Chris Birch, a 26-year-old Welshman decided he was gay after experiencing a stroke. He suffered a stroke after breaking his neck in an attempt to do a back flip, reports from The Daily Mail say.
“I wasn’t interested in women anymore. I was definitely gay. I had never been attracted to a man before” said Birch.
Prior to having the stroke, Birch was engaged to a woman, was a banker and an avid sports fan. He loved playing rugby and having a beer with his friends. After the stroke, he found little in common with his old self. He quit his job to become a hairdresser and began dating a man.
Dr. Ira G. Rashbaum, professor of rehabilitation medicine and chief of stroke rehab at NYU Langone Medical Center, stated that although he was not part of this particular case, changes in personality after a stroke was common. He said some patients may experience anxiety, depression and feelings of anger. Despite Birch’s case being rare, doctors do not doubt that the stroke was to blame for the life changing experience.
