At 12 years old, Kollin isn’t letting anything slow him down. A lifelong patient at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Kollin’s journey to his narcolepsy diagnosis started when he found himself constantly exhausted.
“My father has narcolepsy, so when I was tired all the time, my mom requested to have a sleep study done,” Kollin shares. A sleep study, also called a polysomnogram, is an overnight test that helps doctors diagnose sleep disorders, including narcolepsy. During the study, sensors are placed on different parts of the body to monitor breathing, brain activity, heart rate, and movement while a child sleeps. It provides essential information to guide treatment and improve sleep health.
“I really don’t like sleep studies because of all the wires and goop in my hair,” shares Kollin. But after his second long sleep study, the results were clear—he had narcolepsy, just like his dad. The diagnosis meant he could start medication to help him stay awake and focus, making school and sports much easier.
Before treatment, Kollin struggled to keep up with the things he loved most. “I was tired all the time; it was hard for me to stay awake in school and play hard in sports the way I wanted to,” he explained. But with the support of his Nemours Children’s care team, including Dr. Karen Carvalho and Dr. Abigail Strang, he now has a plan that works for him.
“I haven’t had a bad experience with Nemours doctors and nurses,” says Kollin. “They even seem to make sleep studies easier somehow. I appreciate that my doctors listen—Dr. Carvalho helps change my medication when I feel something isn’t working. I feel like I am part of my team, and I am heard even though I am a kid.”
With continued care and the right treatment plan, Kollin is staying focused on his dreams. He hopes to play baseball in college and refuses to let narcolepsy stand in his way. “Narcolepsy isn’t going to hold me back from achieving my dreams,” he said. “I know my parents and doctors are listening to me and ready to assist me no matter what challenges I have.”
For other kids going through a similar journey, Kollin has one main piece of advice: “Don’t give up. It’s really important to communicate how you feel and to be included in decisions throughout your treatment. I want people to know that people with narcolepsy can do amazing things.”
With his determination and the support of his Nemours team, Kollin is proving that nothing—not even narcolepsy—can keep him from chasing his dreams.
