Burn Relief Through HBOT

Would you run into a burning building when every instinct and impulse firing in your brain is telling you something else? There are many times that people are presented with this seemingly unanswerable question… a conflict between what we can possibly save and what we are risking to lose.

Sunday, March 29th is a day that Clayton and his family will never forget. Clayton noticed smoke coming from the barn that housed dairy goats his daughters were raising for their 4H projects. Upon seeing the smoke, he ran to the barn to investigate. Unfortunately, when he opened the barn door, the rush of air caused the smoldering straw to ignite.

Despite the potential danger, Clayton ran into the burning barn multiple times in an attempt to save as many of the goats as possible. He was able to save three baby and two adult goats before deciding it was too dangerous to continue going back into the barn. Unfortunately, other than the five goats he was able to save, the barn, the remaining goats and all of its contents were a complete loss.

When the paramedics arrived on the scene, they determined that Clayton was in urgent need of medical attention. Because he had inhaled smoke and breathed in the heat of the fire, the paramedics proceeded to sedate and intubate him for fear that the damage to his trachea and lungs would cause severe swelling and restrict his breathing, causing his airway to fail. They also determined that he had sustained numerous 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his face, neck, head, fingers, hands and right knee. Life Flight was called to the scene and Clayton was rushed to the hospital.

The burns were so severe that Clayton was unable to perform any daily activities or care for himself. His wife became his caregiver following his return home from the hospital. Twice a day, the burns required scraping, cleaning and dressing changes to avoid contracting any infections. The injuries were extremely painful and required special compression garments.

Fortunately, Clayton was able to begin hyperbaric treatments at Sara’s Garden immediately following his release from the hospital. Initially, the treatments were very painful and Clayton questioned whether he would be able to do a full series of treatments. The severity of his burns made him extremely sensitive to temperature changes and heat intolerance. Being in the chamber for extended periods of time was difficult for him to tolerate. Clayton was very thankful at how much effort the staff made to help him relieve his pain and discomfort by packing him with ice bags to cool him down.

Within several weeks of treatment, new skin growth began to appear. The doctors at the burn clinic would comment about how quickly Clayton was healing and remark that he was progressing much more rapidly than they would have anticipated. They were thrilled that Clayton was displaying an accelerated healing process, had a reduction in noticeable scar tissue, and was seeing a quicker return to more normal skin pigment.

Clayton often hears comments from people who saw him at my worst right after the accident. They marvel at how well his healing went. When he tells his story and explains his burns and everything he went through, many people say that his scars and burns are not very noticeable and that if he hadn’t said anything they would not have even noticed.

Clayton and his family are extremely thankful for all the prayers and support they received following his accident. They are eternally grateful that their community of friends and church stepped up to assist with the costs of treatment. They know that God works things out according to his plan and believe he used the great staff and facility of Sara’s Garden to provide the healing he so desperately needed during that time. They know it would be impossible to thank everyone who played a role in providing care and support to their family during that time.

Thanks to the healing power of the great physician, Jesus Christ and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden, Clayton has his life back. No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

It’s Never Too Late for HBOT

Children reach developmental milestones at their own pace. Minor, temporary delays are typically no cause for alarm. However, an ongoing delay or multiple delays in reaching milestones could be a sign that something more serious is going on and there may be challenges later in life. Developmental delays may be caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, problems with pregnancy, and premature birth. Unfortunately, the cause of the delay isn’t always known.

Parents of children with autism often report difficulties or delays in their child’s early development prior to two years of age, yet diagnosis is often not made until a child is about four years of age or older. Why? Placement in early intervention programs before four years of age is thought to improve outcomes for children with autism and helps parents understand their child’s needs. Those children who receive a diagnosis of autism after four years of age may be missing crucial opportunities for early intervention.

Tommy’s family knew that something was going on with his development as an infant. They noticed he wasn’t reaching his developmental milestones, such as sitting up and walking, like his older brothers and peers did. Tommy’s pediatrician wasn’t concerned with his delays and wanted to wait to see if it was something he would grow out of. Thankfully Tommy’s parents weren’t willing to wait. They took Tommy to their county’s special education department for evaluation. Testing showed that Tommy had a brain injury which was causing his developmental delays. Because it was discovered early, Tommy was able to receive special education services and therapies throughout his toddler and preschool years. These early interventions played a vital role in helping him reach physical and educational milestones.

