Our little boy Zack was born healthy and normal and reached all of his developmental milestones.  We were so happy that our older son had a brother. Our older son had ear infections, speech delays and tubes in his ears around 18 months old.  When Zack presented with chronic ear infections and similar speech delays, we thought we were ahead of the game.  He had surgery for tubes when he was 15 months old and was evaluated for a speech and language delay at the same time.  The evaluation revealed that he did in fact have a speech and language delay as well as sensory integration issues.  Speech and occupational therapies were recommended.  We were so happy that we jumped on this so that he could receive early intervention and be all caught up by school age, just like his older brother.
    Zack started speech and occupational therapy at 18 months old.  I remembered that within 3 months my older son started talking and never stopped.  I remember thinking that Zack would be just like his brother.  When Zack was almost 19 months old he received his DPT immunization. Within 24 hours he had an extremely high fever, over 105 and was hospitalized.  We were told after testing, that it was a fever of “unknown origin” and we were sent home.  At the time, we thought it was probably a viral infection and when he seemed to get better we didn’t think twice about it.  We are not certain that was the cause or trigger of his problems but needless to say after that, Zack was never quite the same.
    After 3 months of therapy we noticed that Zack wasn’t really making much progress.  I now look back at baby pictures of him and can see how in earlier photos he was there and then he was gone.  I questioned the therapists and they suggested we get him re-evaluated.  I made appointments with several different doctors, eager to get answers.  We had to wait quite some time for an appointment with a developmental pediatrician.  I remember Zack had a routine follow up appointment with his ear doctor.  .  She asked how he was doing and I told her about his lack of progress with his speech therapy.  She asked me several more questions and said he may have PDD and gave me the name of a neurologist.  I thank God that at that time I didn’t know what PDD was and that it was on the Autistic Spectrum- or I wouldn’t have made it home.  I didn’t realize what a pivotal point in Zack and the whole family’s life that would be.
    From that point on, nearly 9 years ago, we have all worked so hard to get Zack all the services we could to help him be the best he could.  Since that time Zack’s diagnosis has changed-  PDD, Autism, and Aspergers.  Quite frankly we don\'t really care what the label is but rather just about how we can help.  I remember my developmental pediatrician telling me “it’s only a speech delay”.  I told him that I prayed he was right but that I would get him all the help he needed anyway.  
    I was glad I didn’t listen to my pediatrician, as a Mother I knew it was more than a speech delay, and he wasn’t just like his brother.  In the world of PDD, Autism and Aspergers diagnoses, we are quite fortunate as Zack is very high functioning - but it hasn’t come easy.  
    




Since he was roughly 2 years old, Zack has been “working” a full time job. In the earliest stages of his diagnosis, when he was just two years old he had over 25 hours of ABA therapy a week plus extensive speech, physical and occupational therapy.  Things have changed in that Zack has made tremendous progress in his speech, language, education and socialization skills- but he still works VERY, VERY hard. It doesn’t come easy or naturally.
    Currently, in addition to his normal schooling, homework and studying Zack has two hours of speech therapy, 1 hour of occupational therapy, 5 hours of Special Education Teacher Support Services, and 4 hours of private tutoring a week.  He is enrolled in social skills groups, karate and basketball to help increase his social skills.
    Like many others we have tried all types of intervention and will continue to do so.  He is currently on a gluten free casein free diet, he has had B-12 shots, he was tested for metal chelation, has participated in therapeutic horseback riding, nystatin therapy to remove yeast, endocrinologist testing, chiropractic care, info-ceuticals, video modeling and social skills groups and has just began getting neuro-feedback.  We know this sounds like a lot but there is no end to what we would do or anywhere we wouldn’t go in order to help our son.  
    So this brings us to the HBOT; when Zack was just diagnosed I looked into getting this treatment.  At the time it was available in Canada.  Participating would mean that Zack and I would have to leave the rest of the family home and go to Canada for approximately 6 weeks. Though my husband gave me his full support, I just didn’t feel right about leaving my just 3 year old son to try a method that was at the time so new and relatively un-tested.  Many years later I am excited to read the results that many people have achieved through these HBOT treatments and I am eager for my son to begin his treatments.  
    I believe that all things happen for a reason and when I was made aware that this therapy is now available in an area that is so much more convenient to the family I no longer had regret about not going to Canada for those 6 weeks.  I know that this is the right time for Zack to receive treatment and we are so excited to see the results when his brain has even more opportunity to repair itself and to have the neurons fire appropriately.

Thank you all for your support and generosity. We truly appreciate it!

Best,

Diane and Patrick Benasillo