The boy who could die if he falls asleep

A young British boy has an incredibly unusual genetic disorder called Ondine’s Curse, which means that if he falls asleep, he’ll stop breathing.

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Comments: 6

sabra Apr 11 2011 at 1:47 PM

It is amazing, regardless of the ailment when a person is given mere weeks to live & blows that outta the water!

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... Apr 09 2011 at 3:21 AM

You kidding me? This is more common than you think. Several people fall asleep by slowing/turning off their body by ceasing to give themself oxygen. Once asleep, extremely shallow breathing occurs, I'm talking 50mL of air per minute, while the person moves, or dreams (if it happens). When these subjects take a sleep study or record themself, they breathe fully and completely, but others and even themselves may notice them(selves) not breathing and even being completely conscious through it, for tens

.... More

of minutes on end, with no apparent brain damage or death. Perhaps there are two species here, or certain humans who have just personally subconsciously figured this out. Next time you sleep, pay attention to what your breathing does, right as you transition into the sleep state. You may not be breathing at all.

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anthea Apr 09 2011 at 1:32 AM

http://www.spectramedi.com

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Joe the plumber Apr 09 2011 at 12:32 AM

Because these parents are in the Britain, they don't pay a penny for this (treatment + staff checking on the kid every night), how much would this cost in the US? $180,000/year?