David Hamilton Lewis, returned to Arizona in 1987, where he was cattle ranch raised near Patagonia. His great, great grandfather brought polo to the Coronado Polo Club, in San Diego, around the turn of the 20th century. Lewis was introduced to the sport 60 years ago at Stewart Granger’s ranch outside Nogales. His son David, a third generation polo player, in turn had been initiated into the game in the early ‘80’s showing great promise at the fast paced sport and they made the move back to Arizona to play under the tutelage of another third generation polo player Chuck Rogers. The grandson of Will Rogers, Chuck, managed Horse World, as West World was known in those days, and was a mentor and friend for an aspiring talent who was being invited to play internationally.
Young David, in his teens was in the top 2 percentile in math and all state in soccer. A well liked, sharp, and accomplished student he was a gifted athlete and on his way to the top as a professional polo player. This all came crashing down when a head on ATV collision in the desert in 1990 devastated the family and the likelihood of sporting glory. The horses were removed from the Lewis Cave Creek horse property, the son was now without a career or the ability to earn a living and the father turned his sights to medicine to help his son. Traditional treatments of psychiatric, physical and rehab therapies only went so far, they were only able to bring the young man back to a modicum of his former abilities. Obviously, a father does not give up, he searches for alternate ways of treating his beloved offspring.
Beginning by operating a homeopathic medical clinic Lewis, learned of treatments which could and should have been done for his son many years earlier and what could be done for many children, and adults with injuries, neurological problems and more. “There are more steps being taken by parents and family members like me than anyone will ever know about. We do not band together because we are private and we are so wrapped up in our own individual dilemmas and stories we can’t seem to connect the dots to those others out there whose problems partially overlap our own. We still can not see a light at the end of the dark dangerous tunnel”, says Lewis.
Frustrated and determined to help not just his own son, David Lewis, established Brain Health Foundation which was approved last year as a 501(c)3 non profit, to fund therapies that have shown success in brain injuries from many causes. “That way these therapies can be done anywhere by anyone providing the treatment. We just help pay for treatment for those who can not afford to do so,”he explained. “There are thousands of families frustrated and upset with the American medical system. Questions I have asked they have asked. Knowledge is Power. But knowledge withheld is almost criminal, particularly when it has been documented but denied”.
“The one therapy which intrigued me was very well documented by Dr. Paul Harch MD in his book The Oxygen Revolution, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Dr. Harch is one of a handful of doctors in this country who has done the research and is proving new uses for this 350 year old treatment. HBOT is better known in Russia, China, and Japan. In his third year of medical school Harch inquired of a resident “what is HBOT and was told it was worthless, akin to snake oil.” It is rumored some Japanese corporations currently use hyperbarics to improve the performance of their employees particularly their executives.
He has been using, researching and documenting the so-called snake oil, Hyperbaric Oxygen for over sixteen years and admits “it is not a cure all for all human illness, but, he states it is a “whole person” treatment because oxygen is introduced to every cell in the body. So, while the whole patient, mind and body, is not the initial target of hyperbaric oxygen, sometimes the indirect effect of treatment benefits the entire person. In fact, most individuals report increased well being, regardless of the condition treated.”
Lewis explains, “Harch is cautious and conservative in his recommendations regarding the use of hyperbarics but can easily justify the use of it with many conditions he has treated. In his book he states “Over the last decade, I’ve treated children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism, certain learning disabilities, and genetic disorders with HBOT. One driving force behind this book is to educate parents about HBOT. Far too many remain unaware that the treatment may benefit their children, even long after the event that caused the injury.” Lewis braced as tears welled in his eyes, then said, “Just that statement alone gives me hope for my now 39 year old son.”
Another group who can gain great improvement by the use of HBOT are our national heros, the injured troops returning from service in the Middle East. Physical and emotional injuries are being suffered on a daily basis by our veterans. Once again Dr. Harch has stepped up to the plate with his ongoing research with HBOT on PTSD, head injury as well as the healing of major traumatic injury to the body.
Several months ago CBS News ran a thought provoking piece about a Marine who had suffered double amputation as well as a traumatic head injury and researched the work Harch was doing. He opted to spend his own and charitable financial resources to receive treatment from Dr. Harch with remarkable results. His story as well as an interview with a Phoenix area HBOT technician may be viewed at www.youtube.com/user/dhamiltonlewis1
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is the only repair drug for neurological conditions. Oxygen under pressure will heal tissue in the body and the brain. Should the brain receive excessive insults such as blows, reduced blood flow, or toxins, early dementia may occur as is becoming evident with our professional football players. There are more than a few NFL players who own and use soft hyperbaric chambers to heal ligament and muscular injuries and a few who have single seat stationary chambers. Currently numerous multi-person stationary chambers are available to use in Arizona in the case of concussion and sub-concussion head trauma which require greater atmospheric pressure to be successful treatments.
Some of the conditions treated with HBOT are: Autism, Diabetes, Asthma, Cerebral Palsy, Heart Disease, Alcohol Abuse, Birth Injuries, Parkinson’s, Learning Disabilities, Vision Loss, PTSD, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, MS, Stroke, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Dementia, Brain Injuries, Arthritis and others.
Brain Health Foundation is starting a program for those who want to heal or rejuvenate their brain, and can afford Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments do so, so that those who can’t afford it and need it are given the treatments as well. Children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, returning veterans with head injuries, PTSD other neurological health conditions can receive treatment free or at much reduced rates with the advent of this program. In order to further the frontiers of science financial support must be raised and the knowledge which could help your loved one can be spread. If you want treatments for yourself, a child, a veteran or can help as a volunteer getting the word out or with donations please contact David Lewis at:
e-mail info@brainhealthfoundation.com
If you did not drink, smoke, breathe or eat toxins, take drugs, have surgeries, receive blows to the head, or have reduced blood flow to the brain you should have enough reserves for your brain to last as long as your body. Keep your brain active and give it oxygen. Should you fall into the group of people who have done any of the everyday actions listed above you might be a candidate for preventative treatment with HBOT.