Despite this new found success, Tommy was still behind and facing significant social struggles. He had trouble communicating and interacting with others, would avoid trying new activities and would get very upset when his family life wasn’t kept on a schedule. He would overreact when something bad happened, such as not doing well in school, getting in trouble at home or when a sporting event didn’t go the way he wanted. It would take him a long time (sometimes hours) to let go of the negative feelings and be able to interact with his family and friends. It was disrupting his daily life. Any little thing would cause him to “retreat” into himself. As a parent, it was difficult to watch. His family was so proud that he was involved in activities, but heartbroken to see him not able to enjoy the positive experiences.

When Tommy was in middle school, he was diagnosed with autism. He was able to receive therapy that helped him understand his anxiety and taught him ways to handle his emotions. Unfortunately, the therapy didn’t prevent his negative reactions from occurring. By the time Tommy was in high school, he was still having trouble applying these techniques and continued to struggle with daily life experiences. His family wanted to help him prevent these negative feelings, rather than just react to them.

Tommy’s family discovered Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and learned how it can be effective in treating individuals with neurological conditions and brain injuries. They wondered if HBOT could help both the physical and emotional symptoms that Tommy was struggling with. Their search for potential treatment centers led them to Sara’s Garden. They loved the caring atmosphere and knew it was a place that put the clients’ needs first. After a lot of prayer and talking with their entire family, they decided to bring Tommy for treatments when he was off school in the summer.

After only the first week, they noticed Tommy’s outlook and demeanor was improving. He was more positive and was openly talking to people about the treatments he was receiving. The improvement continued after treatments and throughout the rest of the summer. He was more willing to try new things, even activities that were physically challenging. He re-learned how to ride a bike and went canoeing in the months after his treatments. He also felt really positive about himself after both of these experiences, whereas before, he would have remained anxious even after doing something new. Overall, Tommy is now much more relaxed and confident. He is interacting more with people outside of his family, which is something he previously struggled with. He recently went to visit a college that he is interested in attending where he willingly talked to various people and was excited to learn about what the school has to offer.

His family (including his older brothers) have really noticed an improvement in his anxiety level. He still gets upset or disappointed when something negative happens, but now, they are able to talk him through the situation and within a few minutes he is able to move on. Even Tommy’s neurologist and chiropractor noticed improvement in his balance, coordination and flexibility following HBOT treatments!

Tommy’s mom stated, “We came to Sara’s Garden concerned about Tommy’s future. Now, we feel he can cope with the stresses of life. He is willing to learn and try new things and he is more comfortable interacting with the people and world around him. The staff at Sara’s Garden are amazing, caring people and made the experience a positive one for Tommy and for our family. Going every day for 4 weeks was a big commitment, but we were always welcomed with a friendly face and Tommy enjoyed the time he spent and the people he met. I’m sure this positive atmosphere enhanced his treatment process!”

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Never Give Up… Never Give In

It is so inspiring to see how resilient children can be in overcoming their disabilities. When confronted with the fallout of childhood disabilities, children are somehow able to adapt and overcome despite seemingly insurmountable odds against them. A growing body of evidence points to what might seem like a simple reason: these children have committed families and support systems dedicated to their growth and success. Finley is no exception.

Finley was born with a hole in her skull and missing her Corpus Collosum, the area in the center of the brain that connects the left and right sides allowing faor communication between both hemispheres. She was diagnosed with hydrocephalus when excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected in her brain’s ventricles, negatively impacting her optic nerve and caused her to begin experiencing seizures. Over the years, she has had multiple revisions of her ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt in order to relieve the pressure on her brain caused by the fluid accumulation. Unfortunately, due to the multiple skull expansion surgeries, Finley developed a Chiari malformation, a structural defect in the base of her skull and cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance.

Finley had 14 surgeries in the first 4 years of her life, more than most people will experience in a lifetime. Unfortunately, she continued to experience additional seizures and a regression in her speech and social skills despite the surgeries she underwent. Despite everyone’s best efforts, Finley continues to have significant developmental delays, is non-verbal, cannot walk well, does not eat consistently and has sensory processing issues such as seeking out her environment using her mouth.

Her parents were vigilant in seeking out crucial therapies for Finley from the time she was born. A caring and generous support network has been right there beside them every step of the way. They are constantly looking for additional interventions that could aid Finley in moving forward and provide her with the best chance at the most independent future possible. As an adult, Finley’s cousin received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in Florida with great success. After researching their options and reading family testimonials they decided to visit Sara’s Garden for a tour. While here, they received the encouragement they needed to try HBOT for themselves with Finley. As always, their amazing network of family and friends came alongside the family to ensure they had the means to afford her treatments.

