Grandmother wakes up believing it’s the ’80s, doctors stumped by rare amnesia case

In a bewildering turn of events, Louisiana grandmother Kim Denicola, 60, embarked on an unexpected journey through time after seeking medical attention for severe headaches in October 2018. Little did she know that a routine hospital visit would catapult her into a life-altering episode of amnesia, leaving her with no recollection of the past 30 years.

Denicola’s ordeal began when she attended her Baton Rouge bible study group, complaining of severe headaches and blurry vision. While initially dismissed as routine, her condition took a perplexing turn when she awoke in the hospital emergency room with a startling revelation—she believed herself to be a teenager living in the 1980s.

In an interview with WAFB, Denicola expressed her astonishment, saying, “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’m going to wake up in the hospital, and I’m going to be 60 years old.”

Post-awakening, Denicola grappled with the technological advancements of the present day, unaware of the changing political landscape and the evolution of everyday conveniences such as smart TVs.

Diagnosed with extensive amnesia, officially known as transient global amnesia (TGA), doctors remain perplexed about the underlying cause despite extensive tests and scans.

Transient global amnesia, as explained by the National Library of Medicine, often occurs during strenuous activity, high-stress events, or migraines. While typically temporary, the condition can reoccur, with death being an extremely rare outcome.

Regrettably, five years on, Denicola has not reclaimed any memories of the past three decades, leaving medical professionals uncertain about the possibility of recovery.

“They told me if, by now, I haven’t gotten it, then I probably won’t,” Denicola revealed in the interview.

Despite the profound loss, Denicola has found solace in rebuilding connections, rediscovering love for her husband, and witnessing her children’s growth through stories and photographs.

As the perplexing case continues to baffle the medical community, Denicola remains resilient, declaring, “I may have lost my memories, but guess what? We can make new ones.”