At last, answers to a mother?s grief
Cary teen died of extremely rare disease
Published: Jan 13, 2013 05:36 PM
Modified: Jan 22, 2013 01:57 PM
About fatal insomnia
Fatal insomnia was formally recognized in the early 1990s. It is most often passed genetically but has appeared spontaneously in extremely rare cases. The disease kills in seven to 36 months from onset, during which degradation of the brain may cause loss of sleep and severe dementia.
Familial and sporadic fatal insomnia are classified as subtypes of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
By Andrew Kenney,
It wasn?t bacteria or a virus that plagued young Michael Mendy?s body and mind. He did not inherit his symptoms from his mother or father. Nothing toxic was in his blood.
And while he was sick, Michael?s parents had no explanation...
