By Laura Salas
In time, Martin began re-engaging with his thoughts. He knew that in order to heal and fight the depression and loneliness he was feeling, he had to strengthen his mind. Slowly, his mind felt better and then, as if by some miracle, so did his body. Inside his brain, the neurons were reknitting, he was coming back to himself, to awareness and soon, to movement…
Soon Martin was capable of making small movements. Initially, his parents and caregivers didn’t notice the movements. They had spent so much time knowing that he couldn’t move, that they could scarcely believe their own eyes when they saw an odd twitch. Then one day, Virna van der Walt, an aromatherapist, began to notice that Martin would react to specific statements or questions.
At the age of 25, Martin Pistorius regained his full consciousness and a great deal of his mobility. In time, he forgave his parents for the things they’d said. He understood the desperation because he had felt it too at times. Before long, Martin met his wife Joanne, a social worker, on the internet. In 2009, he asked her to marry him…
Martin and Joanne currently live in Harlow. Things are still difficult for him sometimes, for instance, he speaks with the aid of a voice synthesizer, but overall he has learned a lot from his time trapped within himself. He had to relearn all of his essentials, math, the alphabet, but picked it all up quickly. He even earned a degree.
Martin’s next milestone is learning to drive. All he needs now is an instructor to help teach him in an adapted car. He passed the theory test with flying colors, in the meantime, and is well-versed in the art of piloting his electric wheelchair. Ultimately, driving should be a piece of cake for a young man who has been through so much.
