Diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer after the authorities found her, and doctors removed a tumor the size of a volleyball.

Now suffering from amnesia, she has launched an online appeal to try to find her identity.

In a TV interview on Tuesday, Sam said, in a slight Australian accent, she had no recollection of who she was or where she was from. “I can't remember anything. How I got here. I didn't have anything on me. No jewelery. No purse, nothing.”

She took to social media in a bid to spread her story, hoping that family member or friend might see it and get in touch. According to her Facebook page, doctors told her that a large tumour may have erased her memories. She fears she may die before finding out who she is and where her family and friends are.

Interpol has added her to their international missing person database. The FBI is also reportedly investigating Sam's mysterious case. See full story and pictures: BBC.

PictureSource: freeimages
She looks to be in the prime of her life in middle age.

But, without our memories, we are lost. Just imagine if your past was wiped away with one swipe and nobody claimed you. What would you do to earn your living? We mostly rely on experience for our line of work. That's because experience comes from memories.

At about the same age, I left Australia to avoid a difficult relationship and arrived in England with just two suitcases. But I had life experience to draw on. The only job I knew was looking after children, so affiliated to Australian Aunts, I set up appointments to work as a nanny. I went to four interviews, one of them at the Brazilian Embassy, one with the movie star Jane Asher, and another with a family who were just about to leave for US. I couldn't get a visa in time for that one, and the movie star thought I was too bossy, so I took another job with a business couple with similar backgrounds to my own, he in advertising like my former husband and she working with the Australian film industry. After six months I traveled the world with them. But that's another story which I'll save for my memoirs.

Which brings me back to the original subject of memories. I'd lost every THING but I still knew who I was and could draw on life experience.

This story of the amnesiac Sam shows us just how precious our memories are.

Spend a moment to appreciate your background. I'd love to hear about your most precious recollections.

11 Comments
Corinne Rodrigues link
6/30/2015 07:05:22 pm

What a horribly scary situation to be in. Thank God she's alive. I hope her family connects with her!

Reply
Jacqui Malpass link
6/30/2015 10:41:35 pm

I recently met someone who had been in a horrific car accident and lost her memory. She was luckier than Sam in that her family knew who she was. Even so, she has had to trust that they will accept the new her.

Tough times.

Although life has been a 'journey' you are right, it is these experiences that culminate in memory tracks being laid down that allow me to share and support others.

Can't wait to read your memoirs....

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Paul Taubman link
6/30/2015 11:00:29 pm

Wow! Years ago, the father of a high school friend went to play golf and never came back. He literally disappeared. Years later he was found wondering on the beach also! He had no memory of who he was, where he was from, or anything.

I cannot image living without my memory!

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Tammy Rome link
7/1/2015 02:01:37 am

What a sad story! I do hope she finds her family. It really makes you appreciate the small things in life.

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Rajashree Bhagwat link
7/1/2015 02:17:45 am

Unimaginable! What a tragedy! She along with her family and near and dear ones are suffering the pain. I am sure and hopeful that there are good people out in the world who turn up at the right time. With all my prayers, I wish her and her family to reconnect.

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Abundant Journeys link
7/1/2015 04:53:11 am

Oh this would be such a scary situation, but we know it happens. I could not fathom losing my precious memory and worse... no one finding you. Hope she finds her family soon.

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Dorit Sasson link
7/1/2015 05:24:30 am

I just read an article about ways to strength the memory and early prevention for Alzheimer's of which my mom passed away from. Thank you for sharing this.

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Alana link
7/1/2015 08:50:53 am

In March, my brother in law's mother in law fell in the bathtub and hit her head. She obviously knows people but it's difficult for her to communicate (she is also having seizures.) I wonder what is going on in her mind and how impaired her thinking is. She is now in a nursing home and probably will never come home. Her husband of over 60 years is heartbroken.

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K.Lee Banks link
7/1/2015 10:38:55 am

How sad that she doesn't know who she is and no family or friends have come forth to identify her! You would think someone would be looking for her.

I can relate to at least some memory loss ever since suffering a nearly fatal head injury way back in 1985, but certainly not to the degree of lost memories and lost identity that this woman has suffered.

Reply
Roy A. Ackerman, PhD, EA link
7/1/2015 02:50:35 pm

This is why some of us have (what others consider to be) unusual statements in our Medical Directives.
Folks not recalling me- eh.... My kids- big. Me not remembering what I've done- terrible.

Reply
Janet link
7/1/2015 03:19:50 pm

Wonderful post, definitely material for a novel or memoir. Thanks for sharing.

Reply



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    Francene Stanley
    From England, I use news items in my novels which you can see below, all linked to an Amazon near you.

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