In what doctors are calling an extraordinary medical phenomenon, a Scottish woman has baffled medical experts by waking from a two-week coma speaking fluent French - despite having only basic knowledge of the language from her school days.
The Mysterious Transformation
Lisa Millar, 47, from the coastal town of Largs in North Ayrshire, collapsed unexpectedly at her home and slipped into a coma that would last fourteen agonising days. When she finally regained consciousness, her family received the shock of their lives.
"I opened my eyes and started speaking perfect French," Lisa recounted. "My husband stared at me in complete disbelief. The last time I'd properly studied French was over thirty years ago in secondary school."
A Family's Shock and Confusion
Her husband, David Millar, described the moment as "utterly surreal." "I thought I was dreaming," he said. "Here was my wife, who struggled to order coffee in Paris last year, suddenly conversing with medical staff in fluent French. We were all completely stunned."
The medical team at the NHS facility where Lisa was treated confirmed the extraordinary transformation. Neurologists have diagnosed her with Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), an exceptionally rare condition typically caused by brain injury or trauma.
Understanding Foreign Accent Syndrome
Foreign Accent Syndrome affects speech patterns, causing sufferers to speak with what sounds like a foreign accent. Fewer than 150 cases have been documented worldwide since the condition was first identified in 1907.
- Typically results from stroke or head trauma
- Affects speech melody and pronunciation
- Can appear suddenly after neurological events
- Most cases resolve within months or years
Life After the Miracle
While Lisa's French fluency has diminished somewhat since she left hospital, she retains a much stronger grasp of the language than before her coma. "I can still read French novels and have conversations, something I could never do before," she explained.
The mother-of-two has embraced her unexpected linguistic gift, even considering a career change to utilise her new language skills. "It feels like the coma unlocked a part of my brain that had been dormant since childhood," she mused.
Medical researchers continue to study Lisa's case, hoping it might reveal new insights into how our brains store and process language. For now, this remarkable Scottish woman remains one of medicine's most fascinating mysteries.
