My Twin Sister’s Road to Recovery

Concussion #2:

July 25, 2022 I sustained my second concussion playing volleyball. Over the next week, my doctor pulled me out of work in order to heal faster. I would try to go on short walks, lasting about 25 minutes and would then need to sit down and nap for 30 minutes to recover so I could make the walk back home. Frustrated with this outcome, I decided to do an experiment with the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber. I had heard that this was popular among athletes with injuries. Desperate for help, I gave it a try. My first session was 45 minutes long. Immediately after treatment, I had a burst of energy and I noticed my vestibular symptoms hardly present. After the session, I then walked the same 25 minute walk I did a few days prior. This time, I only needed to sit down for 5 minutes at the 25 minute mark instead of napping for 30 minutes! What a HUGE difference the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber made in the amount of time I was able to recover.

Help me raise an additional $20k for a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber! These machines cost ~$12k - $30k. The healing effects I have received from this treatment have cut my recovery time in half! The issue is, I need to continue to go to treatment everyday ideally. With each session costing $150 out of pocket (via a medical spa), I have had to make the decision to go once a week initially and now every 3-4 weeks because it's so expensive. I get super fatigued and need the treatment every 4ish days but due to cost can't keep up with it. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Clinic does NOT APPROVE my condition as one medically necessary for this treatment (INSERT EYE ROLL) therefore their Hyperbaric Chamber would cost me $2,600 per session. My concussion doctor continues to fight for me to have my condition approved but his hands are tied at the Cleveland Clinic. Since the treatment has "burned a hole in my pocket" I am looking to invest in my own personal HBOT because I am amazed at how much more I can do with this treatment. This treatment is so crucial for healing and now I know why most athletes have one in their home! In addition, I want to own one so that my friends who have sustained head trauma or those who contact my foundation (Wake Up Brain Foundation) can use mine at no cost to them for their recovery.

In 2019, my initial fundraiser, we raised $22,650- help me raise $20k more for HBOT!

CONCUSSION #1 UPDATE:

I started being able to live a "normal" life in May 2022. I had felt that I had finally healed from the majority of my post concussion symptoms- 3.5 years later. I continued to deal with auditory and vision deficits as well as PTSD. I was able to manage these on a daily basis- The auditory deficit I would wear my ear plugs, the vision deficit my special glasses and the twitching from PTSD was minimized by continuing with CBT. I was able to live my life!