8

The Swelling of Sleep

You’ve heard of appendicitis, right? That itis part means to get larger, to swell. My mother has something else entirely. Somnitis. It’s a rare neurological disease named after Somnus, the Roman god of sleep.

If appendicitis means the swelling of the appendix, I’m sure you can see what somnitis is. It means sometimes my mom doesn’t wake up. For days. She can have an attack anytime. One moment she’s wide awake, and the next—zzzzzzzzz …

For days.

It’s so rare, most people have never heard of it. Not even doctors. Which is why there aren’t many working on a cure. There are quacks out there who’d like to sell you crystals or incense or some treatment that includes stabbing you with needles, but none of it works. In those cases, the only people getting well are the “practitioners.”

I’ve read everything about her illness (and I do mean everything; there isn’t much out there). I’ve learned that throughout her life, Mom’s attacks will get longer and longer. One day, maybe when she’s old or maybe tomorrow, she’ll fall asleep and never wake up.