During their first round of treatments they noticed an increase in Finley’s appetite and a reduction in some of her sensory behaviors such as mouthing toys and chewing on her clothes. She even allowed her mother to brush her hair without a fight. Her attention and focus increased as she started responding to her name when called. She began saying more words and showed improved sequencing, sorting and memory skills when playing with blocks each day during her breaks. They even noticed improvement in her social and emotional skills as she displayed an increase in affection, kissing and hugging her mom without prompting, and showed an increased ability to interact with peers.

Finley’s family was thrilled when she began exploring and trying new toys that she had never interacted with in the past, exhibiting signs of improved motor skills resulting in functional and appropriate play! When she returned home following her initial round of treatments, her therapists were excited to see that her balance and coordination had improved and that she was much more aware of her surroundings since the last time they had seen her.

Finley’s improvements weren’t lost on her school either. She can now pull herself up the steps of her bus and her teachers are letting her walk to and from the bus as her balance is better that it was before. She began stacking blocks and stringing beads, which has been an unmet goal on her IEP since she started preschool over 2 years ago! She has started using a straw and a spoon with increased confidence and can now drink from a water bottle without sticking her tongue in the opening.

Her family was so thrilled at the results they saw from Finley’s first 40 treatments that they decided to come back again for a second round. Early on, they were thrilled to experience a vocabulary explosion! Finley was talking up a storm – not just repeating – but using words more functionally without prompting! Finley said thank you, good morning, goodbye, see you later and more all in appropriate social situations. Finley showed more improved balance and coordination when navigating different slopes and grades. Upon returning home after her second round of treatments, her therapists were again amazed at her improved focus on tasks and less mouthing of items that has allowed for more functional expression during therapy sessions.

Finley completed two rounds consisting of 40 treatments each time within 3 months and noticed enormous benefits. The opportunity for hope and healing that was available for Finley at Sara’s Garden has made an impact on not just Finley or her family, but for their community as well. Sharing their daughter’s story has been something they have done before she was even born. They are thankful to now include Sara’s Garden in Finley’s continued story and look forward to returning for more treatments in the future!

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Hope and Healing: One Woman’s Story

Active. Dedicated. Ambitious. Engaged. Successful… All fitting words to describe Barb’s professional career, home life and church ministry. For over 40 years, Barb enjoyed balancing a challenging corporate sales schedule together with fulfilling family time and volunteer work. Ultimately, the stress from her work demands and environmental exposure to chemicals throughout her career took its toll on her health and she was hospitalized multiple times for congestive heart failure, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer.

Even after retiring in 2008, Barb continued to stay active in her church and with her grandchildren, volunteering to help with numerous events and activities. All that changed on Christmas Eve of 2018 when Barb suffered a stroke. Unfortunately, Barb mistook the symptoms of her stroke for chemical toxicity as she had been varnishing furniture and thought she had simply inhaled too many fumes. After nearly a week, a friend came to visit and after talking with Barb, immediately recognized her symptoms as that of a stroke and immediately took her to the hospital.

While at the hospital, she learned about the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for stroke survivors. Her doctor informed her that because HBOT was not an insurance reimbursable condition for the treatment of stroke, she should contact Sara’s Garden. Friends and neighbors agreed that Barb should try HBOT as they had heard and seen great things from the treatments in their own lives. It was from her hospital bed, that Barb first reached out to Sara’s Garden for help.

Following her stroke, Barb could not speak in good, clear sentences. Her thought patterns were erratic and her sequencing was extremely jumbled. She was told that she didn’t make a whole lot of sense when speaking to others. Additionally, she was very tired, lacked ambition and could hardly use the right side of her body or turn over in bed. She was dizzy and unbalanced and had to use a walker at all times to get around. She could not text on her phone, type on a computer or open jars or packaging of any kind. For a woman who had been successful and independent her entire life, it was extremely frustrating for Barb to be so limited in just about everything she tried to do.

It was not long after starting HBOT treatments that Barb started noticing benefits… not huge leaps, but slow and gradual improvements in her speech, memory, cognitive thinking and overall mental capacity. Her attention span increased and her vision improved. Barb’s thought processing became clearer as did her ability to reason and make sense. The fears that had been experiencing left her and she regained her confidence to tackle jobs and tasks around the house. While she still had some difficulties with her mobility, she became much more stable on her feet.

Her friends and family were thrilled to see Barb asking like her old self again. Her favorite comment that she received from a friend was when they said, “I think you are smarter now than before you went to Sara’s Garden.” Barb is now back at church regularly and even did all the craft teaching for their Vacation Bible School. Her family is happy that she is active again and back to doing more around the house. She is able to do laundry, yard work and shopping. Cooking can still be challenging at times but compared to before it has greatly improved. Most importantly, Barb is once again able to babysit her granddaughters and meet all of their needs. According to Barb, her life has done a complete turnaround over the past six months.

