Not long after my brother was diagnosed with a type of OSA, or obstructive sleep apnea, we found out that he might be best served to have his medical provider prescribe a bipap device in order to best allay the symptoms he was experiencing.

Given that he has had challenges with sleeping most of his life, we were all some what shocked that it had taken his health care providers so long to diagnose his challenges. At over 40 years of age, it is hard to determine just how much life has been taken from him due to the years of restless, sleepless nights.

Once he began to better understand exactly what his situation was, and how he must change his life and sleeping habits, we could all see an alertness in him we’d not seen since his childhood.

Now when he complains to me about having to order his CPAP supplies, or file the proper paperwork with his medical insurance company, I simply kick him in the shin and remind him of the days (and nights) before he had come to understand his needs for sleep apnea treatment.

I know he would never want to go back to his life the way it was before. But I kick him in the shin anyway just to reinforce it for him!

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