24 Oct, 2006
Ecstatic fiancée identifies 'Amnesia Al'
He is Jeffery Alan Ingram, a 40-year-old Olympia, Wash., man who vanished on the morning of Sept. 9 when he was supposed to be driving to Alberta, Canada, to visit his parents.
Instead, he found himself on the 16th Street Mall in Denver, in front of the World Trade Center building on Sept. 10, unable to remember his name.
Family members contacted Denver police over the weekend after his story was featured on Good Morning America and the Today show.
"Obviously, I'm ecstatic," his fiancée, Penny Hansen, said Sunday afternoon. "I'm happy he's safe."
Later Sunday, she told the Olympian in Olympia, Wash., that "it's been a horrific six weeks since his disappearance. I'm anxious to talk to him and see how he's doing."
Denver police said Sunday they were able to verify Ingram's identity through the family. Until then, police had referred to him as "Al," rather than the "Alpha number" on his report file.
Police, however, do not think his disappearance or his allegation of lost memory is a joke. After consulting with doctors at Denver Health Medical Center, they think Ingram is suffering from a psychiatric disorder known as a "dissociative fugue state."
According to the Thurston County sheriff's office in Washington, where the original missing persons report for Ingram was filed, his fiancée reported that he experienced a similar bout of memory loss during a routine trip to the grocery store in 1995.
Ingram spoke to reporters on Friday but was not available Sunday. Quinones said plans call for him to return to Washington within a few days.
He has a long way to go," she said, adding that Ingram did not recognize pictures of his relatives. "He was just frustrated. He said, 'I know I should know these people - but I don't.' "
photo & story courtesy ap & insidedenver.com, 10/23/06
Who am I?
What does today's God's Story teach us about knowing our identity?
Isaiah is reminding God's people that they don't have to ever wonder or worry if their Savior is going to forget them. Look at these words again:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine."
God had a proven track record when it came to taking care of His chosen people and He would continue to love and provide for Israel.
The same promise is true today for any of us who have trusted Jesus to be our Savior. He knows each of His followers by name - we belong to Him - Jesus will never forget us or let us go!
When I read today's story and God's Story I identified with 'Amnesia Al' and Israel at the time of Isaiah's writing. Sometimes, I allow the circumstances of life to overwhelm me and I forget my identify in Christ. Like Israrel, I fail to remember the many times that God has delivered me and lavished His love on me. Can you identify with me on this?
Be encouraged. Just like someone (his fiancee) who loves 'Amnesia Al' remembers him, someONE who loves you and me never forgets us even when we're confused about who we are. God knows our name and He calls us His own!
How can you connect today's God's Story with your life?
- Listen to God as you talk with Him right now. Not only does He know your name, He knows everything about you, including your most pressing needs, your greatest challenge, your hidden hurt, your confused moments, your dreams about tomorrow, your.....let His Spirit communicate His love for you as you listen and reflect...
- Try to keep a written journal for two weeks, with a daily entry of one way that you recognized how God never forgets you.
- For as long as you remember to do this - every day you look in the mirror - thank Jesus that your identity in Him will never be lost.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- For someone in your "storysphere" who is not yet a follower of Jesus, you could ask him or her if they heard the story about 'Amnesia Al'? If you are truly being a good listener, Jesus will help you know if the time is right for you to transition into sharing more of your story. You could say, "I have a friend who has never forgotten me or let me down, even though I have often forgotten him and let him down."
- To encourage another follower of Jesus who seems to be forgetting his or her identiy in Christ, you could use the same line (as above) and see if he or she catches on to the fact that you are talking about Jesus? More than anything, be ready to listen with the heart of Christ. Share today's scripture and how it impacts your story today.
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