A Gogglebox star has opened up about a horrifying and frightening diagnosis she received from doctors after losing her vision while driving.
Elaine Cooper, who has appeared on the popular Channel 4 show alongside her son Seb, shared that she briefly went blind while behind the wheel and was left unable to recognise one of her friends.
The retired music teacher found that she was also suffering from other forms of severe forgetfulness after realising that she had forgotten how to fill up her car while at a petrol station.
Gogglebox star Elaine Cooper opens up about incurable brain conditon that left her unable to recognise her friend
Doctors have since discovered that these symptoms were the result of an incurable bleed in the brain, an issue that had been present for 10 weeks.
Since this diagnosis, the Gogglebox personality has developed double vision and paralysis on the left side of her body, forcing her to give up driving and her job.
The Channel 4 star, who lives in Gloucestershire, revealed that she now rarely leaves the house and often feels "isolated".
Speaking with NeedToknow, she said: "I was completely shocked and heartbroken.
“They told me part of my brain had been irreversibly damaged. And as there wasn’t anything they could do, this was just who I was now.
“At first, it was difficult and I didn’t feel like myself.
“But I knew I had to keep going and try to make the best of a bad situation.”
Originally, Elaine put her forgetfulness down to tiredness and old age, but after losing her vision while behind the wheel, she knew something was amiss.
Reliving the horrible moment she forgot who her pal was, she said: “I had arranged to meet some friends for lunch.
“As one of my pals walked into the café, I stared at her. I couldn’t think where I knew her from. Then it dawned on me, I had forgotten who she was.
“I had forgotten how to fill up the car a few days before that. A man had to come over and help.
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“I looked so stupid when he easily lifted off the cap.
“It was terrifying not remembering how to do the simplest of tasks – I truly thought I was losing my mind.”
She now tries to stay positive, and even visits a rehabilitation day centre every week, something she has dubbed a "turning point".
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