In the Blink of an Eye: The Story of Mia Austin and Her Triumph over Locked-In Syndrome

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Even though he said he only used fresh pasta in the Diner, she talked him into having coffee with her anyway. She won the public vote and title of Woman of the Year with 2,451 votes – the largest number of votes for one finalist in the event’s 16-year history.

Everyday things we take for granted like speech and communication etc she had to find in a completely different way. Carole Van Niekerk said: "I’m absolutely devastated to hear this, for her, for her family and for her friends.Speaking after the inquest, organisers of the Merseyside Women of the Year awards said: "Mia was a truly inspirational young woman and an extremely popular and deserving winner of two Merseyside Women of the Year awards, Inspirational Woman and overall Woman of the Year. This caused a blockage in her airway and, as she was unable to bring it up, it caused asphyxiation,” said the coroner Dewi Pritchard.

Her parents were told the stroke would prove fatal, but she defied the odds and survived, travelling around the world and writing a book about her life story using just her eyes. Its short snippets of what I can remember of my journey from the night before my accident, through to each ward I was thrown into, and finally, my coming home and getting my life back.She even travelled to Africa to support communities, visit orphanages and schools and deliver donations of stationery and toys. She wanted to win so she could raise more awareness about the issues close to her heart and to extend her charity work.