Martin Pistorius

Martin Pistorius (born 1975) is a South African-born author and motivational speaker best known for his book Ghost Boy, which details his experiences growing up after falling into a mysterious coma-like state at the age of 12. After being unable to move or communicate for several years, Pistorius regained consciousness and eventually learned to communicate through computer-assisted devices.

Early Life

Martin Pistorius was born in South Africa in 1975. In the late 1980s, at the age of 12, he began to lose his ability to move and speak. Doctors were puzzled by his condition, initially diagnosing him with Cryptococcal Meningitis and Tuberculosis, but later they could not find a clear cause for his sudden decline. His condition deteriorated until he was in a state where he was awake and conscious but unable to move or communicate, a condition he remained in for approximately 12 years.

Illness and Recovery

During the years of his illness, Pistorius was cared for by his parents, who were told that he was as unaware as a vegetable. Despite this, Pistorius has described that he began to wake up around the age of 16, regaining full consciousness by the age of 19, though he was still unable to communicate or reveal his awareness to those around him. His breakthrough came when one of his caregivers noticed his attempts to communicate and helped him get access to a computer with speech-generating technology. This technology enabled him to communicate with others for the first time in years.

Career

After regaining the ability to communicate, Martin Pistorius went on to complete a degree in Computer Science. He has since become a motivational speaker and a freelance web designer/developer. His book, Ghost Boy, was published in 2011 and details his journey from illness to recovery and the challenges he faced being "locked" inside his own body.

Personal Life

Martin Pistorius moved to the United Kingdom where he now lives with his wife, Joanna.

Legacy and Impact

Pistorius's story has had a significant impact on the fields of medicine and technology, particularly in the areas of communication for those with disabilities. His experiences have contributed to a greater awareness and understanding of conditions like locked-in syndrome and the potential for technology to aid in communication for those unable to speak or move.

See Also

• Locked-in syndrome
• Assistive technology
• Non-verbal communication