He was a prisoner in his own body and abused by those charged with his care. This is how he survived.

February 12, 2015

Writer

On last night’s TV show, Glenn shared the screen with a remarkable man: Martin Pistorious. For years, Martin found himself stricken with locked-in syndrome. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. But he was aware of what was going on around him. He felt the abuse of a nurse who should have been caring for him. He heard his mother at her lowest point telling him he needed to die. How did he make it through the darkness? It’s a truly inspiring story.

Below is a transcript of this interview:

In 1988, Martin Pistorius looked like a healthy 12-year-old boy, vibrant, playful, but inside his body was undergoing a mysterious and steadfast breakdown. It began with a sore throat and ended in the unimaginable. “My muscles wasted, my limbs became spastic, and my hands and feet curled in on themselves like claws.”

Soon, this once imaginative young boy was mute and wheelchair-bound. Doctors diagnosed him with an unknown degenerative disease and gave him two years to live in a vegetative state, but eventually his mind awakened. “Just as a photographer carefully adjusts his camera lens until the picture becomes clear, it took time for my mind to focus. Although my body and I were locked in an endless flight, my mind got stronger as the pieces of my consciousness knitted themselves together.”

His now-functioning brain became acutely aware of the life that surrounded him. For 12 years, he lived as a prisoner, a ghost trapped in his own body. Now, Martin Pistorius shares his incredible journey to overcome physical and mental torment and why he’s pushed the resentment aside to make room for love and compassion.

Glenn: I don’t even know where to begin on this. Here in America, we’ve had a girl who was pretty much trapped in a hospital that we were afraid the hospital was doing horrible things to, and she was just released back to her family. I was good friends with Terry Schiavo, who was a very important case here in America that was in a vegetative state, and they starved her to death. And here you are, I don’t even know, the best case scenario or the worst-case scenario, kind of everybody’s worst nightmare of being trapped inside of your body.

You first get sick. You have a sore throat. You slip into unconsciousness, and then can you describe when you first start coming back and you realize you don’t have control of your body?

Martin: It took a while for me to become fully aware and conscious of everything going on around me. I often say it was like being a ghost, which is why the title of the book is Ghost Boy. You can hear, see, and understand everything around you, but you have absolutely no power over anything. For me, the feeling of complete and utter powerlessness is probably the worst feeling I have ever experienced, and I hope I never have to experience again. It is like you don’t exist. Every single thing in your life is decided by someone else, everything from what you wear to what you eat and drink, even if you eat or drink to where you will be tomorrow or next week, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Glenn: What was the bottom for you?

Martin: Times lots of pain and hurt, and not just for me, but for my family too, because what happened to me had a huge impact on them too. Going through what I did was really rough. I would probably say the darkest moments were when I wanted to die and realized that I couldn’t even do that.

Glenn: You talk about a couple of people in here in the chapter Lurking in Plain Sight. You talk about a woman who came and would molest you, and she was talking to you like you were a doll and would turn your head. You talked about having nightmares at night that she would come and visit you again. Has she been arrested?

Martin: No, not to the best of my knowledge.

Glenn: Have you pressed charges?

Martin: We talked about it. The difficulty was I was so vulnerable at the time I disclosed the abuse, and also there is no protection for the victim, so while it was reported to our local doctor, I don’t think anything came of that.

Glenn: Holy cow. So, your mom, and I understand that you’re close to your mom and dad, but as you said, this tore apart your whole family. Your mother, you had kind of a bad experience with your mom where she was at her lowest period. What did she say to you?

Martin: One night after yet another lengthy argument, my mother turned to me and told me I must die. Obviously at that moment that was a really difficult thing to hear, particularly coming from my mom. I was upset by it, of course, but I never really felt any hard feelings towards my mother for saying that, and if I am honest, it wasn’t something I hadn’t already thought about. I think what probably upset me more wasn’t what she said but that we were in a situation where she felt that everyone would be better off if I wasn’t alive. I feel sad when I think back and remember all the feelings and upset that everyone was feeling. I am not angry or resentful or anything like that. In fact, I feel enormous compassion and love for my mom.

Glenn: How did you get here? How did you have all of these horrible things happen to you and you say to me you feel compassion and love, and you’re happy? When I met you, you smiled just like that. When I met you, you could see it, you have love in you. How did you get there?

Martin: I can only say that it was through God’s grace, because I couldn’t do it on my own.

Glenn: Did you believe in God before? Because you couldn’t communicate to anyone. Did you have moments of feeling connected to Him? Did you find Him through this? Did you ever question Him, like why me? Where are you?

Martin: I don’t know how I came to realize God. He was just always there. I don’t know how to explain it really, but I always knew He was and still is there. I grew up in a Christian home; however, we very rarely attended church. This, combined with the path my life has taken, meant that I never really learned the formalities of the church. Perhaps it is because of all I have been through I became very close to God. There were many, many times where in some sense I felt utterly alone even if there were people around me; however, I always seem to pause when making that statement because while a part of me experienced the extreme loneliness and isolation, another part of me always felt the presence of the Lord.

I found myself talking to God. Perhaps one could call them prayers rather than conversations, even though my eyes may have been open and my hands weren’t pressed together. Through everything I went through, I prayed for help, strength, and forgiveness for myself and others. I gave thanks for the blessings I had and especially for the prayers answered, even if they were as small as someone moving my body into a different position that alleviated the pain. It is amazing what you can be grateful for, simple things that a lot of people may not even think about, like to sit all day comfortably for a while.

For me, God is always there, a constant companion, and yes, I believe had it not been through God’s hand, I would not be where I am today. If I stop and think about everything that had to happen and the odds of it happening then, there is no doubt in my mind that that clearly have happened through divine intervention. And to answer your other question, no, I never questioned Him or wondered “Why me?” I don’t know why. I just never did.

Glenn: Oh my gosh. What would you say to people who have family members in a vegetative state that think that nobody can hear them, that they’re not in there? What would you say to a society? Should we have killed you, as a society?

Martin: That is a really difficult question to answer, because I feel everyone is unique, and every case is different. So, in truth, I don’t know the answer to that question. Obviously, I am very grateful and thankful that I am here now, but what I would say is that there is always hope, no matter how small.

Glenn: I think we leave it at that. I have to tell you, I just emailed my wife before you came in, and I told her that I miss holding her hand. I love couples that hold hands. It screams about their relationship. You two are both, you can see the light in your eyes. You’re just both remarkable people. It’s an honor to meet you both. Thank you.

Martin: Thank you and an honor and privilege to meet you.

Glenn: Thank you. You guys are the best, really an honor.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

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Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

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When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is America’s next generation trading freedom for equity?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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