Barb can not say enough about her time at Sara’s Garden and the benefits she received from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. She laughs that she may sound like a broken record to her friends because she talks about HBOT everywhere she goes and with everyone she meets. HBOT has given her a new lease on life as she is once again able to reason and physically able do virtually everything she could do before her stroke.

According to Barb, “It is because of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy that I am where I am today. The love of God and people shines in the face of every caregiver, teacher and administrator at Sara’s Garden. Just being in the presence of the staff is uplifting and beneficial. I have observed more positive and encouraging behaviors toward children and people of needs at Sara’s Garden than any place else on earth! It truly is a labor of love from God!”

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Some Heroes Come in Small Packages

Preparing to move your family across the country because of a new job opportunity can be a very stressful time. Doing so while your newborn son, delivered after only 24 weeks, is fighting for his life in the NICU adds a whole new level of stress to the situation.

After a seemingly textbook pregnancy, Seryna went into labor at 22 weeks as her husband was in the process of relocating their family from California to Ohio. She was rushed to the hospital where they were told that her son, Caleb, had very little chance of surviving. They were strongly urged to abort the pregnancy as their son was not considered viable.

Despite having what appeared to be insurmountable odds stacked against him, Caleb held on in the womb for another two weeks. At first, it appeared that he was doing very well for a preemie born so early. Then one night, Randy and Seryna received devastating news that Caleb had contracted a deadly virus and was in renal failure. The doctors explained that they had done everything they possibly could to save Caleb’s life. They were told that there was nothing left to try.

Refusing to give up hope, they had Caleb transferred to the highest-level trauma center in California. As the doctors treated Caleb for the infection that was causing his kidneys to fail, they discovered that his left lung had completely collapsed and his right lung was beginning to disintegrate due to the added stress. They were again cautioned that Caleb’s chances for survival were extremely low. If by some chance he did manage to survive, they were told that the trauma he had endured would leave him neurologically devastated.

Randy and Seryna refused to give up hope. They were committed praying and advocating for Caleb as long as he continued to fight… and fight he did. Caleb’s lung miraculously reopened on its own without the need for surgery. Just as Caleb began to stabilize, Randy had to make the move to Ohio on his own to start his new job, leaving Seryna to watch over Caleb and oversee the final sale of their home.

After nearly seven months in the hospital in California, Caleb and Seryna were Angel Flighted to Toledo, Ohio where Caleb spent yet another four months in pediatric intensive care before receiving the long-awaited release to go home. While it was a tremendous blessing to finally be able to take Caleb home, the road ahead of Caleb was still long and full of many challenges. Losing the amazing team of nurses, doctors, therapists, and specialists was overwhelming. They had to quickly learn how to work with his ventilator, air concentrator, suction machine and pulse oximeter in addition to the around the clock trach changes, feeding tubes and medications.

Over the next few years, Caleb continued his heroic battle to defy the doctors’ original prognosis for his development and quality of life. He grew bigger and stronger and fought through all of the scary moments involving calls to 911 and hospital visits. Randy and Seryna never stopped researching therapies and interventions that would provide Caleb with the best chance of overcoming the challenges before him. Their journey ultimately led them to Sara’s Garden. They were encouraged to learn about the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and believed this treatment could be crucial for Caleb’s healing and development.

Seryna was thrilled to notice that throughout Caleb’s hyperbaric treatments, he began developing improved language, eye contact and focus. He started asking for things when he wanted them. His spontaneous language, which had been limited to only a few single words, increased dramatically and began expanding into phrases. Seryna stated that “It’s like he finally launched and everything he has been working on his entire life is now connecting and making sense to him.”

Since completing hyperbaric treatments, Caleb’s teachers also noticed significant changes in him. He began responding appropriately to needs and questions with no prompting or scripting. He started trying to solve problems on his own and no longer needed hand over hand correction in order to follow directions from the teachers. Additionally, his attention span for playing games, exploring toys and working on tasks went from only 1-2 minutes to over 20 minutes. According to the LaDues, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden has provided them with a “whole new level of hope.”

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Renewed Dreams Grow in the Garden

July 10, 2018
4:07 am
Success Stories: ABA, Success Stories: HBOT, Success Stories: NHA

For some parents, learning that their child has Autism comes with a sense of sadness and worry as their fears are finally confirmed. Others experience relief, thankful that they have an explanation after years of doubt and questioning regarding their child’s differences and difficulties. For many others, receiving a diagnosis of Autism comes as a complete and total shock.

