# RIP blinkie (Ask the guy with Locked In Syndrome) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 10, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981 "2009-11-10T01:29:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/301 "2010-03-24T21:53:21Z")
> [@blinkie](#): > > It is scary, although there are quite a lot of frauds. I do have a friend in Scotland that this happened to. He was left in a facility for coma patients, BY HIS WIFE, who knew he was aware of what was going on. He was there for over a year before anyone became aware that he was fully cognizent. > > He is single now, still Locked In, and living independently. AMAZINGLY, he still has a sense of humor. :eek: I’m going to have nightmares over this one. Curious, **blinkie** , how does a locked-in person live independently? ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/302 "2010-03-24T23:22:10Z")
Also, how often do you update your story on Teemings? I’m hooked on your story, and your writing style. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/303 "2010-03-24T23:30:17Z")
> [@blinkie](#): > > It is scary, although there are quite a lot of frauds. I do have a friend in Scotland that this happened to. He was left in a facility for coma patients, BY HIS WIFE, who knew he was aware of what was going on. He was there for over a year before anyone became aware that he was fully cognizent. This scares the hell out of me. Do you know what happened to the wife? I mean, surely, that’s a crime? That poor guy. ---
**Author:** ![blinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@blinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkie)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/304 "2010-03-25T01:07:15Z")
Rivulus Nice to see someone is reading Teemings, I’ll have to check it out. Koeeoaddi How does one live independently? Well, you need help and quite a bit of it. It’s a lot easier to do it in a country with Universal Healthcare. Andy lives in a 3 bedroom apartment, with live in help. His healthcare, apartment, aides and all his expenses are covered under government care. A social worker comes in twice a week to check up on him. Shark Sandwich I’m in the next issue. I just looked and I guess next month we’ll get a bit more dicey. AClockWork Melon Yes I know what happened to the wife, she divorced him and married one of his friends. I guess if he could prove it and wanted his revenge he could do something. He had a two year old girl, now 6, who he adores. Somehow, and I have no idea how, he has forgiven her in order to see his daughter on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/305 "2010-03-25T15:02:44Z")
> [@blinkie](#): > > Nice to see someone is reading Teemings :waves: I’ve been reading, too. My only complaint is that your segments are too short! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/306 "2010-03-27T03:51:31Z")
I’m 17 years old, and the thought of LIS is horrifying to me. The fact that it scares me makes me feel selfish, because you actually have to deal with it. You’re amazing, and its simply awesome that you not only cope with it but have a sense of humor about it. This thread, although I’ve only read through the first couple pages (so far,) is simply inspiring. This is definitley a thread I’m going to follow. And the username is just great.😃 ---
**Author:** ![blinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@blinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkie)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/307 "2010-03-27T16:50:14Z")
may be ignorant I am honored that you are reading the thread. I’ll say to you what I’ve always said to my kids. Do what you love, never worry about what might happen. Dance, sing, love, laugh, enjoy, life is the ultimate adventure. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/308 "2010-03-27T16:57:21Z")
> [@blinkie](#): > > Nice to see someone is reading Teemings, I’ll have to check it out. I think you’ve got a few fans, **blinkie** ; I’m certainly one. A fascinating story, and quite well-written. You’ve got me waiting for the next installment! ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/309 "2010-03-29T23:00:25Z")
> [@blinkie](#): > > may be ignorant > > I am honored that you are reading the thread. I’ll say to you what I’ve always said to my kids. Do what you love, never worry about what might happen. Dance, sing, love, laugh, enjoy, life is the ultimate adventure. Thanks. I don’t mean to bring anything unsettling up, but what do you miss most? ---
**Author:** ![blinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@blinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkie)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/310 "2010-03-30T01:14:02Z")
It’s not unsettling at all! In the beginning I lost both the sense of smell and taste, but I have gotten them back. Of course being able to walk or use my hands are obvious. I’d rather take a walk on a spring day then to hit the library. The biggest single thing though is the limits on communication. I miss debate and the ability to shoot out a humorous one liner. A good joke loses a lot when you have to blink it out. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/311 "2010-05-07T00:45:00Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I think you’ve got a few fans, **blinkie** ; I’m certainly one. A fascinating story, and quite well-written. You’ve got me waiting for the next installment! [Ask and you shall receive.](http://www.teemings.net/series_2/issue_03/stroke_1.html) ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/312 "2010-05-07T04:32:17Z")
Another fan here. Thanks for Part 3. I wish all the medical people who took care of you could read this, **blinkie**. (Then I wish they could spend about a month in Room 122.) ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/313 "2010-05-07T15:11:23Z")
You’re an amazing writer, **blinkie**. Thank you so much for sharing! ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/314 "2010-05-07T15:50:18Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > [Ask and you shall receive.](http://www.teemings.net/series_2/issue_03/stroke_1.html) Woohoo! :goes to read: ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/315 "2010-05-07T18:35:15Z")
**twicks** suggested that I start a thread to rave about the new chapter of your book, **blinkie** , but I’ll do it here: **Your new chapter is fascinating!** /gush Since my brother’s stroke I’ve been reading every patient narrative I can get my hands on and while they’re all compelling, yours has been the most useful to me and by far the most moving. Thank you for writing it and thanks also to your amazing wife and family for all that they’ve done and continue to do. You are all amazing, **blinkie**. Honest to Og. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/316 "2010-05-07T19:46:02Z")
Thanks for the heads up. I checked back on this thread last week to see if **blinkie** had added anything. Now, I’m off to read… ---
**Author:** ![blinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@blinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkie)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/317 "2010-05-09T21:23:11Z")
I must have a good editor, thanks Twix, even I laughed when I read it just now. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/318 "2010-05-09T22:12:24Z")
I did very little with this chapter, just tidied up your punctuation a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/319 "2010-05-10T01:33:36Z")
Blinkie: just wanted to tell ya that, I too, enjoy your writings. Keep it coming, please (with sugar on top, etc…). Without getting into my details, you have recently (more than once) inspired me to be a better person -\> thank you dearly for your outreach! I salute that family of yours, too, for helping make it possible. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981/320 "2010-05-10T16:27:11Z")
I just found this thread, as I’m not a daily visitor to the SDMB these days. What can I say that hasn’t been said already? Wow. What a story! **blinkie** , I don’t know what’s more impressive - your story, or the fact that you’re so damn hilarious despite your circumstances. 🙂 I will certainly be checking this thread regularly. It is exactly this sort of thing that makes this message board special: it seems to lure in an awesome variety of very, very interesting people. And I dare say, **blinkie** ’s one of the more interesting ones in a while! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-blinkie-ask-the-guy-with-locked-in-syndrome/516981.md?page=17)