(LiveActionNews) — When Martin Pistorius was 12 years old, he became very ill. After two years of illness, spending most of his time sleeping, he became so sick that he lost his ability to move.

Then he lost his ability to make eye contact, and finally his ability to speak. He was left in a coma. The family finally received a diagnosis of cryptococal meningitis, and now they are sharing their story.

His parents, Rodney and Joan, told National Public Radio (NPR) that the doctors sent Martin home with the instructions to simply keep him comfortable. As far as anyone knew, Martin was simply not there anymore, and his parents were told he had zero intelligence. The doctors said he wouldn’t live long.

Read the article “Man Who Awoke From 12-Year Coma ‘Was Aware of Everything,’ But We Still Call Them ‘Vegetables’” on lifenews.com.