Elaine Sadler.

Moustafa Al Zoubi, Staff Reporter

A British girl named Elaine Sadler became famous for falling asleep from the age of 11 until she was 21, in a condition known as “Achondroplasia”, or sleeping sickness.

Elaine was born on May 15, 1859 in a large family of 12 children, and until 1871 she did not show any symptoms of any disease.

On March 29 of the same year, she fell asleep, and did not wake up again. Medical experts from all over the world visited Elaine's house, but they were unable to discover anything.

People started inventing all kinds of techniques to help wake her up, but to no avail.

Her mother used to feed her while she was asleep but once one of her jaws locked. The mother fed her through a broken tooth.

The main problem Elaine had was called “Orexin,” a long-term neurological disorder which deteriorates the ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles.

In 1880 Elaine woke up at the age of 21, but her mother had died.

Elaine married a farmer and had 6 children before her death in 1901.