Ghost Boy

The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body

By: Martin Pistorius

Narrated by: Simon Bubb

Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller.

They all thought he was gone. But he was alive and trapped inside his own body for ten years.

In January 1988 Martin Pistorius, aged 12, fell inexplicably sick. First, he lost his voice and stopped eating. Then he slept constantly and shunned human contact. Doctors were mystified. Within 18 months, he was mute and wheelchair-bound. Martin's parents were told an unknown degenerative disease left him with the mind of a baby and less than two years to live.

Martin was moved to care centers for severely disabled children. The stress and heartache shook his parents’ marriage and their family to the core. Their boy was gone. Or so they thought.

Ghost Boy is the heart-wrenching story of one boy’s return to life through the power of love and faith. In this audiobook, listeners will learn of:

• A parent’s resilience
• The consequences of misdiagnosis
• Abuse at the hands of cruel caretakers
• The unthinkable duration of Martin’s mental alertness betrayed by his lifeless body

We also see a life reclaimed — a business created, a new love kindled — all from a wheelchair.

Martin's emergence from his own darkness invites us to celebrate our own lives and fight for a better life for others.

©2013 Thomas Nelson Publishers (P)2015 Thomas Nelson Publishers

Rebekah

Opening up a closed world for those so afflicted! Speech therapists take a bow for your patience and diligence as you find a way to communicate with those in a mute existence. What a great gift you have to offer! Congratulations to Martin for striving to find his own way out! Can’t forget his dedicated parents for staying the way with their whole family. Such a struggle, such persistence! Great story of hope and belief. Thank you, Martin!

Wow

Wow what an amazing story. Makes you wonder as a parent, as a person, how would you react?

Fantastic!

Very insightful and intriguing! Kept me interested and rooting for Martin all the way through. A great mix between events and his emotional state and listened to the whole book in only a few days.

Wonderful story

I loved it!!!!!
I found it very moving and interesting. I would love to read more about their life as years go on.

Incredible story

It's incredible to imagine being fully aware of everything around you while everyone in your life thinks you're not really there - you have no way to communicate- for 9+ years. This is a difficult story, but ultimately uplifting.

Great Storytelling!

Wonderful story. I almost cried at the end. Did not want it to end.

Fantastic

I really am inspired. The struggles he has over come we have no excuse to not soar. La la la

Wow oh Wow!

If you could sum up Ghost Boy in three words, what would they be?

I work with children and adolescents with special needs and this gave me a whole new perspective on my job. Of how I personally, and we as a society, allow our own assumptions to interfere with what people can and cannot do.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ghost Boy?

Martin's resilience and determination to learn as much as he can and experience life when it was almost denied to him.

What does Simon Bubb bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His narration was wonderful! I forgot that it wasn't Martin talking throughout the book because I feel like he captured how Martin would actually sound.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I listen to books in my car and I could hardly wait to drive somewhere so I could listen to the book. It's hard to put into words but it moved me to be more compassionate, have fewer assumptions and try to be kinder to others with unique abilities-ones that differ from mine.

Any additional comments?

I love how he knows about God even though he was not raised in the church! I want more...I want to know how he is doing today and if things are going well for him!

Loved it

Was an excellent book.... makes you appreciate what you have . Puts a perspective on life

Every nurse

Would you consider the audio edition of Ghost Boy to be better than the print version?

Enjoy listening to the audio

Who was your favorite character and why?

Verna was my favorite character because she treated Martin as a human being. She was inspired by a conference she attended and wouldn't give up on her suspicions.

Have you listened to any of Simon Bubb’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

n/a

Any additional comments?

As a nurse, this book reminded me to look at each individual and see their potential and humanity.