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Three-year-old boy has never slept
Filed under: Toddlers Preschoolers, Medical Conditions, Weird But True, Feeding & Sleeping, Special Needs
Sleep deprivation is a normal part of early parenthood. But for David and Shannon Lamb, sleep issues have taken on a whole new meaning. Their three-year-old son, Rhett, hasn't slept at all -- not a night, not a nap -- since he was born. Rhett has a rare condition called chiari malformation, which his doctors believe is the cause of his sleeplessness. Patients with chiari malformation have a skull that is abnormally formed and puts pressure on the brain, causing it to protrude through the bottom of the skull. People with chiari malformation may have muscle weakness, vision problems, or coordination issues. Symptoms can range from nonexistent to severe.
Because a three-year-old must always be supervised, the Lambs have divided up the day into shifts. One takes the morning, while the other takes the afternoon, and then they share the night shift. I know how comforting it is at the end of a busy day to tuck my girls in for some much needed rest. I can't imagine how stressful it must be to have a toddler on the go 24/7.
Rhett recently underwent an experimental surgery, so hopefully he can find relief from his symptoms and everyone in the household can get some much needed sleep.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
5-10-2008 @ 6:32PM
Kellie said...My husband showed this to me this week and I have a million questions. How the heck is his body not breaking down? Doesn't it need rest to function? Is he ever tired and just can't sleep? I wish they would have given us more information about the disorder.
Reply
5-10-2008 @ 6:47PM
Bethany Sanders said...Me too, Kellie, me too. I can't imagine how this affects his over all health.
Reply
5-10-2008 @ 11:58PM
robyn said...I found this article ladies, http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/5/8/346720.html?title=Rare%20condition%20doesn't%20let%20St.%20Petersburg%20kid%20sleep
Reply
5-11-2008 @ 1:30PM
Judy said...Oh, my, and my little ones who have never slept well (2 yo just slept through the night - meaning over 5 hours straight - for the 2nd time last night), but I just can't imagine how this would work. Poor kid, poor parents.
Reply
5-13-2008 @ 4:24PM
h said...i saw something about this on extreme home makeover most of the family had it my heart goes out to them . the life expectancy is not long they do break down for lack of better phrase
Reply