Martin Pistorius, from Johannesburg, South Africa, was just 12 when he fell seriously ill with cryptococcal meningitis and tuberculosis of the brain. His condition rapidly deteriorated, and he lost the ability to talk, make eye contact, or control his movements before slipping into what doctors described as a vegetative state. His parents were told he would likely never wake up.
However, Martin began regaining consciousness around age 14 or 15, but remained completely paralysed except for slight eye movement. He could hear, see, and understand everything around him but had no way to communicate. He described the feeling as 'complete and utter powerlessness', adding that every aspect of his life was decided by others.
In an interview, his mother Joan revealed that she once said in front of him, unaware he could hear: 'I hope you die.' Martin later said he understood her feelings, as she saw 'a cruel parody of the once-healthy child she had loved so much'. He spent his days at a care centre, watching repeated episodes of Barney the Dinosaur, which he came to hate.
A turning point came when therapist Virna van der Walt noticed small eye movements and suspected Martin was conscious. She urged cognitive testing, and Martin slowly regained movement, eventually communicating via a computer with specialist software. He went on to study computer science, work as a web developer, and publish a memoir titled 'Ghost Boy' in 2012. He married social worker Joanna, and they have a son.
