Soccer Concussion: English Teen Started Speaking Spanish, Native Language Forgotten; Foreign Language Syndrome Experienced

A soccer concussion made a 16-year-old English teenager forgot his native language and spoke Spanish instead, three days after being in a severe coma state. 

According to reports, Rueben Nsemoh was in a coma because of a  severe concussion he obtained during a soccer match. The said concussion was obtained when, Nsemoh, a sophomore in Brookwood High School and a soccer goalie of his team, was kicked in the head by fellow soccer player during the match, WSBRadio has reported.  But as of the moment, the Georgia teen is recovering and hoping to get back in the soccer game the soonest.

"The ambulance came and they said he was having seizures because he might have bleeding in his brain," the WBSRadio quoted Coach Bruno Kalonji saying. As to the recount of Nsemoh's coach, it was the worst concussions ever happened to one of his soccer players, requiring for his player to to be airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center, according to WBS-TV2.

After three days in a state of a comma, parents told reporter of WBS-TV 2 that their son did wake up. But to their surprise, Rueben was only able to speak the Spanish language. Experts were quick to shed some light about the bizarre turn of events; they call this condition a Foreign Language Syndrome. It transpires after a serious injury and accident happened to the brain which causes victim unconscious. Treatment of this syndrome is usually a mixture of language and speech therapy.

In connection to the FLS, Reuben admitted learning the Spanish language from his friends and later on was taught how to speak it.  

"My friends would always talk to me in Spanish and would teach me," he tells WSB's Sandra Parrish. When relating to his speaking of Spanish language, Rueben admitted he was not good but was inspired by his brother who is an excellent and fluent Spanish speaker. 

For now, the teenager is on his way to recovery and just enjoying soccer games on television. The teen is also looking forward to getting back on soccer field one day. Concerned friends of Reuben started a GoFundMe page to raise money for his medical bills and insurance deductibles.

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