Undine's curse

Proper noun

Ondine's curse

1. A medical condition marked by malfunction of the nerves that control involuntary body functions, causing breathing to require conscious effort and therefore meaning patients will die if they fall asleep.
   • Ondine’s curse—more appropriately known as congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, or CCHS—is a rare, severe form of sleep apnea in which an individual completely stops breathing when falling asleep.2020 June 9, Brandon Peters, MD, “What Is Ondine's Curse?”, in Ondine's Curse Symptoms and Treatment, archived from the original on 25 Aug 2021