Fell Ill at 12 and Was Paralyzed for 13 Years — Then Came the Woman Who Believed in Him

TEDx talks have gained immense popularity, partly due to the stories of courage behind them. One such story is that of Martin Pistorius from South Africa, who at the age of 12 suffered from meningitis and became paralyzed.

For 13 years, Pistorius remained in a vegetative state in the hospital, with doctors telling his parents that his bodily functions were basic and his brain activity was that of an infant. Gradually, his condition deteriorated until he found himself confined to a wheelchair, unable to move or speak.

"At one point, my parents were told to start saying goodbye to me as I had less than two years to live," he recalls. At that stage, a difficult saga lasting about 13 years began, during which Martin saw, heard, and was aware of his surroundings, but couldn't express it. "I felt trapped in my own body like a ghost. I was completely helpless, even when my family visited me. No one saw or understood how hard it was for me. I had no way to tell my family that I could see and hear them."

In his talk, Martin, now 47, shared that initially, it was believed he was in a coma, but over time it became clear he was suffering from a much less severe condition known as locked-in syndrome. This rare syndrome affects the nervous system, where insufficient blood reaches the brain. While in a coma, patients are completely paralyzed, but in locked-in syndrome, patients can move their eyes and their brains are fully conscious, yet they cannot speak.

"Out of the 13 years I was paralyzed, I was in a vegetative state for four years. Even after those four years and my brain function returned, I couldn't inform my family that I could see and hear them because I was unable to communicate or move. I had no strength or control over anything. I was in complete helplessness, which was the worst thing I ever experienced. I hope I never have to go through that again. It's as if you don't exist, and every aspect of your life is decided by someone else. What you wear, what you eat and drink, or if you eat and drink at all. You have no idea where you'll be tomorrow or next week, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Then, in 2001 at age 25, his situation dramatically changed when a caregiver thought outside the box.

The caregiver, an aromatherapist named Virna Van der Walt, told his parents that Martin had 'a spark in his eyes' when she spoke to him, and it seemed as though he was responding to her.

She persuaded his parents to take him to a university communication center to check if he was aware of his surroundings. Astonishingly, the tests confirmed that Martin was indeed aware of what he was seeing and hearing. The center decided to teach him how to communicate using a computer, and gradually he began to emerge from his condition to a new, independent life. He started working as a computer typist and even met and married a woman. "Once, I was thought to be an inanimate object, a brainless phantom child in a wheelchair. Today, I am so much more. A husband, son, friend, brother, businessman, honor graduate, amateur photographer. My ability to communicate has given me all this."

Recently, Martin became a father to a girl and updated his followers about the book he published, titled 'Ghost Boy.'