Alex Has Retrograde Amnesia

Elvira turned back and saw Carolina running towards them. Elvira spread her hands out and received Carolina hug.

Carolina is their neighbor fourteen years ago when they were still living at Novaliches. They were also friends, but not close friends. Carolina was very happy to see Elvira.

"It's been fourteen years since I last saw you. Where did you go to?" Carolina asked with an excited voice and Elvira could only smile.

Carolina turned subconsciously and saw Carissa. "Is this Carissa?"

"Yes" Elvira nodded.

"Oh my God, she is a girl big now and she is also beautiful too" she said and walked towards Carissa and held Carissa's face in her hand.

Carissa immediately removed Carolina's hand from her face and placed the back of Carolina's hand on her forehead. "Good afternoon Mrs. Carolina"

Carolina patted Carissa's back and smiled. She walked to Lola belen and greeted her then she went to Elvira.

"I have been looking for you for a very long time. You just disappeared like that without telling us where you were going to"

"I am sorry. You know how painful it is to stay where I lost my husband and son" Elvira smiled apologetically.

Carolina nodded. "Yeah, that's true, but I have something to tell you"

"What?" Elvira asked in a serious voice.

"We can't say it here. Let's go to my house" she said and they followed Carolina to her house.

***

They all sat down in the living room while Carolina went to the kitchen to get them orange juice. She came back with a tray and placed the juice in front of them. Elvira smiled thank you at her.

She sat down beside Elvira and said, "I have been looking for you to tell you this"

Elvira took the juice, sipped it and placed it back on the table. "What do you want to tell me?"

"Leonel is alive"

They were all shock by what Carolina heard. Elvira felt her heart beating so fast that she could even hear it.

"Wh... What... did you say?" Carissa asked in a trembling voice.

"I said Leonel is alive" Carolina repeated herself.

"How did you know?" Elvira could not hold back her tears again as she allowed them to flow freely.

'How did she know that kuya Leonel is alive? Have she seen him already?' Carissa thought.

"The day that incident happened, when the fire broke out in your house. After you left, police searched the whole house and found Leonel. The ceiling fell on him that's why the police told you that they can't find him, but he was under the ceiling, unconscious. They felt his pulse and he was still breathing then he was taken to the hospital for treatment. I tried calling you, but your number was not available. We searched for you, but we couldn't find you" she paused and took a deep breathe then she continued. "After two weeks, Leonel woke up, but he has not fully recovered. I was surprised that he could not remember anything again. I asked him his name, but he did not remember. I showed him your pictures, but he did not remember any of you"

Elvira now understand the reason why Alex did not remember his family. It's because he has amnesia. Carissa covered her mouth with her hand, so she won't make any sound. Mrs belen also cried when she heard that her grandson is really alive.

"I tried to make him remembered, but everything I did, did not work on him. I couldn't help him get his memory back. Then a couple came one day and saw Leonel. They liked him and told me that they want to adopt him, but I refused because I know that one day, you will come back. The couple begged me and told me that they will take him to the U.S for special treatment. I thought of it. If I don't allow them to take him for the treatment, I won't be able to take care of Leonel and pay for his treatment, so I made up my mind and allowed them to take Leonel abroad. If I can remember them, I think their name is cabela"

They were flabbergasted when they heard the name 'Cabela'. Carissa remembered that Alex told her his parent's name is cabela. That means the cabelas were the one who adopted Leonel and gave him the name Alex. Now she understand everything.

"The cabelas are very rich and they are the owner of cabela corporations. After they took Leonel, I have never heard anything about him, or from them" Carolina said and looked at their faces only to find them crying.

She understands how painful it is for them to loose a family member.

That day when the incident happened, Elvira did not stay for another day. She packed her luggage and left Novaliches to Binondo.

She never thought her son will be alive, so she never thought of even going back to Novaliches. She felt that she was a bad mother for not going back to look for her child. She cried her eyes balls out.

After few minutes of crying, Elvira said, "I want to go to the hospital where my son was adopted. I want to know what really happened to him"

Carolina stood up and said, "I will take you there, but I am not sure if the doctor who treated Leonel is still there"

"I just want to go there" Elvira was determined. Carolina agreed and took them to the hospital.

At manila hospital.

Doctor toria was the doctor that attended to Leonel fourteen years ago. She wore a long white gown and a dark glasses. She has a short dark hair and it fits her round face. She smiled at Carolina. "It's been a long time. What brings you here?"

"Do you still remember Leonel?"

The doctor was silent for three seconds as if she was thinking if something then she said, "Yes. That boy who got into a fire accident?"

"Yes" Carolina nodded.

"Why did you ask about him? Remember he was adopted and taken to the U.S for treatment"

"Yes, I know"

"Then why did you ask?" she dropped her glasses and looked into Carolina's eyes.

"These are his real family. This is his mother, grandma and his younger sister" Carolina introduced them to Dr. Toria.

Dr. Toria nodded and smiled at them. "Oh... you are his mother? Why didn't you come back for your son fourteen years ago. We waited for you, but you didn't come and Carolina had to give him to the cabelas, so he could receive proper treatment"

Elvira lowered her head and began to cry.

Dr toria leaned in her seat and was silent. She looked at Elvira for few seconds and finally she said, "Your son has retrograde amnesia"

Elvira raised her head. "Retrograde amnesia?" she was confused.

"Retrograde amnesia is caused by damage to the memory storage areas of the brain in various brain region. This type of damage can result from a traumatic injury, a serious illness or stroke. In temporary graded retrograde amnesia, victims eventually recover most memories following the onset of RA. This suggests that the hippocampal formation, the process of coding new information is only used in systematic consolidation for temporary storage, and short periods of time. Damages limited to the hippocampus causes temporary graded amnesia for 15 to 25 years" the doctor explained.

"So... You mean he can still regain his memory?" Elvira asked.

"Yes. If you were with him that fourteen years ago, you would have helped him regain his memory by taking him to places he has been to before and tell him stories of his past and he will regain his memory"

"Thank you doctor" Elvira smiled and ran out of the office.

Carissa and Lola belen stood up and followed her and Carolina thanked the doctor and left the office.

The doctor did not understand why Elvira rushed out, but it none of her business. She continued working at the files on the table