Dr Spiegel explained the treatment in this way:
HBOT saturates the body with oxygen. You breathe in pressurized air at 100% oxygen, while the
air we breathe normally is 21%. Having the cells saturated with oxygen causes the blood vessels to make new blood cells,
potentially repairing damage. It's used to treat wounds, carbon monoxide poisoning, burns, and a ton of other things.
Unfortunately, while it's used to treat brain injuries in EVERY OTHER COUNTRY, it's not approved in this country yet.
Oh, well. We're doing it anyway.
The doctor told us that in the brain, if there's a small area that's been damaged and the cells
have died, a much larger area around that piece will be lying dormant. Basically, it gets enough oxygen and blood to
stay alive but not to function. HBOT can restore function to that area. It can't bring back anything that's died
(but we know Someone Who Can) but the dormant area can be restored.
Specifically as it pertains to Sam, this treatment has had great success with restoring the swallowing
function, improving muscle tone (either up or down, depending on what is needed), improving eyesight, and reducing swelling
in the brain. The doctor told us that Sam's brain is definitely still swollen, just based on what he's been through.
Reducing the swelling alone will make a huge difference in restoring function.
Sam will be treated every day, five days a week. After 20 treatments, we'll reevaluate his
situation and go from there. They believe he will definitely need more than 20 treatments, as that is just the baseline
for showing improvement at all.
