Welcome to the world of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Child with Cerebral Palsy
November 1996 I had my twin boys December 6,1996 at 28 weeks. Peter was 1 pound 15 ounces and J J was 2 pounds 10 ounces.
By two years old, Peter was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. At 2-1/2 years old, Peter was unable to sit unsupported, not crawling and could only say the first syllable of words like uma' for mommy and 'Ba' for Barney. It was at 2-1/2 years old, when we took Peter to Canada for Hyberbaric Oxygen Treatments (HBOT). He completed his first 40 treatments there.
The month following treatment, Peter began talking much more. He began telling me what he wanted, like 'more juice, mommy.' He also began singing the "ABC" song and counting to 10. Peter became more interested in toys and books. He began holding his own sippy-cup and began sitting with his back straighter. He began eating better and taking in fluids much easier. We were very encouraged. We knew we could not stop at 40 treatments.
Fortunately, we found a wonderful chamber here in Phoenix and have just completed 40 more HBO treatments. Since these treatments, Peter continues to improve verbally and will try to say any word you ask him to. He now tries to pull himself to a wanted toy, which he has never done nor has he even tried to do. He plays games with me and is more interactive with people that he doesn't even know. His eyes continue to get brighter and more alert.
Although he does not sit independently on the floor, he is sitting in some chairs and can sit in a high chair, which has made eating out as a family much easier. He has also become aware of his movements and when he begins to fall, he has said, "Owhoa, that's scary-O".
I am seeing that his reasoning seems to be improving; he has begun lifting his foot for a step when in the standing position. Peter's general daily care has totally changed. Having him talk to me to tell me what his needs are, has changed my perspective and makes my work to care for his needs more fun.
Watching Peter make improvements every day has brought much joy to me. I feel like I have finally found a therapy that, coupled with his other therapies, has begun to make a noticeable difference. Peter has been able to join his twin brother and older twin sisters in some fun interactive play, which of course brings joy to them and to me. I plan to continue to give Peter more treatments for as long as we can financially afford them.
I would encourage anyone with a brain injury to try HBOT.
GY, Arizona
Update on previous patient Curtis Doyal
September 05, 2007
Hi Al and all at HBOT of Arizona,
I came across one of your info pamphlets that I still have and felt I needed to contact you all. Curtis, my son, started his HBOT treatments at your center in 1999. He was 3 years old and had the developmental level of a 6-9 month old due to anoxic brain damage at birth. Wow, to look at him now you would not believe he is the same kid. After the first 100 treatments he was walking well with a walker. By age 5, he was walking independently with AFO supports on his legs. He still uses the AFO braces, but we hiked a mile in the mountains this weekend and he loved it.
Cognitively Curtis went from a delay of over one minute to now less than 10 seconds. He knows all his numbers, colors, and is learning to read with a more than 200 words and 200 sign language recognition vocabulary. The future looks very bright for Curtis.
We have continued treatments at the Hyperbaric Medical Center of NM in Santa Fe. We have had 235 treatments now and will continue at least 20 per year. We still see improvements with each set of treatments. Dr Ken Stoller, MD is the director of the HMC of NM and a leader in HBOT advocacy and research. He has done some great research with computer testing for Autism patients, Fetal Alcohol syndrome, and other pediatric brain disorders. His # is 505-955-8560, call him to network and get great info on the research and politics of getting treatments covered under Medicaid.
We hope all are well there at your center in Arizona. We speak of you and think of you often. Roy, Curtis and I can never thank you enough for providing the means to change our lives forever. You will never know how grateful we are to you for giving our son a chance to grow and develop into the great, loving functional child that everyone else thought was impossible. THANK YOU FOR MAKING MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY DAY! You don’t hear it enough, but you have touched so many more lives than you will ever know.
Thank you again,
Molli Doyal
ABIGAIL'S TESTIMONIAL
(This is an update to our earlier letter in April 04). Abigail is now two and a half years old and has cerebral palsy from lack of oxygen at birth. She has experienced many challenges, including seizure activity, feeding difficulties, and developmental delays. She does not walk or crawl yet, so most days are spent carrying her around. I shared with many of you in an earlier letter about a new treatment with promising results for kids with CP. It's called hyperbaric oxygen therapy. HBOT delivers 100% pure oxygen to a patient in a pressurized unit. We have successfully gone through 40 treatments to date. We have seen some improvement. The changes may seem small, but are significant to us. Abigail's vision has improved (verified by an opthamologist appt), she is now bending forward while sitting and reaching for her feet (also untying her shoes). She seems more alert and cognitively aware of things. She is reaching for her toys more than before. She feeds with less of a gag reacation than before. She also slept better during the treatment period. So many of you responded in a gracious way when I shared our need.
Thank you so much!!!
While we have already gone thru therapy, I am still selling Dawn Hall's cookbooks to cover our balance and to hopefully continue with more HBOT treatments in the near future.
Again, each cookbook is $17 ($20 for those outside of Arizona or if it needs to be mailed). If anyone missed out the first time around. you have another opportunity to get a cookbook and help out.
Thanks again!!!
Diana Swartz
You may order by sending a check or money order to me at:1802 West Morten Avenue #1089
Phoenix, AZ 85015.
Any questions, please call or email: (602) 795-1353
Cookbooks Available: Down-Home Cooking Without The Down-Home Fat; Low-Fat Cookbook & Slow Cooker Cookbook.
List of improvements for J.S. (son with Cerebral Palsy) since beginning Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at HBOT of AZ, as noted by mother:
1- Decrease in spasticity
2- Increase in stability
3- Increase in vocalization
4- Decrease in serious illness
5- Can adjust position in car seat
6- Improvement in overall general health
7- Increase in seizure activity
8- Increase in stamina
9- Increase in leg strength
10- Increase in coordination
11- Increase in motor skills
12- Improved sleep pattern - now sleeps 10-12 hours at night instead of 4-6 hours
13- Increase in focus on activities
14- Improved muscle tone.
Cerebral Palsy Patient - Treatment Changed Life
Aug 18, 2000 08:45 PM
Phoenix
Article by Carey Peña
A Valley woman who has cerebral palsy says an alternative type of therapy has helped changed her life for the better. Amy Gustavison, 30, says she can do things now that she never thought possible - like walk without a walker, stand up and balance in the swimming pool and speak better than ever before. Gustavison attributes her improvements to what’s called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. HBO is 100 percent of oxygen at greater than surface pressure administered in small sequential doses, one hour each, one to two times a day. Patients receive the treatment in what looks like a chamber. HBO is said to have helped patients who have dramatic cases of diabetic wound healing, other patients have unexpected improvements from strokes and brain injuries and, in the case of Gustavison, better balance and coordination. Several other parents at the clinic talked about dramatic improvements they have witnessed with their children, all of whom are young and suffer from cerebral palsy.
Cerebral Palsy (Curtis) - Realvideo
Cerebral Palsy (JJ) - Realvideo
If you have a patient that needs hyperbaric services, or want more information, please contact us. We welcome the opportunity to consult with physicians and family about the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.