Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body (2011)

Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body (2011) is a memoir written by Martin Pistorius with Megan Lloyd Davies. The autobiography details Martin’s childhood misdiagnosis, a mistake that cost him years of his life where he could not communicate with anyone around him. Martin is a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, who at the age of 12 suddenly and mysteriously started losing all control of his muscles and limbs. As Martin recalls, “[…] nothing could reach me as my muscles wasted, my limbs became spastic, and my hands and feet curled in on themselves like claws” (6). In addition to losing control of his body, he also started forgetting everything, including the faces of his loved ones. As Martin’s parents took him from doctor to doctor, each suggested a different diagnosis and treatment, from tuberculosis to cryptococcal meningitis, to no avail. Finally, as Martin writes, “politely but firmly the medical profession washed its hands of me as my mother and father effectively were told to wait until my death released us all” (7).

Eventually, Martin regained total consciousness of who he was around the age of 16, which meant that he was fully aware of his surroundings but completely unable to communicate. Martin visited a care center on a daily basis, where he would spend the vast majority of his time surrounded mostly by children who also had either limited or no motor skills. His experiences at the care center varied greatly, as he endured everything from loving attention to the horrors of physical and sexual abuse. Without being able to communicate or give any indication that he was aware of what was going on around him, he referred to himself as a “ghost boy,” someone who might as well not be alive at all. Martin writes, “I was completely entombed” (15). Without anyone else to speak with, he found himself speaking with God.

When Martin was 25, one of his caretakers, a woman named Virna, suspected that he could in fact communicate, and that he was fully aware and conscious of his surroundings. In time, she voiced her opinion about Martin’s true state, which led to an assessment by a clinic that specialized in what Martin called “giving the silent a voice” (x). This assessment opened up Martin’s world to new possibilities, which many had thought to be impossible.

Gradually, Martin progressed from basic gestures and head nods to using a system in which he could speak through a computer. He regained his ability to voice his desires and opinions, but more importantly, he once again obtained the ability to dream. He gave speeches about his life experience, got a job working with computer systems, and, most of all, fell in love.

When Martin met Joanna, his world would change forever. Joanna loved Martin for who he was, without the expectation that his physical circumstances would ever change. As their romance progresses, Joanna helps Martin take gradual steps towards independence and autonomy, as Martin begins to shed his past life for good. The book ends with the culmination of Martin’s hopes and dreams, as the church doors open on his wedding day, and Joanna starts to walk down the aisle. The years of silence, where he felt like a “ghost boy,” were now only a memory.

This guide refers to the Thomas Nelson E-book edition from Nelson Books.