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The tale of “Sleeping Beauty” is no longer just a fairy tale known to children worldwide. We all know it's purely fictional. However, young Ellen Sadler turned this fairy tale into reality. Ellen Sadler holds the record for the longest sleep in history. But who is Ellen Sadler? Where does she come from? Why does she possess this extraordinary ability? All will be revealed in this article.
Who is Ellen Sadler?
Most of us believe a good night's sleep can solve all worries and anxieties. Science backs this, proving that quality sleep rejuvenates the brain and enhances its functionality. Additionally, it improves memory and focus. But how would you feel if you slept for years on end? It sounds absurd, yet it's true. The story of Ellen Sadler—the girl holding the world record for the longest sleep—will astonish you.
Ellen Sadler was born in the early 19th century in the village of Turville, England. She was the 10th child in a typical family. At the age of 11, to help her parents, she left home to work as a nanny in a nearby small town.
Portrait of Ellen Sadler - the girl holding the world record for the longest sleep (Image Source: Collection)
When separated from her family and living in a new environment full of strangers, Ellen felt miserable. She suffered frequent headaches, felt uncomfortable in her body, and most notably, she was always sleepy. These unusual symptoms worsened over time, making it impossible for her to function normally. Thus, the story of Ellen Sadler, known as 'The sleeping girl of Turville,' began.
The enduring tale of Ellen Sadler's prolonged sleep
After falling into a comatose state, Ellen Sadler had to return home and was admitted to the hospital by her parents. In an era where medical science was not advanced, doctors couldn't accurately diagnose the condition as it was an unprecedented peculiar symptom. After 18 weeks of treatment, the family had to discharge Ellen from the hospital despite her condition not showing improvement.
Upon returning home, Ellen experienced intense headaches again and fell into prolonged periods of sleepiness. Then, one fine day, she quietly lay down on her bed and drifted into a deep sleep that lasted for 9 consecutive years.
Throughout the long 9 years, Ellen's mother stayed by her daughter's side constantly. She diligently provided tea, milk, and liquid food day by day to sustain Ellen's life. Due to the inability to absorb much nutrition, Ellen's body weight plummeted significantly.
The Sadler family sustained their daughter's life by providing food, tea, and milk to supply nutrition (Image Source: Collection)
In no time, news of Ellen spread throughout the entire village. People began to visit her home to witness the truth firsthand. Gradually, Ellen's mysterious story became famous all over England. From here, Ellen unintentionally became a renowned figure, perhaps even beyond her belief. People from all over England flocked to the village to see how a seemingly ordinary person who slept for many years looked like.
This attracted numerous journalists and medical experts, doctors who came to visit. A journalist from the Daily Telegraph vividly described that Ellen Sadler's body was very frail, her skin too soft compared to normal people. At this point, her limbs were extremely cold, her lips pale, and Ellen's breath barely discernible.
Much later, when medical science had advanced significantly, Ellen's condition was diagnosed as 'Narcolepsy,' and the cause was found to be a lack of Orexin. Orexin, a hypocretin substance, helps humans wake up after sleep. Due to the deficiency of orexin, Ellen's sleep lasted for those long years.
However, sadly, until Ellen Sadler passed away, she never knew any reasonable explanation for the peculiar story of her life.
The Conclusion of Ellen Sadler
It seemed like this strange illness would permanently take away the life of Ellen Sadler. However, miraculously, this story had a happy ending. One day, Ellen Sadler suddenly woke up after 9 years. Yet, she couldn't recall anything despite her family recounting her years-long sleep. Upon awakening, Ellen Sadler was 20 years old but still had a petite, frail figure like before.
Despite enduring 9 years of deep sleep, Ellen Sadler lived a normal life after waking up (Image Source: Collection)
According to some reports, Ellen Sadler experienced slower physical development compared to normal people and her eyesight deteriorated significantly. Overall, the health of the 'Sleeping girl' remained stable. Later on, Ellen got married and had 6 children. In 1911, Ellen Sadler passed away at nearly 50 years old.
The Controversies Surrounding Ellen Sadler's Story
Because the science of the 19th century had not advanced significantly, Ellen Sadler's condition of experiencing a prolonged sleep was not definitively diagnosed at that time. Doctors hypothesized it to be a chronic sleep disorder. This only occurs when patients experience uncontrollable bouts of sleepiness. Ellen's upbringing in a large family accustomed them to hard work from a young age. Thus, it's speculated that severe sleep deprivation may have caused this peculiar illness.
Some alternative hypotheses suggest that the story of the 'Girl who slept for 9 years' was a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by the Sadler family. This speculation is not entirely baseless. Throughout the 9 years, Ellen's mother solicited donations for her daughter's treatment and care. Moreover, the mother did not allow doctors to examine Ellen for an extended period. Other rumors suggest that Ellen's mother administered sleeping pills daily, preventing her from ever waking up.
The original home of the Ellen Sadler family was once a place that attracted many curious British people to visit the 'sleeping girl' (Image Source: Collection)
At that time, some claimed to have seen Ellen sitting by the window completely alert. This suggests Ellen was merely an 'actor' in the play 'Sleeping Beauty' orchestrated by her family. However, the true answer may forever remain unknown to future generations as no official statements were made by doctors of that time.
Above is the entire story of 'The girl holding the world record for the longest sleep' - Ellen Sadler. What seemed like a fairy tale has turned into reality. Ellen Sadler's case was a physiological phenomenon that shocked the entire nation at that time. With these insights from Mytour, we hope you've gained new knowledge. If you're interested in booking affordable tours, contact the hotline Mytour provided by Mytour!
