Martin Pistorius was only 12 when he became seriously ill, eventually losing his ability to move, speak, or make eye contact with his family.
Doctors in his home country South Africa told his family Martin would die, but the dedicated relatives refused to believe this was true.
Following a set routine, the family would feed, dress and bathe Martin - even setting an alarm every 2 hours during the night to ensure their son didn’t get bed sores.
The truth of his story is even more shocking that anyone could have imagined. Far from being in a vegetative state, Martin said about two years into his ordeal he began to become aware of everything around him.
He couldn’t move or speak, but could see and hear everything around him.
‘The stark reality hit me that I was going to spend the rest of my life like that - totally alone’ Martin, who is now 39, told the press.
Martin remembers key news events such as Nelson Mandela becoming president of South Africa in 1994, and or Princess Diana’s death in 1997.
Tragically, Martin also remembers the moment his mother told him: ‘I hope you die.’
His mother, Joan Pistorius, has since explained her comments, adding that she knows it was a terrible thing to say but she wanted relief from his horrendous condition.
But suddenly one day, Martin woke up.
During a session with his aromatherapist, she picked up on his subtle ‘language’ he was using to show he was listening - smiles, nods and gazes. By this stage Martin was 25.
After the aromatherapist requested he be sent for tests - Martin was found to be aware of his surroundings, and they began rehabilitation.
Incredibly, Martin has now graduated from university and written a memoir about his life - Ghost Boy: My Escape from a Life Locked Inside My Own Body.
He is now happily married and lives in England with his wife.