Boy Sleeps For First Time In 3 Years

Jolie77

Jolie77

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Boy Sleeps For First Time In 3 Years

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A 3-year-old Florida boy who has not slept for three years because of a rare brain condition finally fell asleep after experimental surgery, doctors said.

Rhett Lamb of St. Petersburg was diagnosed with a condition called chiari malformation that puts pressure on his brain stem.

Rhett has never taken a nap or gone to sleep at night, forcing his parents to keep watch day and night.

"It is hell," father David Lamb said. "It has taken a toll on me and my wife and our relationship."

"(My husband) has the day shift and I kind of have the afternoon shift," mother Shannon Lamb said. "We share the night shift because no one can sleep in the house when he is up anyway."

During an experimental surgery, doctors removed pieces of bone from Rhett's skull and spine to take the pressure off his brain stem.

The surgery appears to have worked.

"Last night, we didn't wake up," Lamb said. "It was amazing."

Doctors said it may take months to see long-term results from the surgery.

The $60,000 surgery was not covered by the family's insurance. The hospital is helping the family get financial assistance.
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Boy Sleeps For First Time In 3 Years - Health News Story - WKMG Orlando

This is interesting. I can't imagine going without a sleep for that long. At 3 years old, the child has a better chance to recover from the long awaited surgery that is much needed. It's got to be tough, really.
 
Yes I agreed...I read it on CNN yesterday I think. I hope that the tumors do not come back and give everyone's life back to normal.
 
If he were mine, I would feel so blessed he could fall into healing sleep, but terrified until he showed he can wake up a few times.

All my prayers for the little guy.
 
The $60,000 surgery was not covered by the family's insurance. The hospital is helping the family get financial assistance.
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I'm willing to donate small bucks for them! Can't believe it's caused by a piece of bone.
 
jiro123 said:
I'm willing to donate small bucks for them! Can't believe it's caused by a piece of bone.
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Yeah, you'll be surprised how big things are caused by small things. ;)

I remember a guy who eventually became deaf due to nerve damage. A chiropractor popped his back and un-pinched a nerve that made him hear again. It was all because of one tiny part in his back that was pinching his nerve affecting his hearing. ;)
 
VamPyroX said:
Yeah, you'll be surprised how big things are caused by small things. ;)

I remember a guy who eventually became deaf due to nerve damage. A chiropractor popped his back and un-pinched a nerve that made him hear again. It was all because of one tiny part in his back that was pinching his nerve affecting his hearing. ;)
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Maybe I should go see doc to un-pinch me and see what hidden ability I have :o
 
That's strange..thought if humans went without sleep, it would kill us?
 
shel90 said:
That's strange..thought if humans went without sleep, it would kill us?
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Yes, it would... if we weren't designed for it.

In this case, the pressure allowed him to live. It's rare, but it does happen... when a person managed to stay awake for a long time.

Normally, our brains tell us that we need to sleep and if we try to ignore that request... the brain will still attempt to shut the body down. With extra stress, we can die from it.

With that boy, the brain never told the body to shut down. So, he remained active. I'm sure that he will have something different about himself later in life because of that though. :dunno:
 
That boy might have set the world record for the longest time with no sleep! He probably would be published in the Guinness Book of World Records.
 
What a strange and interesting case. It is ridiculas that the insurance company has refused to pay for the surgery! No doubt, they refused because it is experimental in nature, but for a condition this rare, experimental treatment is usually all that is available.
 
Wow, that is very interesting article to read. I can't imagine going without a sleep for years.

Hopefully that experimental surgery will helps him for the long run and rest of his life. As dunno if this rare brain condition will regrow again.
 
jillio said:
What a strange and interesting case. It is ridiculas that the insurance company has refused to pay for the surgery! No doubt, they refused because it is experimental in nature, but for a condition this rare, experimental treatment is usually all that is available.
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I guess the insurance company was picky. I would probably do the same if I was an insurance company.

If I were to agree to pay for this "experimental procedure", then I would have a bunch of people running to me asking me to pay for their "experimental procedures" as well.

There are a lot of "experimental procedures" for deafness and blindness. I'm sure a lot of people would go for that if insurance companies agreed to help out.
 
I thought I read in guinness world record that a man tried to break a record for longest days without sleep, he made it to the 28th day and died.

but that was a few years ago and maybe because he drank tons of coffee (said in the book) and depends on individually. maybe this boy is meant to be a miracle.
 
VamPyroX said:
I guess the insurance company was picky. I would probably do the same if I was an insurance company.

If I were to agree to pay for this "experimental procedure", then I would have a bunch of people running to me asking me to pay for their "experimental procedures" as well.

There are a lot of "experimental procedures" for deafness and blindness. I'm sure a lot of people would go for that if insurance companies agreed to help out.
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You're right on that one. Also most insurance companies wouldn't go for the ones that has pre-existing conditions as well. An experimental procedure also has it's risks. There's no way knowing if it will succeed or not.
 
what a miracle that he has. Wow.

only i can last longer to stay awake- 33 hours (that's my best record in my lifetime)...then i went ko out for a day!
 
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