Ondine's Curse

What is Ondine's Curse?


1.

A respiratory disorder, also called congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) or primary alveolar hypoventilation, which is fatal if untreated. Because of a congenital failure of the body's involuntary control of breathing, people with the disorder must take each breath consciously; they typically die during sleep.

In German mythology, Ondine was a water nymph who fell in love with and married a mortal man, Sir Lawrence. He swore to her that his every waking breath shall be his pledge of love and faithfulness to her. Years later, she caught him in the arms of another woman. She cursed him thusly: "You swore faithfulness to me with every waking breath, and I accepted your oath. So be it. As long as you are awake, you shall have your breath, but should you ever fall asleep, then that breath will be taken from you and you will die!"

Sir Lawrence stayed awake as long as he could but eventually fell asleep from sheer exhaustion, and he stopped breathing and died.

Ondine's curse gives new meaning to the phrase, "I'll sleep when I'm dead."

See sleep, disorder, apnea, fatal, curse


41

Random Words:

1. A non-committable way to say I love you. Usually used by cool people. Eye Heart You Elise and Emery. I'm glad you guys are MY frie..
1. To speculate on a politician's health and wellness, especially in a democracy, in an attempt to breed public distaste and worry and..
1. overly excited. really really excited about something.so much so that you do something stupid. he was over-zealous when she asked im ou..
Book Banner