A teenage girl named Weronika Somerville woke up from brain surgery to remove a tumor with amnesia, unable to recognize her own parents. The surgeon who performed the procedure was a stranger to her. Weronika experienced retrograde amnesia, losing all memories of her past life. Despite efforts, her memories never returned. Now, Weronika struggles to connect with her family and adapt to her new reality.
After her surgery, Weronika had to relearn everything from scratch, starting with basic primary school subjects. Although it was challenging, she managed to regain her knowledge with determination. However, returning to high school posed new difficulties as she no longer recognized her friends and had to find a new social circle. Over the years, Weronika’s tumor began to grow again, prompting the need for a second surgery to improve her life expectancy.
Facing a second brain surgery, Weronika feared losing her memory once more. The new series “Surgeons: At the Edge of Life” on BBC Two documents her journey. The surgery, led by consultant neurosurgeon Imran Liaquat, required extreme precision due to the tumor’s location in a critical area of Weronika’s brain. Preservation of cognitive function was crucial, and the team strived to remove as much of the tumor as possible without compromising brain function.
Throughout her ordeal, Weronika’s fiance, Cameron, remained steadfast by her side. He documented their relationship in scrapbooks and prepared for the worst-case scenario by organizing important information. Luckily, the second surgery was successful, and Weronika woke up with her memory intact. She and Cameron were married in December, grateful for the skilled surgeons who saved her life twice. Weronika looks forward to a happy future, acknowledging the extraordinary efforts of her medical team
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