Ghost Boy is the compelling story of Martin Pistorius who at the age of 12 fell inexplicably sick. First he lost his voice and stopped eating, within eighteen months he was mute and wheelchair-bound. Martin's parents were told that an unknown degenerative disease had left him with the mind of a baby and with a poor prognosis for survival.
The book eloquently weaves its way as Martin recounts his journey of recovery against all the odds. It is a brave and moving account of his struggle to communicate in a world full of changes.
Martin describes himself as ‘a man-child reborn in a world he didn't know’ , unable to remember anything before his illness but clearly aware of all around him in his world of silence. Through Martin's story we get a glimpse what it is like to be unable to communicate yet feeling and understanding everything. Martin's emergence from his darkness enables us to celebrate the human spirit and is a wake-up call to cherish our own lives.
With thanks to Martin Pistorius
Picture Credit: Ghost Boy Book
