In 2007, Tito was a vibrant young man whose whole life lay ahead of him. But in an instant, that life was drastically changed when a car accident left him with severe brain damage. Doctors told his mother, Gladys, she would have to say goodbye to her son. They didn't expect him to live for more than 24 hours.
Willing to do anything to help Tito, Gladys decided to give hyperbaric oxygen therapy a try. Dr. Adam Breiner, a naturopathic doctor and co-founder of Breiner Whole-Body Health Centre in Connecticut, immediately began sessions with Tito. After only three hours in the hyperbaric chamber, Tito's brain started to awaken. He showed signs of increased alertness, and he began to move around.
Dr. Breiner suggested 40 to 80 more hours of therapy, and to further help Tito's brain to recover, he began Neurofeedback therapy. Neurofeedback is gaining recognition in the medical community as an alternative treatment for brain injuries, as well as many other neurological disorders. Using an Electroencephalogram, or EEG device, to measure electrical activity in the brain, a patient is able to "see" how his or her brain waves are functioning by looking at a monitor. Then, through positive reinforcement, the brain is trained to use waves that operate within a normal range of function. After several sessions, these changes may become long lasting. The procedure is safe and completely non-invasive.
With the combination of neurofeedback with hyperbaric oxygen therapies, Tito progressed rapidly. Soon he was able to eat regular food. His dark eyes would shine with recognition when family members came to visit, and he started to communicate verbally. He could answer simple questions and even recognize dates. Gladys happily recalls the day when Tito knew that it was his birthday.
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