Woman with rare neurological disorder forgets girlfriend like ‘50 First Dates’

The 21-year-old suffers from a debilitating brain condition similar to 50 First Dates that sees her forget her partner, as well as the fact she is gay.

The plot of the rom-com 50 First Dates is much less romantic in reality.

Life is in some ways comparable to the 2004 Drew Barrymore film for UK-based TikTok influencer Megan Jackson, whose Functional Neurological Disorder causes a variety of symptoms including memory loss.

The 21-year-old was diagnosed with the debilitating brain condition when she was 17 and experiences temporary paralysis, memory problems and seizures as a result.

She’s taken to documenting her experience with it on TikTok, where she has more than 332,000 followers.

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Megan Jackson and her girlfriend Tara Sorkin have found sweet ways to help her remember. Picture: meg.jacks/TikTok

Her girlfriend, 22-year-old Tara Sorkin, has developed an assortment of sweet methods to help jog Jackson’s memory, including maintaining a diary for her, taking her to places she’s been before and recently celebrating Valentine’s Day multiple times.

“We’ve only been together a few months and we’ve been through way too much. We shouldn’t have been through this amount of trauma and I’ve forgotten her at least four times,” Jackson told the Mirror.

“It’s like 50 First Dates. Everyone refers to it like that.”

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Megan Jackson suffers from a neurological disorder. Picture: meg.jacks/TikTok

Sometimes, following a seizure and resultant memory wiping, Jackson will be told “this is your girlfriend, Tara” and will respond with confusion.

“I’ll be like ‘What the hell — I’m not even gay,’” she told the publication. Due to her chronic condition, she believes it’s impossible to truly know her sexuality, “because I’ve forgotten.”

Perhaps the cruellest part of FND is that it is triggered by extreme emotions, including happiness.

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Tara keep a diary to help jog Megan’s memory. Picture: meg.jacks/TikTok

“It’s so depressing. I have seizures pretty much every day,” she said. “I only need to laugh then I have a fit. It affects every part of my life.”

Particularly funny or sad TV programs can trigger her FND, as can stress.

Attempting to suppress a seizure, she said, only makes it worse — “You’ve got to ride it out”.

Her condition has made it difficult to maintain traditional employment.

“I can’t work. I’ve been let go by so many jobs,” she said

This month, Jackson launched a GoFundMe so she can afford private health care instead of the care offered through the UK’s public National Health Service.

This story first appeared on the New York Post and has been republished with permission