Testimonials
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Dr. Zant and everyone at Hyperbaric Medicine, Inc.
Our 25 year old son suffered a traumatic brain injury May 1, 2004, as a result of an accident on his ATV. After 2 years of therapy, rehabilitation, and recovery we were still searching for something to help him cognitively. After many prayers, we were lead to hyperbaric oxygen treatments as a possibility.
We researched this for several months, talked to experts in the field and others who had undergone these treatments for brain injury and were
encouraged with the results.
After just 40 treatments, his neuro-psychologist saw remarkable improvement with testing in his verbal domain. These significant improvements 2 years post injury suggest he is developing access to some areas of the brain functioning he did not have prior to these treatments. Others have noticed changes as well, from being more conversational, quicker response times in his thinking, speaking like he did before his accident, etc. If all this is a result of just 40 treatments, imagine what he will be like after 80-120 treatments! HBOT is a worthwhile investment of time, energy, and resources. We would encourage others to explore this course of treatment, the sooner the better.
We want to thank your staff at both your Destin & Ft. Walton Beach facilities. They are all very professional, and treated us all like family. We have had nothing but warm responses at both offices. Thanks to you all for helping our family and our son.
After 80 HBO Treatments…
His neurologist was VERY impressed again with his progress when we saw him this week. Others who have talked with him or seen him this week are impressed as well. I think his fine motor skills have improved some with this last set of treatments. He has been working on a typing program on the computer before the treatments...before this last set he was having difficulty passing to the next level. When he got home this week (after NOT practicing for 4 weeks) he immediately passed to the next level on his first day!! I also think some of his increased tone on the right side has been relaxed… Dr V. thinks he is walking some what better.
~ M M | Fortson, GA
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
To all of the very fine and caring individuals at Hyperbaric medicine Inc: My son suffered a very serious TBI on 5/18/01. He had been slowly recovering, at his own pace, and with the benefit of numerous months of physical and speech therapy. We discovered your facility and began a series of “dives” in October of 2004. My family all agrees that where we saw the most significant improvements to our son was in his cognitive function. It is certainly very subjective but our son certainly improved with the hyperbaric dives. I am confident in stating that we continue to see ongoing benefits from the now discontinued treatment.
Dr. Zant is without a doubt one of the most compassionate individuals that I have ever had the
pleasure to meet. His facility is absolutely first class. All of the hyperbaric technicians and staff at the
facilities are all so dedicated and knowledgeable. The fact that they are genuinely involved with their
patients care and recovery is constantly evident throughout a patients time spent in their care.
Sincerely and with great gratitude,
~ The Family of T L | Destin, FL
Lyme Disease
Dr. Zant,
I am writing to express thanks for you and the hyperbaric chamber. I contracted lymes disease about six years ago. The doctors ran every test known to man before they would even test for lymes. Lymes is not classified as a recognized disease therefore not covered
by insurance- This in the eyes of most doctors allows lymes not to exist, therefore the results probably showed a false positive. I had several test sent to different labs- they all came back positive. Each doctor was willing to treat the symptoms and not the disease, or
else considered me too old to treat. (I was 65 at the time) I finally found a doctor in, another town, that was willing to treat the disease, following guidelines collected from the internet, that had proven effective on others. I was showing improvement, only to find my body would not tolerate the high doses of antibiotic. I assumed I would have to live with the remaining symptoms, which were painful joints and general weakness- tiredness.
Then in May of this year-2006- I had a mild stroke. This led me to you. You suggested the chamber might not help my symptoms but to call back after seeing the neurologist. In the meantime my acupuncture physician, who had been working with me for lymes, called and said another patient of his who had lymes had been cured in the hyperbaric chamber. At this writing I have had 30+ treatments. You started me at 17' for the first week to see how I adjusted. Then increased to 33' for 1 1/2hr. The first week at 33' I was actually feeling more joint pain. The second week slight improvement. My children said they could see a positive difference. As treatments progressed I definitely felt the improvement. More energy, less joint pain. Now and for the last two weeks- I am able to swim laps for the first time since I contracted lymes, using all strokes. I could not even do the crawl stroke, and the others only gently, when I started treatment. I am taking only occasional pain medication at night to sleep- before I could not sleep without pain medication each night. I have more energy to do the things I love, and even the things I don't.
Being able to swim laps will return my body to usefulness and me to life. I feel you and the chamber have given me a second chance to live a full life and I give you permission to use any or all of this letter in hopes other Lymes patients will benefit as I have. I feel the hyperbaric chamber can bring hope to lymes patients where little existed before.
With blessings and gratitude,
~ W M
Stroke
Hello Dr. Zant,
I just returned from visiting my parents, checked my mail and much to my surprise there was your message. I would be delighted for you to use my
saga on your website! My first stroke was 3/2/04. You have all of the data on
this one because I lived there and came to see you in April.
