About Us
Our daughter, Tatum, was born three months premature (at 26 weeks) and our world was forever changed. She weighed just over two pounds at birth and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy-Spastic Diplegia, at age one.
After gaining some understanding of what we were dealing with, we spent an entire year traveling to meet specialists, researching all the therapies, drugs, herbs, and surgeries on the market that could possibly help our baby girl.
During our research, we continually came across Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a potential benefit... Little did we know we'd be opening our own clinic four years later.
When Tatum’s second birthday came around, we decided it was time to add Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to her current therapy program of physical and occupational therapies. We packed our bags and off we went on a month-long trip, during which we noticed dramatic changes in her spasticity (muscle tightness) after only three days of treatments!
After completing Tatum’s first series of HBO Treatments, we traveled the country for two years, getting her HBOT and trying other therapies that showed promise. During each trip, we consistently saw the improvements of fellow patients and wondered why HBOT was not, at the very least, mentioned by physicians, as a potentially beneficial treatment. At the end of two years of traveling, we decided to start Hyperbaric Healing Institute so others would have the opportunity to receive HBOT, and we could get our daughter all the hyperbaric oxygen therapy she needed.
Who knew having a child with Cerebral Palsy could have such a positive impact on so many other lives? We have had the privilege of meeting people from all walks of life, from all over the country and even other countries, and have gotten to see them make incredible improvements.
A Note from the Founders of Hyperbaric Healing Institute
David and Lisa Deister -Parents of a Child with a Brain Injury
After over 20 years of providing HBOT, the main point that we would most want to convey that is related to HBOT, is early intervention. There are no guarantees in the outcomes of HBOT, but the opportunities for greater recovery are improved, the earlier one can intervene with HBOT. The differences in the amount and rate of recovery we have observed for over twenty years, in acute vs chronic neurological patients treated, are very significant. For any patient or family member reading this, we encourage you to look into HBOT as early as possible - Especially for a neurological patient - TIME IS CRUCIAL!!! We would be honored to treat you or your family member at our office, but it is not about where you receive treatments, but when you receive treatments, that optimizes the therapeutic benefits. If you have done your HBOT research and can move forward, go to a reputable HBOT clinic that uses the appropriate equipment and protocols and discover for yourself, that improvements are possible. As parents, our regret is that we were not informed about HBOT and did not know to treat, as soon as possible. Had we known of the benefits and potential improvements that could be made, we would have been in a hyperbaric chamber somewhere, on the day Tatum was discharged from the hospital’s NICU.
Our tiny, tiny baby has now graduated college with honors! We are so proud of her. The last 20+ years have brought us so much joy, so much stress, oh so many doctor appointments, countless physical therapy hours, trial therapies, hyperbaric oxygen treatments, laughter, celebrations (we celebrated all the little achievements), and most of all LOVE. Our advice to parents with young children with Cerebral Palsy and other neurological conditions – hang in there and enjoy every moment you can. Take care of yourself (exercise, do yoga, or whatever helps you eliminate stress), because this is a marathon, not a sprint. These children are true gifts and we're so blessed and honored to have Tatum as our daughter.
* Disclaimer: In Full Support of the FDA., Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for indications other than the UHMS-approved indications is considered Off Label. The content and information provided within this site are for informational and educational purposes only. Consult a doctor before pursuing any form of medical treatment, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. The Information provided on this site is not to be considered Medical Advice. Please consult with your Treating Medical Physician.