Chase’s parents experienced a mixture of all three reactions. As Chase grew, his family noticed that he seemed to play differently than his older brother and sister. He preferred to play alone. Initially, they simply chalked this up to Chase being independent. He liked trains and would place them in a straight line, but they gave it very little thought because that’s just what you do with trains. However, as time went on, they noticed he would do the same thing with refrigerator magnets, blocks and cars.

Something just seemed to be different about Chase, especially when compared to other children his own age. He tended to become overly focused on certain objects, rarely made eye contact and failed to engage in typical toddler babbling. His parents became more concerned as time went on. Chase seemed to get angry or had emotional outbursts, especially when he was placed in new or overly stimulating environments.

When Chase was two years old, a family member with an autistic child suggested that they should have him tested. Chase’s parents took him to two different doctors who both diagnosed him with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Concern… relief… shock. Having Autism wasn’t part of the dream when they started a family. At times, they felt overwhelmed, attempting to process all of the information being thrown at them all while trying to make the right decisions for their son.

Unfortunately, this is the reality for many families today. According to the CDC, about 1 percent of the world population has Autism Spectrum Disorder. More than 3.5 million Americans live with ASD. The prevalence of Autism in the United States has increased dramatically since the year 2000, rising from 1 in 150 children to 1 in 59 children.

Ultimately, Chase’s path led his family to Sara’s Garden and New Horizons Academy for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Autism Intervention services. They had heard of how these life-changing services had benefited other children with Autism and wanted to do whatever they could for their son.

Following his first found of 40 HBOT treatments, Chase’s parents noticed that he was becoming more aware of his surroundings. He began babbling for the first time in his life. He started making eye contact and began expressing an interest in spending time with other people. His parents were so thrilled with his progress that they had him complete a second round of treatments where he continued to build on the successes and growth he had received during his first round.

The teachers and paraprofessionals who worked with Chase at New Horizons Academy noticed drastic changes begin to take place as they provided Autism Intervention services. He became so much less frustrated as his words began emerging and he was able to express himself and be understood by others. His social interaction also grew dramatically as he began to play and interact with his peers. Chase was making great gains and meeting milestones that his parents had previously feared might never be achieved.

Before coming to Sara’s Garden, Chase’s parents had many questions about their son’s future. Thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Autism Intervention services at Sara’s Garden, Chase’s family has been given a newfound hope and state that they are “grateful beyond words for what they’ve done, and continue to do, for our Chase”. They can now see their son’s emerging potential and have renewed dreams for his future.

Hope for a child to emerge into the responsible adults we as parents pray for. There is hope for those who were told they would not learn, or walk, or talk. That hope, is rekindled through the work that is happening at Sara’s Garden and New Horizons Academy. The loving, caring and true compassion that is shown to each and every client, no matter how difficult their condition, disability, or behavior might be, is where the success story starts. Come join us and you’ll see what is possible for a child who has been labeled as “different”.

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

Concussions: The Invisible Injury

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a live sporting event. Players, coaches and fans experience excitement as the drama of the game unfolds before them. Every sense is intensified as athletes engage in the throes of competition.

As the saying goes, “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” When an athlete suffers a serious injury, everyone holds their collective breath as trainers and medical personnel rush in and attend to the athlete. Parents worry about the long road to recovery that may lay before their son or daughter. Players worry about the valuable practices and crucial games that could be lost.

What about injuries that don’t appear serious, such as a concussion? The brain is such a complicated organ. A shot to the head may make one person a little dizzy but otherwise no worse for wear; whereas that same blow could send someone else to the sidelines and put them out of commission for weeks. Medical professionals describe concussions as “mild” traumatic brain injuries because they are typically not life-threatening and most people recover from them quickly. However, for some, the long-term effects of a concussion can be very serious and debilitating.

Concussions are commonly caused by automobile accidents, falls and stumbles, and even military service. However, aside from car accidents, playing sports is the next leading cause of these brain injuries in kids. While football players are most at risk, concussions are becoming more and more common among soccer players… and not just because of headers. In fact, according to a recent study, most concussions among soccer players were caused by player-to-player contact.

That is exactly what happened to Mikayla while playing indoor soccer in January, 2016. She suffered a concussion after being checked face first into the acrylic dasher boards by a boy twice her size. From that moment on, Mikayla’s life changed. She was told to rest for a few days, and all would return to normal. Unfortunately, the days quickly turned into months. Mikayla was in and out of various doctors’ offices with debilitating migraines, nightly insomnia and terrible fatigue.

The migraines she experienced on a daily basis left her unable to focus or concentrate in school. After time, she lost all motivation and energy to do anything at all. Her sleep patterns were also affected and she found herself lying awake many nights unable to fall asleep. As time went on, these feelings and symptoms worsened.

