A man suffering from locked-in syndrome said the thing he misses most about his life before is women.

Wandsworth Times:

Cartoonist Piotr Kniecicki, 58, was left paralysed after he collapsed and suffered a brain stem stroke in 2001.

He is unable to speak and can only move his eyes and left wrist a small amount.

From his home at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, in Putney, he has been able to write a book using specialised technology.

Mr Kniecicki uses a computer with a screen showing an alphabet grid, attached to two buttons. With his light wrist movements Mr Kniecicki can tap the buttons to select the letter he needs. However, the process is very tiring and time-consuming.

Mr Kniecicki’s book, An Art of Graceful Dying, is a memoir of his life, focusing on the stroke that left him dumb, almost blind and deaf.

Speaking from the Putney hospital Mr Kniecicki told the Wandsworth Guardian the thing he missed most about life before developing locked-in syndrome was women.

Using his machinery he took part in a short Q&A session for us:

What does locked-in syndrome mean for you?
A lot of time for independent creativity.

Why did you start writing again?
Because I have to create to be alive - creating is in my blood.

What is writing through machinery like?
Too slow.

What is the book about?
It is about my experience of my coma and my faith.

What does ‘An Art of Graceful Dying’ mean?
I know I am not alone, somebody much more powerful is waiting for me.

What is your daily routine like?
I get up, if possible early in the morning, and write until 1.30pm on my specially-adapted computer, and then I go to bed and recharge my batteries, I mean my brain, by watching TV news.

The father-of-three is originally from Poland, co-founded the Society of Polish Cartoon Artists and won awards for his poetry in Poland.

He has also written poems, one of which was presented on BBC Radio 4.

To order a copy of his book visit amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0992848601.