Fighting Sleep: The Patty Kinder Story
For many of people, sleep is hard to come by; whether it’s because of our jobs or families, sleep can sometimes be elusive. For others, sleep is a curse that hangs over our heads morning, day and night. Narcolepsy is a disease that affects one in every 2,000 Americans and occurs when the brain is unable to regulate cycles of sleep and being awake. This results in excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep anywhere and anytime.
Patty Kinder is a life-long resident of Virginia and over the last 20 years, Patty has undergone a great deal of hardship. When Patty was about 20 years old, she began having problems with maintaining her energy level and found herself needing to nap more and more during the day. Over the years, her symptoms have worsened and her ability to regulate her wake and sleep periods has gone progressively downhill. Because of the condition, Patty was barely able to keep her job as a licensed veterinarian technician. It became harder and harder to stay awake at work. Many times during her 15-minute drive to or from work, she would have to pull over to the side of the road to nap – sometimes taking as many as three naps on the way. She slept upright in a chair for more than four years just so she wouldn’t fall into a deep sleep and not wake when the alarm went off.
When her house flooded, there was no money or energy for repairs. Patty had no choice but to pull the carpet up and live with bare concrete floors. Patty’s house fell into disrepair. When she was awake, she would try to do things but since she couldn’t regulate the amount of time she would be awake, she would start a project and leave it partially done. This happened over and over. Sleep overtook her life. Even during her waking periods, her thinking was foggy and her energy level was very low. Simple everyday tasks became a huge struggle.
More than four years ago and after the flood, the HVAC in her house stopped working. Patty could not afford to replace it so she took no action. When the cold weather came, Patty slept in a chair, surrounded by electric heaters. Due to her narcolepsy, there were times when she slept for three days in a row. Sleep and its unpredictability overcame her life. For Patty, it seemed there was no way out of her situation and she would simply have to suffer through it.
To make matters worse, about a year and a half ago Patty felt a lump in her breast. It took her weeks to see a doctor. She missed several appointments because of her inability to stay awake. She since has undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy and is now enduring weeks of radiation for a cancer she hopes she can beat. Because she is not able to work right now, she has no income and is applying for assistance. She hopes to start receiving disability before her funds completely run out.
Recently, Patty found some hope and some help in the form of a local nonprofit called DeShong’s Gift Back and the Michael & Son Helping Hands program. DeShong’s Gift Back is the vision of Sterling residents Jane and Vini Short. Their nonprofit grows vegetables and gives them to food pantries; searches for funding; and forms groups of volunteers to help to repair homes for those in need like Patty. They are helping Patty to get her life back.
For many of people, sleep is hard to come by; whether it’s because of our jobs or families, sleep can sometimes be elusive. For others, sleep is a curse that hangs over our heads morning, day and night. Narcolepsy is a disease that affects one in every 2,000 Americans and occurs when the brain is unable to regulate cycles of sleep and being awake. This results in excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep anywhere and anytime.
Patty Kinder is a life-long resident of Virginia and over the last 20 years, Patty has undergone a great deal of hardship. When Patty was about 20 years old, she began having problems with maintaining her energy level and found herself needing to nap more and more during the day. Over the years, her symptoms have worsened and her ability to regulate her wake and sleep periods has gone progressively downhill. Because of the condition, Patty was barely able to keep her job as a licensed veterinarian technician. It became harder and harder to stay awake at work. Many times during her 15-minute drive to or from work, she would have to pull over to the side of the road to nap – sometimes taking as many as three naps on the way. She slept upright in a chair for more than four years just so she wouldn’t fall into a deep sleep and not wake when the alarm went off.
When her house flooded, there was no money or energy for repairs. Patty had no choice but to pull the carpet up and live with bare concrete floors. Patty’s house fell into disrepair. When she was awake, she would try to do things but since she couldn’t regulate the amount of time she would be awake, she would start a project and leave it partially done. This happened over and over. Sleep overtook her life. Even during her waking periods, her thinking was foggy and her energy level was very low. Simple everyday tasks became a huge struggle.
More than four years ago and after the flood, the HVAC in her house stopped working. Patty could not afford to replace it so she took no action. When the cold weather came, Patty slept in a chair, surrounded by electric heaters. Due to her narcolepsy, there were times when she slept for three days in a row. Sleep and its unpredictability overcame her life. For Patty, it seemed there was no way out of her situation and she would simply have to suffer through it.
To make matters worse, about a year and a half ago Patty felt a lump in her breast. It took her weeks to see a doctor. She missed several appointments because of her inability to stay awake. She since has undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy and is now enduring weeks of radiation for a cancer she hopes she can beat. Because she is not able to work right now, she has no income and is applying for assistance. She hopes to start receiving disability before her funds completely run out.
Recently, Patty found some hope and some help in the form of a local nonprofit called DeShong’s Gift Back and the Michael & Son Helping Hands program. DeShong’s Gift Back is the vision of Sterling residents Jane and Vini Short. Their nonprofit grows vegetables and gives them to food pantries; searches for funding; and forms groups of volunteers to help to repair homes for those in need like Patty. They are helping Patty to get her life back and are in the process of continuing the improvements. If you would like to make a
became a huge struggle.
More than four years ago and after the flood, the HVAC in her house stopped working. Patty could not afford to replace it so she took no action. When the cold weather came, Patty slept in a chair, surrounded by electric heaters. Due to her narcolepsy, there were times when she slept for three days in a row. Sleep and its unpredictability overcame her life. For Patty, it seemed there was no way out of her situation and she would simply have to suffer through it.
To make matters worse, about a year and a half ago Patty felt a lump in her breast. It took her weeks to see a doctor. She missed several appointments because of her inability to stay awake. She since has undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy and is now enduring weeks of radiation for a cancer she hopes she can beat. Because she is not able to work right now, she has no income and is applying for assistance. She hopes to start receiving disability before her funds completely run out.
Recently, Patty found some hope and some help in the form of a local nonprofit called DeShong’s Gift Back and the Michael & Son Helping Hands program. DeShong’s Gift Back is the vision of Sterling residents Jane and Vini Short. Their nonprofit grows vegetables and gives them to food pantries; searches for funding; and forms groups of volunteers to help to repair homes for those in need like Patty. They are helping Patty to get her life back and are in the process of continuing the improvements. If you would like to make a difference in the life of Patty or others like her, go to www.DeShongsGiftBack.org or email them at DeShongsGiftBack@gmail.com.
DeShong’s Gift Back learned about the Michael & Son Helping Hands program and facilitated Patty’s application. Patty was immediately approved and Michael & Son jumped right in to install a new heating and air-conditioning unit in her home and has pledged to continue helping Patty by installing new toilets and plumbing hardware in her bathrooms. To learn more about Patty and her story, view this episode of Helping Hands which aired recently on NBC 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na0SWq9rx9Q&feature=youtu.be