Mikayla became a recluse, isolating herself from others. She was unwilling to perform daily activities at all. She started to lose friends because she never felt good enough to do anything with them and when she did, she was not pleasant to be around. They didn’t understand. She looked the same, but she felt completely different. It was so frustrating for Mikayla to be unable to participate in activities she had been doing her whole life… she couldn’t play soccer, attend concerts or even go to school dances. Mikayla suffered extreme anxiety, feeling that she was becoming a burden to her family. She eventually lost all hope in recovery, her personality changed and severe depression set in.

Fortunately, Mikayla’s story doesn’t end there. Her family learned about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and its success in treating concussions. At first, Mikayla refused to undergo treatments as she didn’t want to get her hopes up only to be disappointed yet again. Thankfully, her parents were persistent and convinced her that she had nothing to lose by trying. Surprisingly, she began experiencing relief almost immediately.

Very early into treatments she began noticing a significant decrease in the severity of her headaches. She went from having daily migraines to having only a couple a week. She also noticed that her memory was improving and found it much easier to concentrate and do her schoolwork. As her headaches became much less intense, she began communicating with people again. Daily activities became much easier and she was once again able to start participating in her life.

Since completing 13 HBOT treatments at Sara’s Garden, Mikayla feels more like herself again. She is now living life without the constant pain of horrible migraines in a state of hopeless depression. She is able to focus again has a much more positive and motivated outlook on life. She now feels good enough to attend events and is even going to her senior prom this year.

Mikayla never dreamed that something as seemingly harmless as a concussion would result in profound physical, emotional and psychological trauma that would ultimately plague nearly two years of her high school life. For anyone considering HBOT and wavering about whether or not to go through the process of receiving treatments, Mikayla’s advice is “Do it and don’t lose hope!”

Mikayla knows what it’s like to have lost hope and feel like you will never feel better again. Thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden, she believes she has been given her life back. For Mikayla, HBOT has been her light at the end of the tunnel and she is so grateful to have been given this opportunity.

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Life Changing, Not Life Ending

Over the years, we all experience “life changing” events; some good, some bad. How we choose to respond to these events can help to shape and define us. For Kim, one of her more profound life changing events occurred in 1991 when, at the age of 20, she became a quadriplegic due to injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

Kim did not allow this disability to stop her. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work, Kim dedicated her life to helping others. For years she served families working as a mental health counselor. Kim never imagined that something as seemingly harmless as a wound could alter her life’s work in a way that even paralysis never could.

As a quadriplegic, one of the first things you are taught in rehab is how important it is to take care of your skin. Because you lack sensation, you don’t know when you need to adjust the way you are sitting or lying down. If you don’t take care of your skin, pressure sores can occur. Sores can be very dangerous for many reasons. The main reason is potential infection. If not properly cared for, it is even possible to die from pressure sores.

In December 2014, Kim’s mom noticed a red mark on her tail bone. Kim was not aware that her wheelchair’s cushion was not properly inflated which caused a sore to develop. They started watching it right away but it was too late. Less than a week later, Kim was admitted to the hospital because the wound became infected. Kim’s health became critical and she was left fighting for her life when the wound became septic. Doctors performed several surgeries to remove the infected tissue.

When she was finally discharged from the hospital, she went home with a wound VAC connected to her and a PICC line in her arm. It took several months to regain her health and strength while receiving treatments and antibiotics to fight the infection and treat the wound. Unfortunately, the wound VAC didn’t seem to be helping. For the next 15 months Kim and her medical team battled the infection in the wound, always seeming to take one step forward and another step back. Ultimately, Kim was forced resign from her job in order to focus on wound treatment, pressure relief, and infection prevention.

After nearly a year and a half of little to no progress, doctors became concerned that there could be a deeper infection in the bone that was preventing the wound from healing. Kim underwent a number of MRIs in hopes of finding answers. While the MRIs did not find any further infection, they did uncover something even more concerning. In May 2016, a large mass was discovered in Kim’s lower intestine. Subsequent tests confirmed the mass to be a malignant colon cancer.

At this point, Kim’s wound treatment went on the back burner and the focus became treating her cancer. In August 2016, Kim underwent surgery to have the mass removed and then began six grueling months of chemotherapy pills. Due to chemotherapy, her wound became even more vulnerable to infection and there was a huge risk that it could progress even further. Thankfully, while the wound did not heal, it did not get any worse during this time.

After being declared cancer free in February 2017, the priority and focus were once again directed back to healing Kim’s wound. Doctors once again attempted a wound VAC for four weeks. Just as before, there was no progress in healing the wound. She was informed that she may need to undergo a more involved surgery in order to heal the wound. Kim was ready for something new.

