Most mothers cherish the moment they hold their new baby in their arms for the first time. But for Jody Robson, a rare neurological disorder robbed her of this precious occasion. The 24-year-old has no recollection of the birth of her first son because she was in a trance-like state.

She believes she has Kleine Levin Syndrome, also known as Sleeping Beauty syndrome,  a rare neurological disorder that means people sleep for days or weeks on end. During her long periods of slumber – the longest being 11 days – Mrs Robson can be roused to go to the toilet or eat a snack, but her behaviour is as if she is sleepwalking.

These sleeping periods are then followed by weeks of recovery, in which she feels like she is in a dream, unable to hear what people are saying and with little memory of what has happened. Mrs Robson claims she was in a trance-like state during her son Harley’s natural birth and fell asleep immediately afterwards. Astonishingly, this meant when she woke up two weeks later she had no recollection of how he came into the world.

The mother-of-two, from from Birmingham, said: ‘One moment I’ve closed my eyes and the next I’ve woken up and it’s two or three weeks later. ‘I’ve missed holidays and my sister’s 18th birthday because I was in an episode. It upsets me because I don’t remember giving birth and it’s supposed to be a precious moment. I think that’s the most upsetting episode I ever had. It gets me emotional because I missed it. Harley is now six and her younger son, Riley, is three.

Professor Matthew Walker, of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery said Mrs Robson’s symptoms fit with the criteria of Kleine Levin Syndrome. KLS is a very rare condition. Having episodes lasting up to 11 days where you sleep continuously then having weeks between another episode is quite typical.

He added it is possible to give birth while in the trance-like states associated with KLS. He said:  ‘It is perfectly possible to go into an episode of KLS and then to have no recollection or very little recollection of what occurs during that episode.  And very often what people say is that it’s almost like being in a dream. They just have images that they can remember. So the fact that she went into the episode during pregnancy is perfectly possible.

He added people with the condition can sleep through almost anything – which can have a devastating effect on their lives. Mrs Robson’s first experience with KLS was when she was just 12 and living in Alicante, Spain. Excited for a sleepover at a friend’s house, she arrived with a bag of toys, sweets and a change of clothes. But that day she fell into a deep sleep and didn’t wake up for eight days. Even then, she was unable to recognise her family or surroundings. She said: ‘When I was coming out of the episode, everything was dreamy. I couldn’t remember anybody, I couldn’t even remember who I was.’ It can take three weeks for her to get back to normal – periods she calls the ‘recovery stage’.

But during this time she sleeps, eats and bathes she has no memory of the things she does or says. She said: ‘When people are talking nothing is going into my brain, so I just look at them weirdly. ‘I wouldn’t wish it anybody.’ Mrs Robson completely relies on her husband, Steven, 29, to fill her in on the events of her lost weeks.

And inevitably, she can sleep through some of life’s biggest moments – such as baby Harley’s arrival. He was delivered in a natural birth at University of Coventry Hospital, with Ms Robson in a sleep-like trance, conscious but unable to understand what the nurses were saying. When she finally woke from the trance two weeks later she looked down at her body and realised her belly had gone. Once again, it fell to her husband to explain what had happened.

Not only has she slept through Christmas, but she very nearly missed her wedding – waking just days before. Mrs Robson said: ‘It’s upsetting that my children are in the living room or a relative’s house opening presents and eating Christmas dinner like a normal family and I’m on my own asleep in bed.’ And she frequently becomes distressed that she is sleeping through the first years of her sons’ lives. When she is having one of her episodes, or recovering, her husband, a locksmith and glazer, takes care of the school runs, bath time and bed time.

She said: ‘I honestly feel that I am sleeping through my children’s lives. I have missed out on so much. The first year with your first child is really special and I missed out on it.I had seven episodes the first year Harley was born.I was asleep pretty much most of that year. It is very frustrating. The sleeping part is not so scary – it’s the recovery afterwards. You are scared that you are not going to be out and back to normal again and the days just drag away.

Despite the debilitating effect on her life doctors have yet to officially diagnose her. The condition is very rare and Mrs Robson claims one doctor even had to Google it during a consultation.Over the years she has been tested for epilepsy and narcolepsy – with negative results. Despite the struggles she faces, Mrs Robson knows to treasure every day she is awake. Trips to the park, days out to the zoo and even playing at home or watching TV are moments to cherish. She said: ‘When I have my episodes our lives are on hold.My children are so young and I get frustrated that I’m sleeping through their childhood.I just want a diagnosis so I can get some help.’

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Image Credits: Barcroft Media, Nick Cunard

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