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Kerly Joy Bwoga

@kerlyjoynaps

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I have Narcolepsy Type 1, Sleep Apnea, RLS, PLM, RBD & TMD.
Founder of NapsForLife.Narcolepsy and Narcolepsy Navigators Podcast

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by @kerlyjoynaps

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2 days ago

Her local hospital told her mum she was “just fat and lazy.” Turns out it was narcolepsy type 1 — and she wouldn’t be diagnosed for another 8 years.

Kylie Dennis O’Sullivan started having cataplexy attacks at 11 — screaming that there was someone at her window, convinced there were spiders crawling on her. Her mum, a nurse, knew something was wrong. Doctors didn’t believe her for years.

In this Black History Month UK special, Kylie talks about:
🧠 being the first person in her borough diagnosed with narcolepsy in 20 years
👩🏾 growing up mixed-heritage and what her mum taught her about how the world would see her
💊 14 tablets a day, a gastric bypass, and finally finding meds that work
👶🏾 becoming a single mom to baby Myles — and relearning rest on her own terms
🎧 why music (and the orexin science behind it) keeps her regulated

She’s not fat and lazy. She’s outside the box — and she’s done apologizing for it.

🎧 New episode is live — link in bio.
💬 Were you ever dismissed before you got a real diagnosis? Tell us below.

#Narcolepsy #NarcolepsyType1 #BlackHistoryMonthUK #InvisibleDisability #NarcolepsyAwareness ChronicIllnessMom Cataplexy NarcolepsyNavigators by @kerlyjoynaps

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11 days ago

Sometimes breakthroughs come from unlikely places, like a newspaper article from your math teacher's husband.

Kerly Bwoga (@KerlyJoyNaps) spent three years enduring symptoms with no answers from her doctors, nearly failing out of college as her narcolepsy symptoms continued without relief.

It wasn't until a newspaper article about a teacher experiencing cataplexy, suggested by her math professor's husband, that Kerly figured out what was going on with her.

Kerly was finally diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy after taking the article to her doctors.

Her sleep specialist was surprised she hadn't been diagnosed sooner.

Watch Kerly's full #WorldNarcolepsyDay story share on our YouTube channel at the link in bio!

#narcolepsy #SleepStories #tired by @kerlyjoynaps

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12 days ago

"RECLAIM YOUR REST"
True honouring means not only celebrating legacy but also living the values of self-preservation that our ancestors championed. 🕯️🤎
This BHM UK, we stand on the shoulders of four giants in British nursing and healthcare history. We are not just telling their stories; we are valuing the very thing they protected for others: our collective well-being.

We honour:
💐 Mary Seacole (1805-1881): A pioneer of holistic healing and nurse in the Crimean War. She knew that true recovery requires safe spaces, nourishment, and rest.
💙 Daphne Steele (1927-2004): The NHS's first Black matron. She broke systemic barriers with resilience, dedication, and the essential power of rest.
🎖️ Kofoworola Abeni Pratt (1915-1992): A trailblazing nurse leader and educator. Her service was tireless, and we honour her best by valuing body and mind recharge.
🩺 Dame Elizabeth Anionwu (Contemporary Icon): A leader in sickle cell nursing and an advocate for health equity. True community health starts by ensuring equitable rest for all.

At NapsForLife, we believe that self-preservation is an act of preservation for our communities. This month, remember to pause, replenish, and just... rest.
🛌 Look at our community embracing the power of deep sleep. Let's make BHM a time of both profound reflection and intentional, restorative pause.
💬 Tell us: Who is a healthcare worker, caregiver, or community leader you want to honour with a restful pause this month?
#BHMUK #BlackHistoryMonthUK #HonouringOurPioneers #ReclaimYourRest #NapsForLife SleepEquity Wellbeing NursingPioneers SelfPreservation CommunityCare by @kerlyjoynaps

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15 days ago

They compared us to a fainting goat and a screaming goat. 🐐

Mel has narcolepsy without cataplexy. Jeanna has Tourette syndrome. They met in a Walmart parking lot, went viral for a motorcycle ride, and have been each other's safe place ever since — through a cancer relapse, childhood trauma, and a LOT of dark humor. 🛵💛

In this episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, Mel ("Mel of the Mountains") and Jeanna (founder of Tourette Taxi) sit down with our hosts to talk about:
🐐 the viral ride that had the internet arguing over whether her narcolepsy was "real"
🧠 narcolepsy type 1 vs. type 2, explained in plain language
🩹 what it actually means to feel safe enough to stop apologizing for your symptoms
💛 porch therapy, cancer relapse, and why humor is their favorite medicine

They call themselves a fainting goat and a screaming goat. We call it one of the most honest conversations we've had on this show.

🎧 New episode is live — link in bio: https://youtu.be/6eqpCFcJWAA
👂🏽 Do you have a friend who "gets it" without explanation? Tell us about them below.

#Narcolepsy #TouretteSyndrome #NarcolepsyAwareness #TouretteTaxi #ChronicIllnessFriendship #InvisibleIllness #DisabilityAdvocacy #NarcolepsyNavigators #CataplexyAwareness #DisabilityCommunity by @kerlyjoynaps

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25 days ago

@project_sleep
Happy World Narcolepsy Day
Thank you Riad for your support and love, for accepting me (narcolepsy, four additional sleep disorders comorbidities and all), allowing me to unapologetically me holding nothing back for the first time in my life. by @kerlyjoynaps

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a month ago

taken in London, United Kingdom by @kerlyjoynaps

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a month ago

by @kerlyjoynaps

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a month ago

#narcolepsynavigatorspodcast #narcolepsyawareness #sleepdisorders #napsforlife taken in Harringay by @kerlyjoynaps

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a month ago

Bella
#worldnarcolepsyday2026 @project_sleep by @kerlyjoynaps

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a month ago

🌍 World Narcolepsy Day is almost here — September 22nd!

Narcolepsy touches lives everywhere, from the UK to Sweden to China to Bulgaria and beyond. This year, Narcolepsy Navigators is inviting our global community to raise their voice and be part of the change.

Share a story to change a story. 💙

Every story shared helps break the silence, fight the stigma, and push for better understanding worldwide. Ready to share yours? Link in bio.

#WorldNarcolepsyDay #NarcolepsyNavigators #NapsForLife by @kerlyjoynaps

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a month ago

The Naps for Life shop is officially LIVE! 🎉☕️
New tees, “The Future Is Wide Awake” mugs, and more — made for this community, by this community.
Shop link in bio — every piece helps keep the advocacy going. 💙 #NarcolepsyAwareness #NapsForLife by @kerlyjoynaps

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a month ago