Kim told her doctor that she would like to receive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) since nothing else had worked in over two years. Her doctor was very open to the idea and referred her to a hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, insurance ruled that HBOT treatment for Kim was non-reimbursable, leading her to Sara’s Garden.

She received a round of 40 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatments at Sara’s Garden. After only one week of treatments, the wound had decreased by 1 cm in all directions (inwards from every side and upwards from the depth of the wound.) Kim’s doctors, nurses and mother were amazed at how well her wound responded to the oxygen treatments. One of her nurses said she had never seen a wound close up so fast in only on week’s time. Her surgeon even commented that for being a wound, it was one of the healthiest looking wounds he had ever seen. He felt that it was no longer necessary to surgically repair the wound and that she should continue to receive HBOT and allow the wound to heal itself. Kim was astonished that something as simple as oxygen and pressure could heal the way it does.

Through all the challenges that Kim has faced, she has refused to allow these “life changing” events to become “life ending” ones. She has faced each and every challenge with a fantastic attitude and sense of purpose. Kim has said that she is definitely a believer in HBOT and can’t wait to see what additional oxygen treatments will continue to do for her and help her to accomplish next.

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Oxygen In. Pain & Surgery Out.

As a high school senior, Val was in a car accident during the winter of 1992. Because she had no visible injuries at the scene, she refused going to the hospital. Unfortunately, the effects of the accident caught up with her quickly and kept her out of school for an entire week as she was unable to sit for long periods of time without severe back and neck pain. Thinking she was just sore, Val never went to see a doctor to get checked out and diagnosed for any possible complications caused by the accident.

After graduating college, Val spent 15 years working as a cosmetologist. Spending long hours on her feet day after day led to severe back pain once again. In 2012, after a busier than usual Christmas season at the salon, Val’s back pain became so intense that she could barely walk for two days. She could shuffle her feet, but couldn’t take steps without excruciating pain in her lower back.

At this point, Val went to see a chiropractor in hopes of determining what could be causing such intense pain. X-rays and tests performed by the chiropractor showed that Val had a host of problems with her back. She had several bone spurs in her lower back, middle back and neck. She also had a severe curve in her neck which suggested that at some point in her life, she had, in fact, experienced whiplash. The biggest problem was that Val had a tremendous amount of inflammation in her lower back as well as a spinal disk that was beginning to degenerate.

The spinal discs in the body act as a strong elastic pivot for each joint segment of the spine, providing stability and allowing a relatively wide range of motion in all directions in the lower back and neck. When a disc begins to degenerate, and lose its strength and pliability, it can cause a range of painful and potentially debilitating symptoms like Val was experiencing.

With the chiropractor’s x-rays and diagnosis in hand, Val went to see her primary care physician to get her opinion. She agreed with the chiropractor’s diagnosis. Both the chiropractor and physician told Val that if she didn’t make some changes in her life, she would be looking at back surgery sooner than later in life. Wanting to avoid back surgery if at all possible, Val decided to do anything she could to avoid it. She started by cutting back her hours at the salon and then began looking into the possibility of finding a different job where she wouldn’t be on her feet as much.

After several appointments with her chiropractor she asked if he had ever heard of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. He told her that he had heard of it but admitted that he didn’t know much about it. Val explained to him the many benefits of HBOT treatments, including its ability to reduce inflammation and swelling. He said that from what he knew about it, it couldn’t hurt and encouraged her to go ahead and give it a try.

Val made the decision to begin daily HBOT treatments in the hopes that it would, at the very least, relieve enough pain to allow her to function. On her first day of treatment, Val was shocked to realize that as soon as the chamber was pressurized, she was no longer pain! She almost cried! It was such a relief to experience even a short break from the constant pain. When that first treatment was over and the chamber was depressurized, she could feel the pain begin to return. However, the relief from the pain she felt during that treatment gave her hope for a life free from back pain.

After five HBOT treatments, Val had an appointment with her chiropractor. She didn’t tell him that she had started treatments because she wanted to see if he noticed a difference. As he was working on her lower back he asked her if she had started hyperbaric treatments. She asked him to tell her why he was asking and then she would answer his question. He informed her that the inflammation he felt in her lower back was at least half of what it had been on her previous appointment. She then informed him that yes, she had just completed her first five treatments. He told her, “It’s working. Keep going!”

By the time Val completed a round of 40 HBOT treatments, she was experiencing virtually no pain. The chiropractor told her that the inflammation in her back was completely gone. She was able to begin walking, jogging and exercising again. She was even able to complete a half marathon in October 2015.

