Living With Acquired Anterograde Prosopagnosia
I realize I will never again know who I am in current photographs (prosopagnosia) without using broad clues such as background and clothing. Due to only remembering faces from before (anterograde) my stroke (acquired), I always recognize myself in younger pictures. However, logically, I will continue to age. Even if I were to never again change my hair color or style, my face will change. Aging is inevitable. There are lines and creases that continuously alter how we appear. It’s a fact of a life well lived.
My image as a young woman will always be recognizable when flipping through photo albums. I identify with these pictures from years gone by. This image of what I looked like then is frozen in my mind forever. It is the face I will always expect to see when I catch a glimpse of myself today. Still, fortunately, I am able to remember the happy thoughts created each and every day. In the end, these memories are much more beautiful and meaningful than any photograph we could ever take.