Dad Update

The TIRR experience was truly wonderful as Robert has said and we’re looking forward to making a return trip in January 2013. From the cleaning crew to the techs to the therapists to the Doctors, we were truly impressed with TIRR and their holistic approach and caring attitude. The next chapter is a return trip to TIRR in Jan 2013 as Robert has said for more of the same.

They completely reviewed Chris’s meds while at TIRR and minimized what he is taking. They also changed his neuro meds. He’s now back on some very good neuro meds.

The therapy was very good to include the new therapies such as music and what they call “social integration.” The whole TIRR team is great and we can’t say enough about them. Chris’s Doctor at TIRR, Dr. Monica Crump, and her team, were fantastic!

We’re also looking into Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments (HBOT). You’re placed into a pressurized “dive” chamber and breathe pure oxygen for an hour at a time. The facility is in New Orleans run by a doctor that has taken the lead in HBOT for brain injury, Dr. Harch.  The logistics of making that happen are a bit more involved and we haven’t worked through that yet. It would require a month and a half of treaments per “session” (a session – my term – being 40 hours of chamber time) and we’ll probably need three sessions for at least 120 hours of total hyperbaric time. Two treatments per day in the first week and then one treatment per day for the next month until we reach 40 hours. We’d go home for a bit and then come back and do it over again. 

Another patient we met at TIRR that we knew from another facility has received stem cell treatments from a company in Houston so we need to look into that a bit further. At last look, the company was being looked at by the FDA for their stem cell processes, etc., but it’s somehting to think about down the road. It also means that medical technology is moving very quickly into new areas that I think will prove to be very helpful for Chris down the road.

All in all, as Robert says, TIRR was a great experience and we’re looking forward to going back in January.

I should mention as well that Chris has the best brother that anyone could have! I know Robert is my son and I’m biased but he’s an absolutely amazing brother and human being! We’re blessed! Chris also has the best Mom anyone could possibly have. She truly is a Saint! She’s not only looking after Chris in providing him with the best care he could possibly have but she’s also continuing to run a family and keep this family glued together! We are so blessed as a family! What great people I get to share my life with!

We had a great experience in Houston and are looking forward to going back and in continuing to make progress. I know it’s slow going, but we’ll get there! Thanks to everyone for their love and support.
Dad