Still There

Her name was Virna van der Walt. She was one of the people who cared for Martin during the day.

As she worked with him, she began to notice something.

When she said certain things or asked him questions, he seemed to react. Not much. But again and again.

Everyone else saw an empty shell. Virna was convinced there was something there.

She pushed for him to be tested again.

So, at around 25, Martin was taken to a communication center at the University of Pretoria. Specialists showed him objects and asked him to point to them. With his eyes.

He didn't pass with flying colors.

But he passed.

For the first time in more than a decade, there was proof.

Martin Pistorius was still there.