Most moms value the moment they hold their newborn baby in their arms for the first time.
However, for 24-year-old Jody Robson, a rare neurological problem robbed her of this cherished event.
She has no memory of the birth of her first son as she was in a trance-like situation.
Jody believes she has Kleine-Levin Syndrome, also called Sleeping Beauty syndrome, a rare neurological disease, meaning people sleep for days or weeks consecutively.
During her prolonged durations of sleep, the longest being eleven days, Jody may be stirred to eat a snack or visit the toilet; however, her conduct is as if she is sleepwalking.
These slumbering times are then accompanied by weeks of recuperation, where she feels like she is in a dream, helpless to hear what people are saying and with hardly any recollection of what has taken place.
Jody alleges she was in a trance-like state during the natural birth of her son Harley and dozed off instantly afterward.
Incredibly, this meant when she woke up 14 days later she had no memory of how he showed up into the world.
Harley is currently 6 and her younger son Riley, is 3.
Professor Mathew Walker, of the National Hospital for Neurological and Neurosurgery, stated Jody’s symptoms match the conditions of KLS.
Mr Walker added it’s possible to give birth while in the trance-like situations linked to Kleine-Levin Syndrome.
He stated: It’s possible to go into an attack of Kleine-Levin Syndrome and then to have no memory or very little memory of what takes place during that attack.
Mr Walker added people with the disorder may sleep through nearly anything that can have an adverse effect on their lives.
Jody’s first experience with the condition was when she was only twelve and residing in Alicante, Spain.
Thrilled for a sleepover at a friend’s pal’s house, Jody showed up with a change of clothes, a bag of toys and sweets.
However, that day she fell into a deep slumber and did not wake up for 8 days.
Even then, Jody was not able to identify her surroundings or family.
However, during this time she bathes, sleeps and eats she has no recollection of the things she says or does.
Jody totally depends on her 29-year-old husband Steven, to fill her in on the events of her lost weeks.
And unavoidably, Jody can sleep through many of the biggest moments in life, like baby Harley’s birth.
Harley was born in a natural birth at the University of Coventry Hospital, with Jody in a sleep-like spell, conscious but not able to know what the nurses are talking about.
When Jody finally woke from the trance 2 weeks afterward, she looked down at her body and realized her tummy had gone.
Once more, it fell to her husband to clarify what had taken place.
Not only has Jody she slept through Christmas, but she nearly missed her nuptials, waking just days before.
When she is experiencing one of her attacks or recuperating, her partner, a glazer, and locksmith, looks after the school bath time, bed time and school runs.
While Jody is sleeping, or in a spell-like state, her husband and mom help take care of the kids.
As she can be sleeping for days her husband has to wake her, at least, two times to go to the toilet, eat a snack and drink water.
However, while he can briefly wake his wife up to perform her basic needs, Jody falls straight back to slumber once more.
Jody’s usual episode comprises of a least one week’s sleep after which 14 days of recuperation.
In spite of the incapacitating impact on her life, medics have yet to officially diagnose Jody.
The disorder is extremely rare and Jody alleges one medic even had to Google it during a visit.
Through the years, she has been screened for narcolepsy and epilepsy, with negative outcome.
In spite of the struggles Jody faces, she knows to cherish every day she is not sleeping.
Tours to the recreation area, days out to the zoo as well as playing watching television or playing at home are moments to treasure.
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