Miracles For Makayla

Makayla was born a happy, healthy, little girl. Before, during and after birth there were no complications. Her family had no concerns or fears that Makayla’s life was to be anything but typical. However, when she was four months old, the unthinkable happened. Makayla started having seizures. Doctors ordered an MRI but couldn’t find an explanation for the seizures so she was simply put on medication in hopes of controlling the seizure activity.

One month later Makayla experienced a Grade 4 bilateral bleed that resulted in severe damage to her brain and caused her to slip into a coma. Doctors informed her family that Makayla would not survive the trauma of the brain bleed. They were told that even if, by some miracle, she was to recover, Makayla would live in a vegetative state for the rest of her life.

Thankfully, Makayla’s family got their miracle as she did come out of the coma. However, their elation was short lived as doctors informed them that Makayla would never be able to eat or breathe on her own. They went on to say that she would never be able to show emotion, speak, or even have the ability to make noise. Because of the extent of the brain damage they said that she would also be incapable of learning. She was later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Intractable Epilepsy, Cortical Visual Impairment and Hydrocephalus.

The brain injury caused her to have weakness and decreased control of the left side of her body as well as severe developmental, physical, oral, vision and speech delays. Makayla endured countless scans, blood tests and genetic tests but doctors were never able to determine any cause for the brain bleed. They could not find any vascular malformation or sign of anything that might have triggered the bleed.

Since that time, doctors have tried over 10 different seizure medications in hopes of controlling Makayla’s seizures. Each medication caused her to be groggy and slowed her development. As a last resort, she was placed on a very strict Ketogenic diet to try and control seizures. Nothing worked.

Makayla’s seizures had become a daily part of her family’s lives. Her family would refrain from going out much or doing anything that could possibly overstimulate Makayla as over-stimulation seemed to lead to more seizures. On her best days, Makayla would have only 2-3 seizures a day, each lasting anywhere from 20 seconds to 4 minutes. On her worst days, Makayla would suffer a seizure every five minutes all day long. One week before Makayla and her mom left home to come to Sara’s Garden, Makayla had her longest seizure to date, a 30 minute seizure which resulted in another cerebral hemorrhage.

When Makayla’s family began researching HBOT and CE at Sara’s Garden they talked to all of her doctors and specialists in hopes of receiving positive feedback. Most didn’t know enough about either process to even offer an opinion. Unfortunately some were not on board and strongly discouraged them from doing HBOT. One specialist said that because Makayla’s seizures were uncontrolled by medication, doing HBOT could possibly make her seizures worse and more frequent. This was someone that they trusted and highly respected. Going against his advice was one of the hardest decisions they ever had to make. With a lot of prayer and faith, they decided to try.

Makayla’s first HBOT treatment was April 23rd, 2012. Her very last seizure was hours before going into the chamber. A week later, Makayla looked at her mother and held her gaze for over 20 seconds, something she had never done before. Since completing HBOT and CE at Sara’s Garden, Makayla has made huge improvements. Because her brain is no longer constantly seizing, it has time to do what it’s supposed to do: learn and develop. Her vision has improved and she is able to focus more easily. The muscle tone in her neck and core has improved. Prior to coming to Sara’s Garden, Makayla only used her left arm and leg about 20% of the time. She now is using them over 85% of the time. She can hold things in her left hand as well as transfer a toy from one hand to the other or hold her hands together. She has also been experimenting with making many new noises and sounds. She now enjoys activities that would once have overstimulated her and caused more seizures.

Makayla was not expected to live. Yet three years later, she continues to thrive and progress further than all the doctors ever thought possible! Thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Conductive Education at Sara’s Garden, Makayla’s family experienced yet another miracle. She once had the muscle tone of a wet noodle and would spend most of her day coping with the ravaging effects of seizures. She can now hold her head up, sit independently with the assistance of arm splints, walk with assistance, and most importantly… Makayla has been seizure-free since the day she started treatments. Miracles never cease.

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… and Sara’s Garden can help you find it.

NHA Now Enrolling for 2013/14 School Year

NHA Now Enrolling for 2013/14 School Year

New Horizons Academy at Sara’s Garden is presently accepting applications for new student enrollments for the 2013-2014 school year. Parents are encouraged to apply as early as possible as openings are limited.

