' Locked-in syndrome: paralysed from head to toe the patient his mind intact is imprisoned inside his own body unable to speak or move. In my case blinking my left eyelid is my only means of communication.' In December 1995 Jean-Dominique Bauby editor-in-chief of French ' Elle' & the father of two young children suffered a massive stroke & found himself paralysed & speechless but entirely conscious trapped by what doctors call 'locked-in syndrome'. Using his only functioning muscle
- his left eyelid
- he began dictating this remarkable story painstakingly spelling it out letter by letter. His book offers a haunting harrowing look inside the cruel prison of locked-in syndrome but it is also a triumph of the human spirit. The acclaimed 2007 film adaptation directed by Julian Schnabel won Best Director at Cannes & was nominated for the Palme d' Or.