Photos: Taiwan’s “notebook boy” commits his memories in writing | Hindustan Times
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Photos: Taiwan’s “notebook boy” commits his memories in writing

Updated On Nov 19, 2018 10:17 AM IST

Taiwan’s Chen Hong-zhi, 26, seriously damaged his hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with forming memories, in a traffic accident. He lost his ability to make and retain short-term memories. Che is often seen painstakingly records his days in lined notebooks, crammed with entries in blue ink. For now, Chen’s notebooks are his life as they allow him to preserve some semblance of order in his life.

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Chen Hong-zhi, 26, who suffers from short-term memory loss, tries to recall what he did last week at his home, in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Nine years ago, Chen seriously damaged his hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with forming memories, in a traffic accident.He lost the ability to make and retain short-term memories. Instead, he painstakingly records his days in lined notebooks, crammed with entries in blue ink. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2018 10:17 AM IST

Chen Hong-zhi, 26, who suffers from short-term memory loss, tries to recall what he did last week at his home, in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Nine years ago, Chen seriously damaged his hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with forming memories, in a traffic accident.He lost the ability to make and retain short-term memories. Instead, he painstakingly records his days in lined notebooks, crammed with entries in blue ink. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS)

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Chen carries persimmons collected from his neighbour Uncle Shao’s garden. Since his father died four years ago, Chen and his stepmother have lived on a government disability allowance and a small income they get from farming fruits and vegetables, which they barter with neighbours, some of whom call Chen “notebook boy”. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2018 10:17 AM IST

Chen carries persimmons collected from his neighbour Uncle Shao’s garden. Since his father died four years ago, Chen and his stepmother have lived on a government disability allowance and a small income they get from farming fruits and vegetables, which they barter with neighbours, some of whom call Chen “notebook boy”. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS)

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A combination picture shows a scanned copy of a note written by Chen, detailing his day on July 2, where he writes, he chopped 18 bamboos for cooking, removed 5898 weeds on the rainy day, earned T$500 ($16.3) by helping Uncle Liao to sell wax gourds, and slept at 10:08pm (L), and Chen Hong-zhi holding a wax gourd for sale, outside his home. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2018 10:17 AM IST

A combination picture shows a scanned copy of a note written by Chen, detailing his day on July 2, where he writes, he chopped 18 bamboos for cooking, removed 5898 weeds on the rainy day, earned T$500 ($16.3) by helping Uncle Liao to sell wax gourds, and slept at 10:08pm (L), and Chen Hong-zhi holding a wax gourd for sale, outside his home. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS)

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Chen Hong-zhi’s notebooks are his life. “I use the notebook to remember who I helped today, how much farm work I did, whether there was rain ... the notebook is my memory,” said Chen, who lives with his stepmother, Wang Miao-cyong, 65, in a remote village in Hsinchu County, northwestern Taiwan. “I once lost one of my notebooks. I was so sad that I was crying and asked my dad to help me find it.” (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2018 10:17 AM IST

Chen Hong-zhi’s notebooks are his life. “I use the notebook to remember who I helped today, how much farm work I did, whether there was rain ... the notebook is my memory,” said Chen, who lives with his stepmother, Wang Miao-cyong, 65, in a remote village in Hsinchu County, northwestern Taiwan. “I once lost one of my notebooks. I was so sad that I was crying and asked my dad to help me find it.” (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS)

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Chen prays at a Catholic church to be helped to find his lost mobile phone, on Beipu Old Street area, in Hsinchu. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2018 10:17 AM IST

Chen prays at a Catholic church to be helped to find his lost mobile phone, on Beipu Old Street area, in Hsinchu. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS)

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Dr Lin Ming-teng, head of the psychiatry department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, shows X-ray images explaining the difference between a normal brain (L) and Chen Hong-zhi's brain during an appointment at the hospital, in Hsinchu. “After losing such a substantial portion of his brain, it is quite amazing for him to achieve what he is doing now,” Lin said, adding that Chen could only remember things he had done in the last five to 10 minutes. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2018 10:17 AM IST

Dr Lin Ming-teng, head of the psychiatry department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, shows X-ray images explaining the difference between a normal brain (L) and Chen Hong-zhi's brain during an appointment at the hospital, in Hsinchu. “After losing such a substantial portion of his brain, it is quite amazing for him to achieve what he is doing now,” Lin said, adding that Chen could only remember things he had done in the last five to 10 minutes. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS)

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Chen Hong-zhi, quarrels with his stepmother while writing his notes at his home. Wang longs to go back to her hometown in Indonesia, but she feels she cannot leave Chen alone. “If I leave, who will take care of my son? I can’t imagine his future after I die.” (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2018 10:17 AM IST

Chen Hong-zhi, quarrels with his stepmother while writing his notes at his home. Wang longs to go back to her hometown in Indonesia, but she feels she cannot leave Chen alone. “If I leave, who will take care of my son? I can’t imagine his future after I die.” (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS)

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For now, Chen’s notebooks allow him to preserve some semblance of order in his life. “October 26 go to Beipu alone, Chen clan organisation, go find phone, go Catholic church, Citian Temple, 10:38 ZZZ”, reads one poignant note about a day he spent searching for, and praying to find, his lost mobile phone. Ten days later, he found his phone, documenting the find in his notebook. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2018 10:17 AM IST

For now, Chen’s notebooks allow him to preserve some semblance of order in his life. “October 26 go to Beipu alone, Chen clan organisation, go find phone, go Catholic church, Citian Temple, 10:38 ZZZ”, reads one poignant note about a day he spent searching for, and praying to find, his lost mobile phone. Ten days later, he found his phone, documenting the find in his notebook. (Tyrone Siu / REUTERS)

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