New Horizons Academy enrolls children age 3 and up with problems that interfere with satisfactory functioning and progress in regular classroom programs or at home. This may include but is not limited to:

  • Attention Deficit Disorders
  • Intellectual disabilities
  • Developmental delays
  • Physical disabilities
  • Vision/hearing impaired
  • Seizure disorders
  • Speech & language disorders
  • Autism/PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorders)

New Horizons Academy is a registered provider of the Autism and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarships and provides IEP-based services in accordance with the guidelines of the Ohio Department of Education. Families may enroll their children via these scholarships or through a partnership agreement with the student’s home school district.

For more information on New Horizons Academy, its eligibility guidelines and enrollment process, please contact Matt via e-mail or phone at 419.335.7272 ext. 201.

To learn more about New Horizons Academy at Sara’s Garden, its curriculum, educational plan and philosophy, please visit our website at http://www.NewHorizonsAcademy.org.

One size does not fit all. Parents deserve to choose the learning environment that suits their child’s unique educational needs. Fortunately, Ohio is one of the few states to offer such opportunities to its families.

2013 Sara’s Garden Poker Run

2013 Sara’s Garden Poker Run

Get ready to ride! The 10th Annual Poker Run to benefit Sara’s Garden is right around the corner! It’s so hard to believe this is our 10th year for the event!

Event Date:Saturday, June 29, 2013
Sign In:8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  Ride begins at 10:00 a.m.
Event Location:The Hope Center at Sara’s Garden220 Lawrence Ave., Wauseon, OH  43567
Rider Cost:$20 per Rider
Passenger Cost:$15 per Passenger (Optional)

Just like last year, we plan on having a photographer out on the course taking action shots of each one of the bikes as they pass by. We hope to provide everyone with a free high resolution action shot of themselves out on the poker run… so slow down and be sure to strike a pose!

If you would like to download a brochure or flyer for this year’s event to print, post and promote click on one of the links below:

  • Poker Run Promotional Flyer – DOWNLOAD

All proceeds from this event will benefit the 2013 Sara’s Garden capital campaign which is seeking to raise funds for the construction of an onsite Jackson’s House. This project is a 1-story, 8-12-bedroom facility for clients and families to stay during their treatment sessions at Sara’s Garden.

Registration Includes:

  • Poker Run entry
  • Coffee & doughnuts
  • Water for the road
  • High res action photograph
  • Lunch buffet
  • Prizes for top hands
  • $20-rider, $15-passenger (Optional)
Time
Schedule of Events
8:30 a.m.
Registration
Detailing Station Opens
Kid Ride-a-Longs
10:00 a.m.
First Bikes Out
Photo Shoot
12:00 p.m.
Lunch Buffet
1:00 p.m.
Awards
Partnership Opportunities:

“Healing” Title Partner – $4,800

  • Includes eight rider or passenger entries, event promotion, title partner signage, company promotion table, lunch presentation speech and program recognition.
  • This level of partnership will provide 40 hours of HBOT treatments or 137 hours of intervention services.

“Help” Event Partner – $1,200

  • Includes four rider or passenger entries, event partner signage and program recognition.
  • This level of partnership will provide 10 hours of HBOT treatments or 34 hours of intervention services.

“Hope” Contest Partner – $720

  • Includes contest partner signage and program recognition.
  • This level of partnership will provide 6 hours of HBOT treatments or 20 hours of intervention services.

“Inspiration” Meal Partner – $360

  • Includes meal partner signage and program recognition.
  • This level of partnership will provide 3 hours of HBOT treatments or 10 hours of intervention services.

“O2” Stop Partner – $110

  • Includes O2 stop sponsor signage and program recognition.
  • This level of partnership will provide 1 hour of HBOT treatments or 3 hours of intervention services.

For additional information regarding corporate partnership or participation in the 10th Annual Sara’s Garden Poker Run please call 419.335.SARA.

Please join us a great day of riding filled with fun, great food, auction items and fabulous prizes. Come spend the day on the open road for a great cause and meet some of the amazing people you are riding to help!