A British woman who woke up from a stroke with a totally different accent has opened up about 15 years of struggles, including being racially abused and told to “go back to your own country.”
Sarah Colwill was diagnosed with a rare condition called Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), with only about 100 known cases, after she woke up from a stroke in 2010 (she was 35 years old at the time) speaking with a Chinese-sounding accent, according to the Daily Mail.
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She still speaks with a Chinese accent to this day
MailOnline reported that Colwill, now 50, still speaks with a Chinese accent, even though she’s never been to Asia.
Doctors have been unable to determine the cause of her stroke, which left her with neurological impairments that affected her ability to walk and speak normally.
She has since shared the years of bullying she endured after the life-changing medical event, including being called a “freak” and an “embarrassment” by her own family.
She also opened up about how some Christian groups accused her of being “possessed by the devil” and needing an “exorcism,” which pushed her to the brink of feeling suicidal.
“I need to focus on my mental health”
Colwill admitted that the past years have been incredibly difficult for her, as she had to rebuild both her language and mobility skills, all while enduring tremendous mental pressure.
She also pointed out that her speech is not something she chose, and that how others perceive her accent or background is none of their business.
“I still don’t know what happened or if it will happen again. It’s been tough trying to keep pushing myself to speak better, walk better, and become more independent. I’ve achieved my communication and mobility goals, but now I need to focus on my mental health, my self-esteem, and finding a way to regain my confidence,” she shared.
She also expressed hope that the world would one day stop criticising her accent.
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