Visiting Australia for the Narcolepsy Support Australia Conference

“What could I say that they don’t already know?” This question haunted me in the months, weeks and days leading up to Narcolepsy Support Australia Conference. Over a year ago, when NSG Australia’s leader-extraordinaire, Melissa asked me to be a keynote speaker at their inaugural patient conference, I said “Yes!!!” right away. No question, I wouldn’t miss…

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Why I am Running a Marathon

Recently, I was featured as a Boston College “Soaring Eagle“   – for writing my memoir and founding Project Sleep. This was a huge honor, but also very ironic. While at BC Law, I felt like a total failure. Diagnosed with narcolepsy at the beginning of my second year, I scolded myself for falling behind and never securing…

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Celebrate Sleep Week with Project Sleep’s SLEEP IN!

Happy Sleep Week, friends! This National Sleep Awareness Week, I can’t wait for Project Sleep’s first-ever international SLEEP IN (#SLEEPIN2015). On March 6-8, we will be taking to our beds to raise awareness about sleep health and sleep disorders while fundraising for Project Sleep. Let’s make PEACE with SLEEP! Sign up today: www.crowdrise.com/SLEEPIN Full details: www.project-sleep.com/sleepin I truly cannot…

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Cataplexy Caught on Camera – Guest Post by Sally Abboud

Four lovely ladies walk into a photo booth, one has narcolepsy with cataplexy, her name is Sally. Something is funny and as Sally laughs, the camera perfectly captures the stages of her cataplexy attack. Sally (top-middle) describes: This was a photo booth at a friend’s wedding that takes a photo every 5 seconds. The three other ladies…

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The Doctors Show Features My Story with Narcolepsy

Tune in to the Doctors TV Show this Monday Feb. 9, I’ll be sharing my journey with narcolepsy – including sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations . See full information here. Watch TV interview online:   Crafting an honest and accurate portrayal of narcolepsy with the Doctors TV Show was a lot of fun.  I was blown away…

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A Day In The Life… NPR Features Narcolepsy

I’m thrilled that NPR station WHYY featured my story of narcolepsy on the radio today. Listen online here: “A Day In The Life of a Narcoleptic” by Steven Jackson. When the reporter for NPR asked to follow me around for 24 hours, I said “YES!” right away. I’m always looking to raise awareness about narcolepsy.  I am…

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5th Grader Raises Narcolepsy Awareness at School

This past year has been very tough for Daishia, age 11, who was recently diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy. In addition to narcolepsy, she is also dealing with a seizure disorder, migraines and obstructive and central sleep apnea. “I wish I could take all her pain and struggles away and make things easier for her,” describes her…

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Patients Included: Narcolepsy Patient Voice in American Journal of Medicine

The patient’s voice is rarely included in medical journals, but luckily, I love breaking down superficial barriers between patients and medical professionals. Check out: “Narcolepsy: Let the Patient’s Voice Awaken Us”, by Julie Flygare, JD and Sairam Parthasarathy, MD, (American Journal of Medicine, January 2015). I feel so lucky to have collaborated with Dr. Parthasarathy on this project, he’s a doctor…

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A Wicked Awesome Moment

London 2007 F*CK, I slept through Wicked. In February 2007, I was in London for spring break and splurged on an overpriced “half-price” ticket to see my favorite musical, Wicked. I’d listened to the soundtrack a hundred times, but never seen it. The first act was magical, but as the curtains raised for the second…

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