After starting this blog I have been amazed at the feedback, words of encouragement and advice. I love it all, thank you everyone - I hope it never stops! With that being said it all came at a crazy week in Atlanta when we had our "snow apocalypse"...."snow-mageddon"...basically when GA was in widespread panic with never ending traffic!!...anyways we are super lucky we actually live in the inner-city and my husbands work is super close, we did NOT get crazy stuck in traffic, have to sleep in our car or anything absurd/terrible like that. Although now we know we have friends who did! crazy! What were we doing besides freezing our butts off...? I was trying to respond to an overwhelming amount of emails (that I am still very much in the process of) and we were out playing in the snow of course!!! Wyatt was in love...but that week was a crazy blur!
My husband and I have also been combining forces/ideas with a close friend and I cannot wait to tell you more about whats coming next...super soon!
Meanwhile, through our journey with Wyatt, Chad and I have been very open minded to all theories based on Autism. What causes it? Can it be "cured?" Should we just deal with it? Is there a special therapy he needs? Do we discipline him like a normal 2 year old? You can imagine all the questions we have asked ourselves? And you guessed right, everyone thinks they have THE answer!...and thats ok! Like I said we are very open-minded to everything. I am not blogging to offend anyone with autism, a parent of a child with autism or an adult living or cured of autism. I do believe every story I hear though - and have taken everyone into account for our Wy.
Steps we have taken so far for Wyatt:
1. Had a speech evaluation.
2. Had an audiology test/evaluation.
3. Had a psychology evaluation.
4. Teamed with Babies Can't Wait (they also did an evaluation).
5. Changed his diet: By adding high fatty foods. Removed gluten & almost all dairy. Removed casein. Added Cod-liver oil supplement. Added primrose oil. Added a Daily Probiotic.
6. We just had an enormous amount of allergy tests done.
7. We just had our first Hyperbaric Chamber experience.
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy used in Autism
(taken from www.AtlantaHyperbaricCenter.com)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is considered alternative treatment in the US but it is utilized to treat Autism in many countries throughout the globe. The rationale behind using hyperbaric for Autism is that the treatments increase cerebral blood flow and thus oxygen is delivered to areas of the brain, which are thought to be oxygen deficient. Greater amounts of blood and oxygen begin to stimulate cerebral tissues and aid in recovery of idling neurons. HBOT also reduces excess fluids and swelling of brain tissues which aid in neurological function.
HBOT is also used as a complementary therapy for the treatment of heavy metal detox for such materials as mercury. Hyperbaric assists in the metabolism of heavy metal removal. It can help a patient counteract the effects of heavy metal poisoning and helps the body deal with toxins even as noxious as cyanide. It is often used in conjunction with chelation and other detox procedures to help support the body to deal with the impact commonly seen in the removal of heavy metals, mercury, toxins, and other contaminants.
(this picture shows how much more oxygen is flowing through the brain after months of using the chamber)
Worldwide, medical researchers are discovering promising results with the effects of hyperbaric therapy on persons with Autism.
In recent studies, measuring the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on Autistic children ages 1-11 yrs, researchers found a total effectiveness of hyperbaric in 93.6 % of study participants. Researchers theorized that HBOT was effective in combating autoimmunity and the viral aspects of these conditions when encephalitis was present.
So the question is- how can hyperbaric help with Autism? Scientists have varying opinions on why the therapy is so successful as a treatment for the condition. Some theories suggest that the brain in some persons with Autism, as well as Cerebral Palsy and other neurological disorders, is lacking oxygen and in a dormant, or sleeping state due to lack of blood flow.
Hyperbaric forces oxygen into tissues throughout the body including brain tissues and fluid, resulting in a re-awakening of dormant areas of the brain. Other theories state that excessive swelling in the brain results in a lack of oxygen causing cerebral impairment that can cause behavioral problems, confusion, etc. Oxygen is forced into these damaged areas, through the pressurization of hyperbaric, which alleviates brain swelling by constricting blood vessels. In addition, hyperbaric is thought to provide an optimal enironment to assist in the regeneration of brain tissue.
(Many Pro Athletes, like Tim Tebow use a Hyperbaric Chamber year round to help repair their muscles and focus for the season!)
Steps that are pending:
1. In the process of applying for The Deeming Waiver.
*The Deeming Waiver Brief History (taken from CHOA Deeming Waiver Information) - The Deeming Waiver is a type of Medicaid that helps to cover the costs of medical treatment and therapeutic services for children with physical or developmental disabilities. Before the Deeming Waiver, the government would subsidize care for a disabled child ONLY if the child was placed in a state institution. In 1981, the parents of Katie Beckett fought to get financial assistance while caring for their child at home. Now, the Deeming Waiver is helpful to families who make “too much” to receive financially based Medicaid, but who need expensive services for their special needs children.
2. Waiting to hear back on all of Wyatt's allergy tests.
3. Waiting to see an Occupational Therapist to get an evaluation and therapy.
I will of course keep you updated on our Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. So far Daddy gets in with Wyatt for one hour twice a week...we are thinking in a few weeks we will do an intense treatment. 4 days in a row in 30 minute increments, multiple times a day. Wyatt has fun in the chamber playing with blocks and playing games with Daddy on the ipad. He is about used to the pressure he feels in his ears...and we have seen no negative side effects!
On a sidenote, the husband and I went to a Kings of Leon concert...wicked fun :)
3. Waiting to see an Occupational Therapist to get an evaluation and therapy.
I will of course keep you updated on our Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. So far Daddy gets in with Wyatt for one hour twice a week...we are thinking in a few weeks we will do an intense treatment. 4 days in a row in 30 minute increments, multiple times a day. Wyatt has fun in the chamber playing with blocks and playing games with Daddy on the ipad. He is about used to the pressure he feels in his ears...and we have seen no negative side effects!
On a sidenote, the husband and I went to a Kings of Leon concert...wicked fun :)
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