I reviewed your entire site and am very excited for you. You'll get many hits and this will bring lots of public knowledge to the great work you are doing for people! You just can't find HBOT centers for people like me anywhere. I've tried. I've searched everywhere up here, Penn., Va., Md. and DC and I've not been able to find chamber centers for walk-ins or for people whose ailments are not approved for hyperbarics. You and I both know that it works!
I thought you might like the picture that I attached. Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.
~ R
Stroke
Retired, 65 driving a 42' RV diesel pusher we headed for Alaska to fulfill a dream. I was felled by a hemorrhagic stroke. The next day, June 17, 2004, a small jet flew us from the Yukon to Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.
I was paralyzed, confused and non-responsive. My family was advised that survival was in question. After weeks of treatments I was flown home for rehab. I began to take halting steps with a gate belt and assistance. I was totally dependent on others for my most basic of needs.
A patient shared information about the successful use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Germany. Our medical team just blew this off saying there was no validity in the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for stroke.
In June of 2005 Dr. Zant started hyperbaric treatments. The results were like coming out of a deep mental fog into a clearing. I could process thoughts. I could focus on my surroundings. I could read and retain. I became a conversationalist again. I regained interest in current events. My sense of humor was restored. My balance improved. Before hyperbarics, I had two severe falls requiring 911, hospitalization and stitches. I was stoic as I had to concentrate to absorb what was being said.
I am a great back seat driver now paying strict attention to traffic and giving my wife advice. Before that I just sat with my head down confused by the passing traffic. My wife is grateful for hyperbaric as she says she has a companion again, not just a passenger. We have long discussions and I am able to contribute my ideas. My eyesight is clear. Before it was like looking through Vaseline covered glasses. I feel good after a dive, clean and clear mentally and physically.
I drive a golf cart around the neighborhood. I operate an electric scooter racing all over the mall, Home Depot, the grocery store, Fairgrounds, beach and the Zoo with grandchildren. Most importantly, I know where I am and know where I am going so I am independent. We belong to two stroke support groups and attend many conferences where we exchange our experience with hyperbarics.
I hope Medicare someday approves this treatment for stroke survivors. It enhances our quality of life. I went from a transfer board and wheelchair to a slow walk with a cane. I take care of my needs and even cook dinner, do dishes and enjoy life.
When I win the Lotto I will visit Dr. Zant and get daily dives. With money and opportunity, I would spend the rest of my life receiving hyperbarics. The deep breathing of pure oxygen relieves all slight headaches, aches and pains. I fell relaxed and renewed. As a diabetic, the side benefit is increased circulation.
Thank you and God Bless You, Dr. Zant and Line (Lynn)
~ J M | South Florida
Autism
Our four year old son Jack was diagnosed with Autism. Since his diagnosis, we have immersed Jack in multiple therapies; speech, physical, ABA, etc in order to help him obtain speech, cognitive and social skills. Prior to the HBOT therapy, Jack's eye contact was minimal at best. He was only able to formulate two word sentences, and then typically only when prompted. After 20 dives, we were able to see improvements in Jack's focus and eye contact. Jack also initiated word usage (minimal, but there). After 40 dives, we noticed more focus on Jacks part as well as Jack stringing together 3 and 4 word sentences. Jack's cognitive skills and motor coordination have also shown signs of improvement… Jack was pedaling his tricycle and trying to steer. We are very excited about the advancements that Jack has been making since starting the HBOT treatments.
Dr. Zant and his staff were wonderful in working with Jack. There was always someone present during Jack's dive to ensure no problems arose. This provided us as parents with a sense of comfort for Jack's safety. Their kindness and compassion and general demeanor created an environment that made Jack comfortable and secure. Dr. Zant and his staff answered all of our questions and concerns regarding the use of the hyperbaric chamber with a child as young as Jack, not only physiologically, but technically as well. We have been extremely pleased with the treatment results to date and are extremely gratified to have this treatment center available to us in our area. To have this facility local coupled with the quality of the staff has been a blessing to us.
~ K B | Panama City, FL
Autism
My son, Zachary, was just over 2 when he started HBOT. He was diagnosed with severe Autism several months earlier. Other treatments that he had already started were Speech and ABA therapies, Vitamin therapy, and the GFCF Diet. While he was showing improvements with these therapies, we wanted to see if there was something else that could aid in the healing process.
Initially I was apprehensive about him going into “the chamber”. However, he had no problems and actually played with his toys and watched/listened to a video. He completed 32/40 dives and although it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what therapies and/or treatments actually WORK; I can confidently say that HBOT helped my son considerably. In just one week (three dives), I saw improvements in eye contact, attention, focus, and speech. Over the course of the remainder of the dives, I saw increased attention, stronger eye contact, and additional vocalizations. While there is no “cure” or “magic bullet” for Autism, I believe HBOT helped Zach and has helped other children. I have recommended HBOT to at least 5 other parents of children with Autism, and ALL have said that it is working for their kids!!! This is exciting news!
