A rare illness erased a 28-year-old British woman’s memory: people became strangers, while films felt new again

Georgina Ann, 28, from Bolton in Greater Manchester, Britain, is dealing with the effects of encephalitis, a serious illness that causes inflammation and swelling of the brain. The condition erased a large part of her memory, although she has also discovered an unusual positive aspect: she can watch her favorite films as if she had never seen them before.

The problems began in August 2024, when Georgina started feeling dizzy and lost her appetite. Within a short time, her condition worsened so much that she could no longer stand or climb stairs.

Her family sought medical help and called an ambulance. During the journey to the hospital, the 28-year-old suffered an epileptic seizure. After carrying out examinations, doctors diagnosed her with encephalitis, and she remained in hospital for three weeks.

She spent most of that period unconscious. When she woke up, she realized that a considerable part of her memories had disappeared.

Georgina was unable to recognize the people around her unless they told her who they were. Even now, she has difficulty remembering the names and faces of people she knows. She says that during the first two weeks, she had no idea who anyone around her was.

After returning home, the situation did not become any easier. She could not even remember where the bedroom and bathroom were in her home.

Georgina describes the experience as starting life all over again, but under unusual circumstances: she was in the city where she had grown up, where everyone knew her, while she knew no one.

Despite the major difficulties, the loss of her memory has also given her a unique experience. One of the films she has loved since childhood is “The Grinch”. Before her mother died, she had bought her a pair of pajamas so she could enjoy the film.

When she watched it again, Georgina felt as though she had returned to childhood. The experience was magical for her and brought back many memories, making her feel as though she were seven years old again.

She has also seen “Harry Potter”, a film she did not like before, in a different light. After the first film, she says she experienced the story from a completely new perspective, and that this helped her appreciate every aspect of life again.

However, the effects of encephalitis continue to affect her every day. Georgina often does not understand who the people she meets are until they smile at her, greet her or tell her who they are.

She compares the feeling to friends asking whether you have seen a film, while you do not understand which one they mean until you see a picture of the film or the actor. For Georgina, a situation like this happens throughout the week.

Sometimes she meets people at the supermarket and learns that they have children, without previously knowing that they had even been pregnant. In such cases, she thinks she has been in a coma for the past two years and asks which children they are looking after, only to be told that they are their own children.

The problems are not limited to recognizing people. Georgina has difficulty getting dressed, cooking and using household appliances. For her safety, she has moved back in with her father.

Once, while preparing dinner, she forgot that she had turned on the oven. After about half an hour, she no longer remembered that she was cooking and decided to order food. She often puts her clothes on backwards or inside out, cannot close the refrigerator properly and has difficulty using the dryer. On another occasion, she accidentally poured fruit syrup into her coffee instead of milk.

The 28-year-old is unable to work and is not allowed to drive. On some days, her physical difficulties are so severe that she feels she needs a wheelchair.

The fact that she cannot drive and sometimes cannot even remember her own name has made her feel as though she has been deprived of the opportunities to live the life she wanted.

In October, Georgina is expected to begin cognitive rehabilitation therapy, in the hope that she will recover some of her lost memories. She also aims to raise awareness of encephalitis and urges people who notice similar symptoms to seek medical help immediately.