My son was shaken 21 years ago. He sustained severe head trauma, lost the sight in his dominant eye, he has balance difficulties, and an IQ of 50. We have tried numerous therapies, including music therapy at a university and private lessons, intensive speech therapy, exercise Therapy, two extra tutoring schools, a private tutor for 10 years, and neuro feedback. I’m sure some of these helped because he now is an excellent driver, holds a part-time job as a service clerk in a grocery store, is taking web computer classes at the local community college.
His father helps him with the computer classes and was a major driving force that helped our son become an Eagle Scout. My husband and I are 59 & 60 and are very nervous about the future of our son when we are gone. He is not capable of living on his own.
We recently learned about Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy. We were fortunate enough to have the specialist in the field , Dr Paul Harch, treat our son.
So far he has had 40 treatments and we are home in Michigan getting ready to return to New Orleans (where Dr Harch practices). We have seen The Spect scans of our son’s brain-before & after the treatments. There is obviously more blood flow in the brain!! We have also observed changes in his conversational ability and he is more sure of himself. He is “waking up”. He is more humorous, assertive, reading more smoothly, is more helpful. We saw “miracles” when we were at the hyperbaric clinic. This treatment would change the lives of the countless innocent babies that have been shaken. The sooner the baby is treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy, the more dramatic the results. These babies could grow up without being blind and mentally challenged.
I am begging you to investigate this therapy for all children that have sustained TBI.
I will check in after the next treatments. Our son’s brain injury is so old, we know he will not regain his full capacity-but he will be able to finish School, hold down a good paying job and raise a family of his own. That is what all parents want for their children: a chance.
A proud mother,
Cynthia
