Both use Inspire® therapy now and are getting restful sleep, but for years, they both struggled to find peace at night.

Auden was diagnosed with OSA when she was young, and it affected her family as well. She felt tired all the time and snored loudly, keeping her parents awake at night.

Josh and his wife Jennifer were also scared, knowing she would stop breathing at times throughout the night.

Auden’s age made using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine difficult to use, and removing her adenoids and tonsils also failed to bring relief.

"We had done a lot of sleep studies to get a sense of how bad it was, and there really wasn't a lot out there," Josh said. "She just wasn't getting a good night's sleep for years."

This changed when Auden was older. Josh and Jennifer learned about clinical trials for Inspire therapy in children with Down syndrome.

Josh and Jennifer were excited about the potential after talking with other families who had children participating in the trials. Auden was approved to participate in the trials in 2020. She was implanted in the spring of 2021.

Auden’s parents noticed positive changes soon after activation.

"She started to get her personality back," Josh said. "It was almost immediate, which was awesome."

Auden, who is now a teenager, was no longer snoring loudly. Her sleep patterns also improved.

She has higher energy levels throughout the day, and they noticed Auden can concentrate more.

"She is sleeping better and is not as restless," Josh said. "At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, she is not dragging and looking like she is going to pass out wherever she stands."

Auden’s success had another effect. Josh decided to check out Inspire for himself after seeing how well it worked for his daughter.

Josh also struggled with severe OSA and couldn’t tolerate CPAP. He qualified for Inspire and was implanted just six months after Auden.

He now only has two episodes or less an hour while he sleeps, and he can share a special bond with his daughter.

"She knows I have a machine like hers, and I have had to get a little label maker to draw my name on the back (of the Inspire Sleep remote), so we know," Josh said.

Spreading news about Auden’s experience to educate others about Down syndrome, sleep apnea and Inspire therapy is another one Josh’s goals now as the board chair for the Down syndrome Association of Atlanta.

He wants to help educate other families like his and let them know other options exist.