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Jonathan's treatment for CTE

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Jonathan has been deemed permanently disabled since he was diagnosed with CTE aka Chronic traumatic encephalopathy from playing professional football for many years.  Jon loved football and respected the sport, it was his business and his way to earn a living and help his friends and family.  He played for many years to entertain people and play the sport that he loved.  Within the last 3 years I began noticing a shift in his personality and changes in his memory.  He began forgetting how to compose e-mails, forgot who I was a few times, left the stove on and went to work, many times he would begin driving and couldn't remember where he was going or how to get back home, he would forget who our children were...the list goes on and on.  For anyone that knows Jon they know that is not him.  Jon has always been like a giant teddy bear.  He has such a kind soul, he is fun, gentle and he loves his family and kids.  Once I saw Jon struggling with day to day activities I called a few different specialists.  We then found Jon's Neurologist that diagnosed him with CTE.  CTE is a condition found in the brains of people that played high contact sports such as football.  CTE causes Tao proteins in the brain to begin shutting the brain down, difficulties with thinking (cognition), decision making, physical problems, emotions race, difficulty concentrating, anger, sadness, forgetfulness.  A person with CTE cannot connect normal things that happen daily example: why an airplane is flying in the sky was one thing that I had to reconnect for Jon at times.  There is no treatment for CTE at this time.  Most people give up on life with CTE before they can find help.  Since Jon was diagnosed with CTE 3 years ago his neurologist said he has gotten 67% worse to the point that she has mentioned in home care or possibly putting Jon in an assisted living.  There is no way that I am sending my husband anywhere.  That would be devastating to both myself, the kids and to Jon.  My hope for my husband is that we can ease his symptoms before anything tragic happens.  Jon fights this brain trauma every single day.  Every day of his life I am helping him reconnect thoughts, concerns, people in his life.  His neurologist have suggested us moving back into our old house to help ease his mind and ease the dementia and the CTE symptoms and we did that, we have tried therapy both psychical and mental, we have tried natural oils, we have tried all of the medications that they wanted Jon to try,  we have tried changing diets as well.  There is a possibility that we can get him in a treatment called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)  however our insurance will not cover it unless Jon was injured in a fire or is mission a limb and the league will not help with the cost.   For 40 sessions of the HBOT the cost if we pay cash is $6,800 if we pay any other way the cost jumps to $8,000 for 40 sessions.  After meeting with the owner of the HBOT she stated that this treatment should help with most of Jon's medical conditions.  Its known to help with joint pain, congnitive issues, severe anxiety issues, PTSD, depression and the list goes on and on.  I am praying that this treatment can help ease the symptoms that Jon is having with CTE, depression, early onset of dementia at 39 yrs old, severe social anxiety, flashing in his eyes, zapping in his head, joint pain that he experiences from the over 24 surgeries that he has had from football related injuries.  We are trying to get Jon into treatment as soon as possible and I am hoping that by getting Jon into treatment soon that we can give him the joy back in life and possibly save his life.  I am also hoping this will improve the quality of life that he has and his life with our children.  Anyone that knows Jon remembers him as a joyful, loving, funny personality.  Please help me introduce this version of Jon to our children with the help of this treatment.  Please share this with anyone that you might know that could help us reach our goal.  God Bless all of you and thank you for your time.

Organizer

Sara Koski-Mccall
Organizer
Royal Oak, MI

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