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‘Locked-in’ stroke sufferer describes ‘unlocking’

Doctors in Switzerland have used a brain-reading device to hold simple conversations with "locked-in" patients, who are too disabled to communicate.

In 2010 Kate Allatt became 'locked in' after suffering a stroke - she's now a motivational speaker, stroke activist and author.

Her friends helped to ‘unlock’ her by creating a system of communication. She said: “They realised I wasn’t vegetative, and I was able to signal with my eyelids. They unlocked me by devising their own letterboard, one blink for no, two for yes.�

“Being unlocked was like all your birthdays, Christmases and holding your baby in your arms at once – it was phenomenal,� added Kate.

This clip is originally from 5 live Breakfast on Wednesday 1 February 2017.

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