(-------) It's not a whistle, but a cell phone that this Irving athletic coach always carries. (-------) (tc--12:24-) joe: "As long as the phone is charged, they can locate me." (-------) Last October, Joe Bieger disappeared while walking his dogs... a rare victim of global transient amnesia. [Notes:file of bieger w/beard] He was found wandering the streets... bearded, 25 pounds thinner, nearly a month later. One word triggered his memory: (--------) [Notes:s: sot2] [Notes:mike BIEGER] [Notes:wife] (tc-- 16:20-) mike: "It wasn't until someone actually said Joe's name that it triggered, 'Oh, I must be Joe." (-------) [Notes:s: sot2] [Notes:joe BIEGER] [Notes:former amnesia patient] (tc--11:08-) joe: "within 2, 2 and a half hours of being first being located and, I was normal. I was absolutely normal when my son in law walked in, and then my daughter, and then my wife, I was normal." (-------) Joe and his wife have been thinking alot about this woman. Like Joe she was found wandering the streets with no memory. [Notes:picture of woman] She has brown hair, hazel eyes, wears wire-rimmed glasses, and remembers only traveling to New Orleans. But while having amnesia may sound difficult and sad, Bieger says it's really not. (-------) (tc--1:57-) joe: "I don't realize that I was gone for 25 days and that I put my entire family, in fact, the entire school community, friends, neighbors relatives all through a very difficult period that isn't difficult for me." (-------) The cause of his amnesia -- and many other cases -- is still a source of mystery. And that's why, there's the GPS equipped cellphone. (--------) (tc--19:34-) mike: "I hate to be such a nagging wife, I feel like such a nag. but I always do. Sometimes I come running out in my nightgown, you forgot your cellphone." (-------) a safety net Joe Bieger is glad to carry to insure he never goes missing again. Janet St. James, channel 8 news. *************************** title=global amnesia audio-time=98 OK=mginther From2=w ready=? Last Modified=8/21/2007 3:34:29 PM total-time=98

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