‘LPBW’ Zach & Tori Roloff’s Toddler Diagnosed With Sleep Apnea
Little People Big World stars Zach and Tori Roloff received an official diagnosis for their four-year-old daughter Lilah. They shared the news during Tuesday’s episode of LPBW. The couple says that their baby girl Lilah has sleep apnea. Soon, she will undergo surgery to have the issue corrected. Continue reading to find out what is causing the sleep disorder and how they plan to treat it.
LPBW Stars Face Daughter’s Sleep Disorder Diagnosis
Lilah Roloff has been experiencing sleep issues for a while now. Her parents, Zach and Tori, have been struggling to identify the cause. During the March 26 episode of Little People Big World, the reality TV couple shared that Lilah was diagnosed with a moderate case of sleep apnea. The diagnosis was made after a sleep study was performed.
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes irregular breathing while a person is asleep. The disorder makes breathing suddenly start and stop. It is often cited as the reason people snore or feel tired throughout the day, despite having a full night’s sleep. Sleep studies are often recommended for people with dwarfism because they are prone to sleep apnea-related issues.
“She’s probably going to need her tonsils taken out, and then, supposedly after that, the apnea goes away,” Zach told the camera in the confessional.
In addition to diagnosing the problem, the sleep study was performed to ensure that Lilah would be safe to go under anesthesia. Zach Roloff discussed the specific challenges that people with dwarfism face when it comes to having surgery.
“[People with dwarfism,] our airways are built slightly different than other people, and there is maybe a higher threat of something going wrong,” he explained to LPBW viewers.
The couple opened up about how they tried to prepare the toddler for the sleep study, which can be scary for a child.
“I keep telling her that they’ll put stickers all over her head and, you know, you’re gonna have a nurse there and things like that, so I hope she has a good idea, but who knows with her,” Zach said. “She gets it in her head and then she gets scared, and then she has a hard time recovering.”
News About Lilah’s Diagnosis Comes One Year After Zach’s Health Scare
The LPBW star is no stranger to health problems. Last year, he was admitted to the hospital for emergency brain surgery. His wife, Tori Roloff, shared details of the ordeal on Instagram. He required a “shunt revision.”
“It’s been a scary 72 hours but he is doing well and recovering!!” she wrote at the time. “Thank you so much to everyone for the prayers that you have covered us in. We feel them! … You’re a freaking bad ass, Zach. You just had brain surgery … and handled it like a rockstar. I’m so proud of you.”
LPBW stars Zach and Tori Roloff also share 6-year-old Jackson and 22-month-old Josiah, in addition to Lilah.
Little People Big World airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on TLC.