Good morning, everyone. We have a new toy at my house-a hyperbaric chamber. You know-it's the rage. Some people have botox parties; we can have a hyperbaric party.

So, I guess you are wondering what in the world is a hyperbaric chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT) is a treatment for all kinds of ailments. It was originally used to treat scuba divers that suffered from decompression sickness. It is used to treat areas in the body that suffer from low oxygen levels. HBOT sends oxygen to these areas, in many instances healing the patient. Athletes such as Terrell Owens and Lance Armstrong use them. It helps athletes heal quicker. It was rumored that even Michael Jackson had one. Some college and professional sports teams use them. HBOT is used when coal miners have been rescued after several days in collapsed mines. Studies show that where there was no live tissue in the brain, that afer so many "dives" the tissue comes back.

It treats autism, seizure disorders, wound healing, hearing loss, and the list goes on and on. Will is hoping it will make his bowed arm straight again. He had broken the same arm 3 times, and it is bowed. He gets in the chamber every chance he gets, and loves it. The first thing he does is look at his arm to check if it it straighter. His ankle was hit by a baseball at the game yesterday. He had to get in to cure his ankle. Anthony got in with Will last night, and he said he has not slept that well in years. He has some arthritis, and he also said his shoulder was not hurting any more.

Will nicknamed ours "Barry". What does Barry look like,you might ask? Well, Barry is about as long as a sofa. It looks like a capsule; kind of like a space capsule. It has one big window and 4 small ones. Our chamber is what they call a "soft" chamber. The "hard" chambers are only under strict supervision. They are pure oxygen(O2). Several people can get in some of these. The "soft" chambers use O2 concentrator which is about 28% oxygen. It is like going 10 feet below sea level. Much like diving to the bottom of the pool. Owen needs to go in 1 hour at a time for 80 treatments. We rent it from a family in Forsyth, GA who have a few chambers. This is an affordable way for families like us to use the treatment. It is impossible to drive an hour a day one way, several times a week for this therapy.

I researched hbot several years ago for the treatment of Owen's seizures. I filed it in the back of my mind because there were no chambers any where near us. Eventually, HBOT came to Dothan and even Colquitt! But, insurance won't pay, and the soft chambers cost about $20,000. But, thanks to the Harbin family, the Cobb family has its very own chamber, Barry.

Owen is not as crazy about Barry as Will and Anthony. He has been in one time with Will(of course) and made it through fine, but last night it really hurt his ears. If you stay in it until you reach pressure, it is fine - it's just getting there that is difficult. We are having his ears checked today to make sure there is no fluid build up. I have not been in yet because my ear is killing me. I am also having mine checked because I want to feel better too.

So, you may ask what you do in Barry. I am glad you asked that question. Since we do not have pure oxygen, you can light a match and not explode! Good thing, right? The boys can play their Nintendo DSi, ipods, watch dvd player, talk on then phone, read, etc. They can sit up in it or lay down. Will called me on Owen's cell phone to ask a question the other night. Anthony read and took a nap. Barry is in Owen's room right now, but we may move it because I may want to get in it late at night - my only free time!

I pray that this works for Owen. I was really hoping that after the first treatment, we could tell. Many people can, but not yet. Please pray that he will continue to get in. HBOT can cure his seizures and improve his brain function. A win-win for him.

He is so brave being our guinea pig, but we can already tell some changes with the biomedical therapy. My next post will be about his casein free gluten free diet and how much Anthony and Will love it!!!!!!!!