But for some narcoleptic people, their disorder is not a deterrent but a fuel to strive harder to get what they want. Here are some of the famous narcoleptic people.
Jimmy Kimmel, Television Host and Comedian
The name of Jimmy Kimmel is now a common household name due to his famous late night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live” that airs on ABC. He also previously worked as a co-host in “The Man Show”, a show which earned him instant fame, and “Win Ben Stein’s Money”. He also has vast experiences in the area of producing and radio.
According to his interview with Esquire in 2003, Jimmy often feels uncontrollable sleepiness especially in the afternoon. He would fall asleep while in meetings, watching TV, or even while driving. Once, he even fell asleep while the camera was rolling. He is currently taking stimulants regularly to wake him up and be able to do his work.
Natassja Kinski, Actress
Natassja Kinski is another narcoleptic who started her career in modeling but went on to become an actress and an internationally acclaimed sex symbol in the 1970s to 1980s. She has appeared in a total of 60 films and won a Golden Globe. Due to her narcolepsy disorder, she stopped driving at night.
Harriet Tubman, Humanitarian
Harriet Tubman was an African-American ex-slave who later on became a humanitarian, abolitionist and a union spy during the time of American Civil War. She dedicated her life to the eradication of slavery and was able to help 70 slaves escape through an underground railroad.
She allegedly started developing narcolepsy after a traumatic head injury. Her master hit her head with a heavy metal weight. She started developing episodes of seizures, headaches and periods of unconsciousness after that.
Harold M. Ickes, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff
Harold Ickes was the White House Deputy Chief of Staff during Bill Clinton’s administration. He also headed the presidential campaign of Clinton in 2002. His role in saving the name of Bill Clinton amid the scandals and crises was pivotal. He also helped Hillary Clinton during her Senate Campaign in 2000.
Oftentimes, he would fall asleep while in important meetings. But through sheer will and the help of medication, he was able to manage his narcolepsy disorder and gained political achievement.
Arthur Lowe, Actor
Arthur Lowe was an English actor who appeared in several TV shows and theater plays. But he became widely popular in British audiences after his portrayal of Captain Mainwaring in the TV sitcom Dad’s Army..
Franck Bouyer, French Cyclist
Franck Bouyer is a French professional cyclist who races for the Bouygues team. He is a narcoleptic, with symptoms of sleep attacks and cataplexy. Through a regular medication of Modafinil, he was able to train and compete in professional cycling. He even won in three major cycling events in France. However, in 2004, he was banned from cycling since the drug Modafinil was a banned substance at that time. But in 2009, he was able to return to cycling after the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) confirmed that Xyrem, a new drug for treating narcolepsy, is not banned.
These people showed the world that even with a disabling disorder, you can still live normally and even excel in your chosen field. If you are a narcoleptic, take inspiration from this long list of brave narcoleptic people. You, too, can excel and live a quality life.
You can get more extensive information on narcoleptic people at http://narcolepsyrevealed.com/narcoleptic-people/. Know more about narcolepsy at http://narcolepsyrevealed.com/
Nina is a professional lady with a medical background. Her passion is to help others that suffer from sleep disorders. She maintains a website dedicated to helping others understand narcolepsy. She provides free information about narcolepsy in her website http://narcolepsyrevealed.com/.
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