Strangers Reunite Woman With Family After Ovarian Cancer Causes Rare Form Of Amnesia

Strangers Reunite Woman With Family After Cancer Causes Amnesia
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A woman who woke up in hospital with no recollection of who she was has finally discovered her true identity - all thanks to the power of social media.

Ashley Manetta, 53, was found dying by emergency staff who rushed her to a hospital in San Diego.

But when she came around she couldn't remember her name, age or where she was from. In fact, she couldn't remember anything about her life, NBC reports.

Tests revealed that she had Stage 3 ovarian cancer, which doctors believe caused her to have retrograde amnesia.

Manetta, who was known as 'Sam' by hospital staff, was featured in an NBC Facebook post which went viral and was shared a staggering 200,000 times.

There was a lot of speculation about who 'Sam' really was. One woman called Ann Dahl said she knew her from a Bible study at a Catholic church, but was convinced she was Australian because of her strange accent.

"I know the voice; I know the face, although she's gained a little weight and the whole persona is the same," Dahl told NBC.

Five months after she was taken into A&E with no recollection of who she was, 'Sam's' prayers were finally answered.

It turns out she is actually a woman called Ashley Manetta who is 53 years old and was born in Pennsylvania. She never married but has two sisters who live in Colorado and Maryland.

For a period of her life, Manetta lived in Arizona but then moved to Southern California.

Her nephew saw the story on NBC 7 and phoned his mother (Manetta's sister) straight away. The FBI were then involved and, after speaking with Manetta, she was put in touch with her family once again.

"It was extremely emotional," Manetta told NBC. "We were all sobbing. They’re so sorry I had to go through what I did during this time without them."

And the mystery behind her Australian accent was also answered.

"Apparently I have a long time of visiting Australia for extended trips," said Manetta. "I’ve been going there throughout my life."

10 Tips For Healthy Ageing
Exercise(01 of10)
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As well as the physical benefits, regular exercise has positive effects on your brain. (credit:ferrantraite via Getty Images)
Stop Smoking(02 of10)
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It’s bad for your body and your brain. (credit:Yagi Studio via Getty Images)
Attend Regular Health Checks(03 of10)
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Make use of health checks on offer: contact your GP surgery for information. (credit:Hero Images via Getty Images)
Be Sociable(04 of10)
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Avoid the harmful effects of loneliness by keeping up your social contacts. (credit:Thomas Barwick via Getty Images)
Eat & Drink Well(05 of10)
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Adopt a Mediterranean diet or similar which is rich in nuts, whole grains and fruit, vegetables and oily fish, alcohol in moderation. (credit:Chris Gramly via Getty Images)
Manage Stress(06 of10)
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Keep your stress levels and your blood pressure down. (credit:Muriel de Seze via Getty Images)
Rest(07 of10)
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Get enough sleep. Most experts suggest about eight hours a night. (credit:BreBa via Getty Images)
Challenge Yourself(08 of10)
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Keep your brain active and challenge yourself: through work or volunteering. People in jobs that demand complex dealings with people or data are more likely to stay mentally sharp in later life (credit:LarsHallstrom via Getty Images)
Learn A Language(09 of10)
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People who speak more than one language are more likely to stay sharp in old age. (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)
Love Later Life(10 of10)
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A positive attitude towards growing older can increase your life expectancy by up to seven and a half years. (credit:Jose Luis Pelaez Inc via Getty Images)