Polysomnograms

“I have sleep apnea,” My grandmother says once she arrives home after the testing finished. “The polysomnogram proves I have sleep apnea, so doc says they need to run a second test to determine the best treatment.” “What exactly is sleep apnea? Also, what’s a polysomnogram?” I ask her as I eat my breakfast. “Well,” my grandma starts while sitting at the table next me. “I basically stop breathing in my sleep. Men, overweight people, and those older than forty get sleep apnea most, but any age, weight, or sex can get sleep apnea. So basically, I’m two thirds of the perfect individual for sleep apnea. The polysomnogram is just a fancy word for sleep test.” I chuckle before joking. “If you were my grandpa you’d be a perfect fit for sleep apnea …show more content…
A week later, though, curiosity got the better of me. A quick search online reveals the dangers of sleep apnea, and I impatiently wait the CPAP machine to arrive. Worry isn’t a strong enough word to describe the feeling I experience while waiting for my grandma to tell us she had her CPAP. Without it, she could have more heart problems, liver problems, high blood pressure, or even get Type 2 diabetes from this disease. I began to hover around my grandma whenever I was home. I wanted to keep her safe, like she kept me safe all these …show more content…
She sits on her bed and point to the stand next to her bed. My eyes follow the direction she pointed, and I see a small machine resting on her stand. A little mask connects to the machine “That’s my CPAP.” My grandma says while looking at me. “The little mask covers my nose at night and keeps me breathing while I sleep. If you’re still worried tomorrow, then come in here before you go to school tomorrow. Perhaps seeing me wearing the mask will help.” Without another word, my grandma leaves her room. I sit on her bed, and continue to look at this small machine. “How can this thing prevent all those problems? It’s so tiny,” I mutter before leaving the room. “I’ll just have to come in here tomorrow morning before I leave for school and see for myself how it works.” The next morning, I quietly walk into my grandma’s room. I look at her bed, and I see her sleeping peacefully even with the mask on. The machine makes some sound as it keeps my grandma breathing. I stand there for a few more minutes before leaving my grandma’s room. “Grandma always did say that small packages are the best gifts you’ll ever receive. I guess she was right. Even if that machine is small, it works really well.” I muse as I walk out the