Actress, 27, who suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling off stage as a teen reveals how incident completely wiped her MEMORY - and has left her unable to recall short-term details 10 YEARS later

A woman with severe memory loss has revealed how she keeps memos on the most important people in her life so she can remember details about them.  

Megan Mackenzie, 27, who is based in New York, suffered a traumatic brain injury after she fell off a stage in school and hit the back of her head. 

The author had to relearn to talk without a stutter and over time realized she was struggling with short - and long-term memory loss. 

Now the college educator keeps a memo for every friend or family member in her notes app on her phone in which she details things such as their favorite color, birthday and places they like to go.

Megan Mackenzie, who suffered severe memory loss, has revealed how she keeps memos on everyone in her life so she can remember details about them

The now 27-year-old, who is based in New York, suffered a traumatic brain injury after she fell off a stage in school and hit the back of her head 

Her parents took her to hospital the day after the incident because initially, no one realized the damage the fall had done (Megan as a child)

Megan was only 17 years old when she fell and suffered the brain injury. 

'When I was in school, I got pushed off a stage and hit the bottom of a piano. I hit the back of my head,' she explained.

Her parents took her to hospital the following day, as initially, no one realized the damage the fall had done. 

She shared: 'I couldn't articulate what had happened. I don't remember the next few months.'

Megan was told she had mild concussion but, after her symptoms continued, she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.

'I had to relearn how to speak. Then I realized I didn't have a memory anymore. I can remember how things make me feel but the details are blurred.

'I spent the next few years navigating the new normal.'

Over the years, Megan has had various therapy to relearn to read and talk. 

Over the years, Megan has had various therapy to relearn to read and talk

Megan started making a habit of writing things down after she realized she was repeating stories to her friends

She said: 'I loved reading. Now I read by speed reading. I can read an entire book in three hours.

'I get to re-do the Harry Potter series as an adult with a fresh brain.'

Megan started making a habit of writing things down after she realized she was repeating stories to her friends.

She explained: 'That's how I started using my notes app to keep track of things.     

'I love bullet points. I title the notes app for that person. I write down their birthday, places they go, names of dogs.

'It's random life bits that were important when I wrote them down.

'Each person has a personalized notes app. A lot of my friends know and let me tell the same stories over a million times.

'Everyone wants to see their notes but I never let them see it.' 

Megan added: 'A lot of my friends call me Dory [from Finding Nemo]. I always say "just keep swimming.'

Megan shares her story online to help share the 'quirks' of a brain injury, adding: 'It doesn't keep me from doing anything. I found a new normal'

Her boyfriend, Andrew, 24, a masters student in computer engineering, is very supportive of Megan.

She said: 'He is lovely and wonderful. He finds it charming when I tell him my stories for the 800th time.

'When I'm retelling stories I'll look at him like "what happened next?" and he'll jump in.'

After Megan's brain injury, the aspiring actress was told it would not be 'an option' to memorize lines.

But now she has worked out a way to do it - by using movement.

She said: 'If I'm learning lines I will touch my head or something. Through movement I'm able to lock in these words.'

Megan shares her story online to help share the 'quirks' of a brain injury.

She said: 'It doesn't keep me from doing anything. I found a new normal.'