Woman alleges she hasn’t slept in over three decades

In the heart of Long An province, Vietnam, lives a woman who has garnered the extraordinary nickname, “the sleepless mutant.” Nguyen Ngoc My Kim, a 49-year-old seamstress, claims to have defied the need for sleep for the past thirty years.

Known locally as “the seamstress who never sleeps,” Kim embraces this moniker, asserting that it perfectly reflects her unique lifestyle.

Whenever the media spotlight turns her way, Kim confirms that she hasn’t slept in decades, insisting that her health remains unaffected. However, she clarifies that this wasn’t always the case; her journey to sleeplessness was a gradual one.

Kim’s insomnia began in her childhood, fueled by her passion for late-night reading. As she grew older and took up seamstressing, her nights were consumed by work, pushing her to forego sleep to meet her deadlines.

Over time, her body adapted to this grueling schedule, and sleep became an unnecessary luxury. “Every night, I sat in front of my sewing machine, afraid to sleep because I couldn’t afford to fall behind on orders,” Kim recounted.

“Initially, working through the night was challenging. I struggled with constant drowsiness, made numerous mistakes, and often felt tired and dizzy, even experiencing a few traffic accidents.”

But after months, then years, of sleepless nights, Kim’s body acclimatized. “Eventually, I couldn’t sleep even if I wanted to,” she admitted.

Though her claims of decades-long insomnia remain unverified by medical professionals, they are more than mere rumors.

Her relentless work ethic is visible to anyone who passes by her sewing stall in Long Cang commune. The light is always on, and the door always open, allowing anyone to witness her ceaseless activity.

“In the beginning, people didn’t really notice my lack of sleep,” Kim explained.

“But gradually, they observed that I was always at my stall, always working. Realizing the rumors were true, they spread the word, and soon enough, I became famous for my ability to stay awake continuously.”