When father-of-two Bob Watt set off for work at the local butcher's shop five months ago, he had no idea he would end up 12 miles away... with no memory of how he got there.
The 44-year-old had suffered a sudden inexplicable amnesia attack and ended up walking for hours before ending up in a restaurant.
Bob Watt has had to relearn how to work every day home appliances as well as his mobile phone
Mr Watt, from Aberdeen, said: 'The last thing I remember is leaving the house and the next thing my mobile phone was ringing.'
He was finally picked up by a passing motorist who gave him a lift to a bus stop and he caught a bus home.
He said: 'I'll never forget the look of horror on my wife and friend's faces as I walked off the bus at Aberdeen Bus Station.'
Since then he has had four further more serious memory lapses, where he has forgotten Linda, his wife of 18 years, along with his daughters Laura, 18, and Kayleigh, 15.
More...
Oops! We have a problem... moment father with Britain's first take-home artificial heart feared it was about to STOP
How paracetamol can reduce stress and sharpen your memory
'I'd even forgotten I had an 11-year-old son': Mother lost 17 years of her life after developing amnesia
He has also forgotten how to work the TV, DVD, microwave and washing machine.
After a string of tests, the baffled butcher is still unsure what triggers the amnesia attacks. Doctors believe they may be triggered by stress.
Mr Watt has also suffered with epilepsy since he was involved in a car accident when he was 17. The condition is controlled with drugs.
Forgotten family: Bob, pictured in a collect from 10 years ago, has had moments when he can not remember his wife Linda or children Kayleigh, right, and Laura
Mr Watt said: 'We laugh about it now but really it is terrifying. I have had to relearn how to use anything that could be classed as modern technology.
'Out of all the appliances in our house, the only thing I haven't had problems using is the cooker.'
His worst bout came when he was at home one day.
He said: 'My wife was on the phone and I was coming out of the shower. She found me slumped in a corner in my dressing gown.
'I didn't know why I was there like that and I didn't know she was my wife. I didn't know why I was in her house and I wanted to leave.
'I found it strange sleeping next to my wife who I have been married to for 18 years.
'The most devastating part is forgetting my family and friends. This has meant having to be constantly reintroduced to people.
'The devastated look on someone's face when you tell them you don't recognise them is something that will also haunt me for some time to come.'
Mrs Watt said her husband's experience was like that portrayed by Drew Barrymore in the film 50 First Dates
Mrs Watt, 44, said her husband's life is like 50 First Dates - the Hollywood film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore - because he has to repeatedly relearn who his family and friends are.
More tests are planned at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary but so far the cause remains unknown.
Mr Watt said he relied on Linda and his daughters to help him.
He said: 'I love them more than anything. It has been very frustrating and at times a rocky road to recovery but I'm hopeful that I'm reaching the end of it now.
'I have been great for a couple of weeks and things are starting to come back.
'I am playing my guitar and I have a great passion for music so I have decided to do what I have called a guitarathon to raise money for research into brain disorders.'
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar