For most people, waking up after a medical emergency brings relief. But for Althia Bryden, it was the start of a bewildering new reality—one where she suddenly spoke with an Italian accent, despite never having been to Italy or speaking a word of the language.
Althia, who suffered a stroke last year, had no memory of the incident. “I just remember waking up into a world but didn’t know why I was there,” she recalled.
Her husband, Winston, found her unresponsive in bed and rushed her to the hospital, where doctors confirmed she had suffered a stroke caused by a blockage in her neck.
For weeks, Althia was unable to speak. Then, after undergoing surgery, something astonishing happened.
“The nurse woke me up, and I heard a voice. I looked behind me, wondering who was speaking—but it was me,” she recounted in disbelief.
The transformation was shocking not only to her but also to Winston. “I walked into the ward, and when she said, ‘Hi, bab,’ I actually took a step back. It wasn’t her voice. It was like someone else had taken over,” he said.
The rare condition, often linked to neurological changes after strokes, has left doctors puzzled. Despite the confusion, Althia is embracing her new voice. “I’m happy I can speak again, but why am I speaking like this?” she mused.
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