The Inspiring Story of Danny Bryant: Hyperbaric Chamber Saves Pueblo Man’s Legs

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Who does not know how important oxygen is to normal cellular physiology? There are many situations in which you can find someone suffering due to the lack of oxygen. Hyperbaric chamber is designed for hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT. HBOT involves breathing in conditions of 100 percent pure oxygen under high pressure. This process makes oxygen easily absorbed and dissolved into the bloodstream at an expedited rate. Any type of infection can slow the healing process because infections damage entire blood supply system to the infected site. There are many instances where HBOT works just like a magic. You can take the story of Danny Bryant as an instance. What happened to Bryant? Let’s find out.

The Story of Bryant:

Danny Bryant, from Pueblo, was going through a griming period after being diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis last March. The 63 years old Bryant found small wounds and swelling on the lower portion of his body. He also discovered extremities that were not healing. He was admitted to St. Mary-Corwin for treatment several times. But his condition continued to worsen. He had to stop working since he became unable to walk. Bryant was suggested that he may need to amputate his leg in near future because of the severity of the wounds. The doctors admitted their inability to heal. Eventually, his health care team and he reached to a conclusion. Bryant’s HBOT treatment was started in a hyperbaric chamber .

Bryant started experiencing comfort and relaxation in the innovative and leading-age chamber where he was allowed to watch television to relax and rest during the sessions of the treatment. Countless people came with wounds. Most of the people gave up hope thinking that recovery is not possible. Often several negative thoughts got the hold of these people’s mind and body; often they feared losing their limbs. Bryant recommended HBOT to these people who were grasped by the curse of the wounds.

Bryant was given HBOT for five days each week. After 20 sittings, Bryant started to feel better. He was given 60 treatments. After finishing all the 60 treatments, each of his wounds was healed. He was surprised to witness the transformation of his leg. Bryant, who is a pastor by profession at the local First Church, expressed his gratitude to the treatment center where he underwent HBOT. Now, the man is back to his life, he is really happy and it is like his re-birth.

Functions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:

Bryant is not alone, there are many people who have been benefited by HBOT. Anyone who is healing from a condition triggered by inflammation in the body can get comfort by HBOT. HBOT improves the healing process in order to provide a higher rate of oxygen to tissues that have been damaged. Let’s find in which conditions, HBOT has a great contribution.

  • Air or gas embolism

  • Carbon monoxide poisoning

  • Decompression sickness

  • Anemia

  • Intracranial abscess

  • Clostridial myositis

  • Necrotizing infections

  • Diabetic foot ulcers

  • Wound injury

  • Osteomyelitis

  • Skin grafts and flaps

  • Thermal burns

All of the treatments listed above are hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments approved by FDA. But whenever you will search about HBOT on the Internet, you will find a number of sites claiming that HBOT can cure diseases like AIDS, Autism, and many other diseases. But, the effectiveness of HBOT for these diseases has not been approved by FDA, although many people have reported that HBOT is helpful for these conditions too. Now, have a look at the diseases that are not approved by FDA:

  • AIDS or HIV

  • Alzheimer’s disease

  • Asthma

  • Bell’s palsy

  • Cerebral palsy

  • Heart diseases

  • Brain injury

  • Depression

  • Parkinson’s diseases

  • Migraine

  • Multiple Sclerosis

  • Spinal cord injury

How Hyperbaric Chamber Works:

In a hyperbaric chamber, meant for the treatment, the hyperbaric treatment increases the quantity of oxygen supply to the damaged portions when the condition of blood supply is poor. Then it reduces the irritation of swelling and helps to heal the wounds. HBOT fights against the infections in the problematic wounds. HBOT also stimulates the formation of new bones while your bone is affected by infection.

When you will enter into a hyperbaric chamber for treatment, oxygen will be supplied to you through a suitable mask which can allow you to be relaxed during the treatment session. Gradually, you can feel how air is being forced to enter into the chamber slowly. This slow process is called compression. It will make you feel something in your ear that is similar to a feeling you can get in a aeroplane. At this moment, you need to clear your ear. Fo this, you should move your lower jaw or blow it through the nose. At the same time, you need to hold your nostrils with your fingers. Your mouth should be closed at this moment.

When the session comes to its end, the mask will be taken away. The air in the hyperbaric chamber will be released slowly. This process is named as decompression, exactly a reverse to compression. Generally, each session takes one and half hours. But in emergency cases you may need to give 1 to 12 hours.

Summing up:

Danny Bryant had taken a wise decision by embracing hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment. It cured the wounds of his leg. If you are suffering from the same problem like Bryant, then you can also get rid of the troubles with the help of HBOT. But before jumping over it blindly, you should know about it in detail. Do not rely only on the internet; try to get the right information. Seek the suggestions of an authorized doctor about opting for HBOT and undergo the treatment only after getting the doctor’s permission. Your right decision can help you recover soon just like Danny Bryant.

Chloe Paltrow
Chloe Paltrow, a medical assistant. She has shared her knowledge in various websites and blogs like PsychCentral, Collective Evolution and Pick The Brain. Currently, she is studying how brain injury and brain disorders can be treated with hyperbaric chambers.