A MOTHER paralysed from the neck down has rebuilt her life thanks to a computer that works by tracking her eye movements.
Sarah
Ezekiel, who has motor neurone disease, uses the technology to talk,
email, book appointments and contact friends and family.
But she has also managed to continue her hobby of painting – and has become such a success that she now has her own exhibition.
The
computer, called a Tobii Eyegaze, works by tracking eye movements via
an infrared bar, giving users full mouse control with their eyes.
Users
simply look at the computer screen and control the mouse cursor with
their eye movements. They can then select by blinking or staring for a
prolonged period.
The technology has helped thousands of people,
some suffering from a spinal cord injury, become more independent. Ms
Ezekiel, 46, said: ‘Everything was pretty straightforward for me until
the age of 34.
‘I was happily married with a beautiful little
girl and pregnant with my much longed for second child. I was healthy,
fit and enjoying my pregnancy. I couldn’t have asked for more.
‘Then
in February 2000, I noticed some weakness in my left arm and my speech
was slurring. Two months later I had a definite diagnosis of motor
neurone disease. It happened that quickly and I was absolutely
terrified.
‘My world was shattered. My marriage collapsed as I
became progressively disabled. I couldn’t physically care for my
children or myself anymore, and spiralled into deep depression. ‘I’m now
a single, disabled parent who is totally dependent on carers for
everything. I never expected my life to change so tragically and it took
me years to see anything positive about my situation. ‘But, I pulled
myself up from rock bottom and if I could do it then I believe that
anyone can. The first step was to start attending my local Marie Curie
hospice in April 2001. I receive amazing care and really love going
there.’ Ms Ezekiel who lives in North London, previously worked as a
legal secretary. She currently has full custody of her two children,
15-year-old Aviva and Eric, 12. She creates the pictures from scratch,
often taking inspiration from other images she has discovered online, or
pictures she has been sent. The device can be attached to a normal
desktop computer and costs £3,200 each.
Ms Ezekiel is now also
selling her paintings in order to raise money for people like herself
who need this technology to get by day-to-day.