While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping - full story
09 September, 2012
Reporter: Rahni Sadler
Producer: Alex Garipoli
Dee Daud falls asleep at the drop of a hat, the sound of a car backfiring, or even when he experiences a strong emotion.
Daud suffers from Narcolepsy and Cataplexy – which means the slightest stress or excitement causes him to instantly fall into a debilitating slumber, as Rahni Sadler found when she visited him at his UK home.
Up to 50 times a day, Daud is hit with a physically overwhelming compulsion to sleep. It doesn’t matter what he’s doing, he’ll keel over and sleep for minutes or even hours.
Sadler spent two days with Dee experiencing his incredible life as he crashed out walking, talking, playing his guitar, ten pin bowling, washing the dishes or just sitting on a park bench. And as his mother explained, her son can’t always rely on the kindness of strangers when he suffers an episode in a public place – in the past he’s been laughed at, taunted, and even kicked and stepped on while passed out.
But Sadler found that Daud’s not taking his condition lying down – he still loves a laugh, despite the fact that laughter more often than not triggers sleep. And he’s a keen advocate for others with his condition, manning a Facebook group that provides a voice for narcolepsy sufferers worldwide.
To join Dee's Facebook group, 'Narcolepsy Friends', you can first send him a friend request.
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