In 2016, Val got a followup x-ray of her lower back which showed no disk degeneration but did show Sacroiliitis (an inflammation of the sacroiliac joints where the lower spine and pelvis connect). Her doctor prescribed physical therapy. Val also decided to do additional HBOT treatments to help reduce the inflammation. With physical therapy and HBOT treatments, Val gained relief from Sacroilitiis. She is now able to maintain her back health with regular chiropractic treatments, stretching, and exercise. Most importantly, Val was able to avoid having a dreaded back surgery.

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

PTSD Goes Far Beyond the Battlefield

When someone suffers a violent or horrifying experience, the trauma can often follow them around for years. From accident victims to soldiers, countless people have found themselves haunted by traumatic life-changing experiences. Whether one simply witnesses or is directly involved with the event, the experience can have profound psychological effects on the individual.

While car crashes, shootings, floods, fires or assaults can happen to anyone at any time, the rate of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following a brain injury is much higher in veterans than civilians, most likely because they often serve multiple tours and encounter prolonged exposure to intense combat.

Gordon joined the Army in February 2000, serving nearly 14 years as an infantryman. During his time in the service Gordon spent 3 tours, spanning over 35 months, in Afghanistan as a Staff Sergeant 1st Class in the Third Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. His platoon’s missions, heroics, struggles and losses were featured in the New York Times Bestseller, Outlaw Platoon.

During one such mission, Gordon’s Humvee was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade as his platoon guarded its forward operating base. Gordon crawled into the injured gunner’s hatch, taking over the M2 .50 caliber machine gun and returned fire throughout the ensuing six-hour battle, stopping the advance of enemy forces. He was hit by shrapnel in his right arm and left foot

Because of the numerous firefights and intense explosions that Gordon experienced, he began suffering painful and concerning symptoms such as headaches, avoidance, insomnia, depression, isolation and back pain. For soldiers like Gordon, these emotional, physical and behavioral changes can begin to have devastating effects on their interpersonal life.

Ultimately, Gordon was medically retired from the Army in 2014 due to the numerous injuries he sustained overseas. He earned both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his meritorious service and sacrifice. It didn’t take long to realize that transitioning back to civilian life was going to be harder than expected. Gordon, like many other soldiers returning home from service, continued to fight a battle on multiple fronts, coping with the damaging effects of the brain injuries and associated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder he suffered from combat-related blasts. The trauma from what he had seen and experienced began to take its toll on his personal, family and work life.

If left untreated, PTSD can, and often does, spiral into other more serious problems such as panic disorders, substance abuse, depression, and suicidal feelings. Sadly, many of our veterans are not getting access to the treatments they need to heal the actual brain injury. Instead, their symptoms are simply being masked with prescription medications while the source of the problem is left untreated. The unfortunate result is that our veterans end up on countless medications for depression, anxiety, concentration, sleeplessness and pain. Treatments are available to treat the brain injury but they are not being prescribed, because they are considered “off-label” and therefore not covered by insurance in the United States.

Thankfully for Gordon, his family helped him recognize that the issues he was facing were very serious and found help for him in the form of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Gordon, while hesitant and cautious, was willing to try anything if it meant finding relief from the migraines that were consuming him. The twelve prescription medications he was taking were still ineffective in helping him escape the pain.

After beginning HBOT, Gordon was both thrilled and relieved to discover that the debilitating headaches that had controlled his life for so long were beginning to subside. He also began to see recognizable improvements in other areas of his life as well. The pain in his back began to abate and he began sleeping restfully through the night, something he had not experienced in years. By the end of his treatments, Gordon’s headaches were nearly gone. He was able to reduce the need for his prescriptions to the point where he was only taking two medications.

Before receiving HBOT, Gordon could not spend time in crowds or large groups. It was too overwhelming for him and he felt as if he were in a constant high alert state, his combat instincts lurking just below the surface. The Gordon that others had known before his time in the service, was no longer compatible with who he was now. He felt awkward around other people and was not communicative. He was depressed and preferred to be alone but didn’t know why.

HBOT changed all that. Gordon can now comfortably spend time in groups and even goes up to people to initiate conversations. His family loves that he finally has his sense of humor back. He actually laughs again. He is no longer on edge all the time, living with a heightened sense of anxiety. Afghanistan had become a dividing line in Gordon’s life. Thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden, Gordon has been able to surge past it and rebuild much of what had been lost. He claims that he has finally been able to get his life back.

Awareness of TBI and PTSD has increased greatly in recent years. However, it seems like the more we learn about these devastating conditions, the more there is to know. Our prayer is that, in time, awareness of the positive effects HBOT can have for these warriors suffering from TBI and PTSD will increase as well, so that more of America’s heroes will have access to this life-changing treatment.

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.