Using just his eyes, an Englishman suffering from a rare kind of locked-in syndrome has written a 50,000-word autobiography. In his adolescent years in Devon, Howard Wicks experienced a severe stroke that left him paralyzed in all but his eyes. The book, which details the years before and after his stroke, was written with the aid of an Eyegaze computer, which monitors his eye movements. There is a spectrum for locked-in syndrome, with some patients having a greater range of motion in some body regions than others. But as of right now, there's no treatment for the illness. Many patients are bedridden, dependent on continuous care, and reliant on specialized medical tubes for breathing, eating, and drinking. Rather, the focus of treatment is on assisting the patient in developing any little voluntary movements, such as moving their fingers, eating, and producing sounds.

''This stroke was a gift, not a curse'': His Unique Perspective ~


(Source: Google Images) 

The software allows the 29-year-old to communicate with others and to write his novel, which took 18 months to complete. “It was a cathartic experience,” said Howard using the Eyegaze device. “I enjoyed writing it, especially the parts I personally enjoyed living myself. But, like for many authors, it soon became an all-consuming and challenging experience.“It became a source of stress, as I felt I couldn’t truly enjoy myself until the book was completed.” “The initial chapter introduces the reader to my life before the stroke, allowing them to understand who I was,” he told the BBC. “The book concludes with my transition from the hospital setting to community life.” 

Excerpt from Howard Wicks: "You just have to shut out all the negativity and see through the heartbreak, then own what happens next." To support other people who are suffering from locked-in syndrome, Howard created a nonprofit in 2020, and he believes that the book will increase awareness of it.

He founded the Locked in Trust, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enable those who are imprisoned to realize their greatest potential. However, the charity hasn't had the influence or reach he had hoped for in its first four years, which was another reason he wrote the book—"to propel the charity to the forefront of society." Writing a book has always been a desire of his, even before he learned to type. Howard also stated with optimism "I felt that completing it was crucial to my happiness and advancement in life."