Real Life '50 First Dates': Woman Loses Memory Every Day; Uses Scrapbook to Remember Boyfriend

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A 20-year-old woman lives her life much like Drew Barrymore's character in the hit Rom-Com movie, "50 First Dates."

Jenny Gisby loses her memory every week. As a result she forgets her three-year boyfriend, Stuart Balmforth, on a weekly basis, reports NY Post.  

Similar to Adam Sandler making a tape to help Barrymore's character regain her memory everyday in the movie, Gisby thought of a way to help her remember her boyfriend. To cope with her weekly memory loss, Gisby has filled a scrapbook of photos and mementos of her three-year relationship.

"I decided to make a scrapbook when I realized how distressing it must be for them trying to explain who they were," she said.

She also described how she feels when she wakes up with no memory. In an interview, Gisby told Cater News Agency, "It is terrifying when I wake up with no memory and it takes half an hour before I begin to remember again. My photo album definitely helps speed it all up."

She further explained how the scrapbook has helped maintain her relationship. Gisby said, "...once I remember it is lovely being able to witness all mine and Stuart's memories again, it's like I'm falling in love with him all over again."

Gisby's memory was affected when she had a seizure while she was at work in November. Recalling the incident, she said "My manager called for an ambulance and I ended up being in a coma for a few days.

"I was soon diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder and that's when my memory loss started. I will wake up after being asleep all night with no memory of who I am or my boyfriend and parents."

Gisby's boyfriend, Stuart, talked about the scrapbook in the Cater News Agency report, and he's grateful that there's something that can bring back all the good memories he shared with Gisby.

"It's nice to keep updating Jenny's book with the places we've visited together... without the book it would take much longer for Jenny to remember and it would lever her feeling even more frustrated," he said.

According to Fox News, Mayo Clinic describes Gisby's disorder as one that causes a physical ailment due to mental crisis. Mayo Clinic uses the example of a person falling off a horse and not being able to walk, even though there was no physical harm to their legs. In the case of 20-year-old Gisby, she woke up from a coma with paralyzed legs, though her legs were not physically damaged, reports Fox News.