Dr. Zant and his staff are professional, compassionate, and have a genuine concern about their patients. They are approachable and are willing to answer any questions you may have. And they explain the HBOT process in simple, easy-to-understand terms.
My son will be returning for additional sessions as soon as we can fit them into his schedule. I have no doubt that he will benefit even more from future dives. Again, I highly recommend HBOT to parents of children with Autism and/or other disabilities. It is safe, it isn’t invasive or painful, and most of all, it helps…
Thank you Dr. Zant, Tim and Richard. Your kindness and genuine concern speaks where my son is unable. Someday he’ll be able to say “thank you” himself.
~ D B
Autism
My son was diagnosed with autism when he was two years and four months old. His symptoms included being non-verbal, very little eye contact, arm flapping and an obsession with opening/closing doors and spinning objects. He made some babbling, non-functional sounds, but very little. Soon after his diagnosis, another mother who had a two-year old son with autism, told me about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
I went by and met with Dr. Zant at the Destin Hyperbaric Medicine facility. Dr. Zant took time to show me the oxygen chambers and explain how they worked. I was really nervous about putting my son in the chamber for the first time, assuming that he would freak out being closed up in the chamber by himself. However, I was pleasantly surprised as to how easily he accepted being put into the chamber. He would hang out for an hour and watch a video. I believe the oxygen made him feel good and so he actually enjoyed his treatments. My son is now two years and eight months and we have completed a total of 40 dives.
Since the beginning of his treatments, his eye contact has drastically improved and he has started talking. He has a vocabulary of 10-25 words currently, and it is growing each week. Overall, he is calmer and more focused. Socially, he is developing his own personality and becoming a very loving, outgoing child. We are taking a break for a few months and then we intend to get our son another 40 treatments. We believe that he can benefit even more from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. I am very thankful to the mother who originally shared this treatment option with me and very grateful to Dr. Zant and his Hyperbaric Medicine facility for the wonderful improvements in my son.
~ D S & T S
Autism
Brennan went into regressive Autism, after striking a 105 fever within 24 hours of his last set of vaccinations. Within eleven days after that shot, Brennan lost all of his words and began his descent into the world of Autism. We have done a lot of different therapies, diet interventions cf,sf,gf,cf and sugar free diet and the SCD diet(which I recommend) Pecanbread.com(SCD info), some oral chelation(with amazing booms in language during the chelation, but regression after), we have done long-term azole antifungals/antivirals with great success.
We did a lot of reading about the great successes people’s ASD children have had with hard chamber only hyperbaric treatments. We researched on the internet and found that my favorite place in the world had a wonderful facility right in the heart of Destin, FL. Dr. Zant is truly a fine man with the heart of gold. He accommodates families on a level that I have never experienced before. He saved us money by allowing us to go straight through the weekends, completing our forty sessions in exactly three weeks. After our first day of two sessions we saw remarkable changes in Brennan. He ate things he never would have eaten, and he slept soundly throughout the night. By the end of the sessions we arrived back home and I pulled up in the driveway and Brennan said, without any prompts “Home”.
Throughout the first week home Brennan’s vocabulary exploded with him saying things we never had heard him say before. We were now sold on the amazing healing properties of hyperbarics therapy that we decided to commit to another 40 rounds of treatments for Brennan.
Anyone who has a child that is suffering from Autism owes it to their child to give them a chance to heal with the help of hyperbaric’s treatment’s through Dr. Eddie Zant. You will not be disappointed.
~ D S
Pervasive Developmental Disorder
At the age of two and one half our son Hunter was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder(NOS). This disorder is commonly associated with Autism.
A respected physician in Charlotte, North Carolina, first introduced our family to HBOT. After researching HBOT and interviewing several treatment centers, we decided to seek treatment for our son with Dr. Zant and his staff in Destin, Florida. To receive treatment in Destin, Florida while living in upstate South Carolina was a major undertaking. This decision caused us to relocate our family for an entire month and was extremely difficult to do, and yet it was the best decision we have ever made.
During the third week of treatment we started to notice remarkable improvement in Hunter's fine and gross motor skill. The improvements have continued and changed Hunter's life for the better. Dexterity, coordination, more normal gait, eating skills, things we all take for granted that these children struggle with, Hunter has seen incredible improvement in. In some areas there has been so much improvement that the next school year Hunter's physical education teacher contacted us and explained he felt like he was working with an entirely different child.
We feel so very blessed that we found Dr. Zant and his staff. We are thankful for the life changing improvement we have seen in Hunter. We are equally thankful for the care and assistance provided by Dr. Zant and his staff, as we are the treatment Hunter received. They are truly incredible people and care about their patients at a level that is hard to find in our society today. I would recommend and endorse Dr. Zant and his staff to any and everyone considering HBOT.
Sincerely,
~ D&D H | Anderson, SC