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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
When Madison was injured, she was having 15-25 seizures a day. She was on seizure medications, Dilantin and Phenobarbitol. These drugs left Madison sedated. We learned about HBOT from a family in New Orleans whose child also had a brain injury. Since our family is in Louisiana, we decided to check it out ourselves. We were not encouraged by Madison's doctors to pursue hyperbarics because for the purposes that we were interested in, which were seizures and cerebral palsy, there had been no documented studies done. It was considered to be experimental. We met with Dr. Paul Harch in New Orleans, who runs the hyperbaric clinic. Dr. Harch is a very dedicated and knowledgable physician. We also met with 2 other families with children who had brain injuries similiar to Madison's. When we left New Orleans, our only question was how we were going to pay for the treatments. Since they are experimental, they are not covered by insurance or medical card. We were able to raise enough funds to get the treatments for Madison.
By the 11th treatment, there was a noticeable decline in Madison's seizures. She was having less seizures, and the ones she did have were less severe. By the time she was halfway through her treatments, she had a total of 80, she was not having seizures at all and we had started weaning her off her seizure medicines. By the time she completed her HBOT, she was seizure free and off both medicines. She was more alert. She became a totally different baby. When we returned home, even her therapists were amazed at how much more alert she was. She began to do well in therapy. When we saw Madison's neurologist, and an EEG was done, they could not even stimulate her to have a seizure.
Needless to say, HBOT worked for Madison. The only caution we give is that a doctor be available ON THE PREMISES of any facility providing HBOT.
We want to take Madison back for 20 booster treatments. This is one of our biggest motivations for building this website, to raise the funds we need to get this therapy for Madison. It is our hope that HBOT will be proven effective through kids like Madison.
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