'Amnesia Al' Still Has No Memory, Says He's Going by Intuition

Nov. 2, 2006 — -- Jeffrey Ingram, the man who became known as "Amnesia Al," still has no memory of his past.

Ingram woke up on a sidewalk in downtown Denver more than a month ago with no idea who he was.

In the week and a half since Ingram's been home, his family, friends and fiancee, Penny Hansen, have told him stories and showed him pictures, hoping to spark some recollections.

But he remembers nothing before Sept. 10.

"I haven't had anything come back yet," Ingram said today in an exclusive interview on "Good Morning America."

Ingram says he has seen "lots and lots of pictures," but "nothing has jogged my memory -- anything -- yet."

One Step at a Time

Doctors say that Ingram suddenly went into a dissociative fugue state, a rare type of amnesia that can be triggered by stress.

The same thing happened to him in 1995.

After he woke up in Denver, Ingram appeared on "Good Morning America," hoping that someone might recognize him.

His parents saw him on TV, and his fiancee called Denver police.

Now Ingram, Hansen and his family are trying to piece together memories of his past life. It's been a difficult journey, Hansen said.

"It's been very difficult. It will be one step at a time," she said today. "But we're here for each other and we'll do what it takes."

Hansen says that Ingram is still the same man she fell in love with.

"He's always been a kind, gentle person, a person that will give anything help that needs help," she said. "He has a great sense of humor, and even throughout all this adversity, he still has a good sense of humor."

Relearning How to Cook

The ordeal has been most difficult for Ingram, who has struggled to recover his identity and sense of who he is.

In a Tuesday news conference, Ingram often spoke of himself in the third person.

"He seems like a nice man, like I'm polite. He seems like an outdoorsy type," he said. "But I'm concentrating on the person I am today, and I try not to get overstimulated by looking at photos and friends telling me, 'We did this and that.'"

Ingram also has had to relearn some very basic skills.

"Right now, it's all the basics. I can read. I can write. I can talk. I can walk," he said.

"That's about it. I'm still learning. I'm just learning how to bake and cook in the kitchen."

There are, however, a few slight differences Ingram's family have noticed in his behavior since his bout with amnesia.

"I just like a few things now that apparently that I didn't before," Ingram said. "I guess I didn't like green peppers, but I like them now. And it was also -- help me out with the word -- coconut. I didn't like that, but now I do."

'Just Through Intuition'

For now, Ingram is receiving no treatment for his condition, but Hansen said they were looking for a specialist.

As a preventive measure against getting lost again, Ingram may get an identification bracelet, or a tattoo with his personal information.

He said he might also have a Global Positioning System device implanted in his body to keep track of his whereabouts.

Ingram said that he was relying on his instincts to get through this confusing and trying time.

"For me, I guess it's just through intuition," Ingram said. "I trusted my heart because I can't draw on any memories for anything like that. So it all comes down to, if it feels good, then it's right."

Ingram's family has set up a fund to help with his medical expenses. The address to contribute is:

Jeff Ingram Fund

c/o Washington State Employees Credit UnionP.O. Box 12147

Olympia, WA 98508