In 2009 Britni was diagnosed with Lupus as well as a factor 5 bleeding disorder related to lupus. For several years she was able to manage the symptoms with medications. However, when she lost her insurance and could no longer pay for the expensive meds, the doctors used what was the only other option to control the lupus symptoms: large doses of steroids. Steroids are extremely helpful in the short term. But large doses of steroids used for an extended period will wreak havoc on the body. In the last two years Britni has had 2 bowel perforations.  Doctors have said that the steroids have caused her skin and her internal organs, including her intestines, to become so fragile that they tear like paper. The last perforation resulted in her losing nearly all her large intestine. In the hospital, just  putting a blood pressure cuff on her arm would cause her skin to tear.

Britni spent the better part of a year in the hospital and rehab after that surgery. In May 2020 she was released from rehab and the same day was married in a private ceremony to my son, Clayton. Between covid and her physical health they have yet to have a full-fledged wedding. We all long for the day when they can invite all their friends and family to watch Britni walk down the aisle without the need of a wheelchair or walker!

In July of 2020, Britni developed a fistula as a result of the previous perforations. A fistula happens when the intestine ulcerates and the bowel contents tunnel through the abdominal wall. Britni must wear a bag to contain the bowel contents. Doctors see her as too high of a risk to attempt to surgically repair it.

On January 5th I took Britni to the Oxford Recovery Center for a consultation to see if hyperbaric oxygen therapy could benefit her. I have heard much about the great results hyperbaric oxygen therapy has had in healing. Many pro athletes swear by it after serious injuries.  My wife, who has been a nurse for over 40 years, recalls reading about hyperbaric treatment for wound healing way back in the 19970's.

After about an hour and a half of reviewing Britni's medical history, I asked the nurse if she thought hyperbaric oxygen therapy could help Britni. She told us that although every person's body responds differently, she personally has seen fistulas healed with oxygen therapy in two patients. If that were the only benefit from this treatment, it would be huge! But the nurse continued to tell us that when the body's cells are saturated with pressurized oxygen, "it wakes them up" causing the body  to begin repairing itself. Obviously, Britni will never grow her intestine again, but the benefits received from hyperbaric therapy have been proven to promote health throughout the body, including the possibility of putting her lupus into remission.  This would enable her to go off the steroids that are causing so much damage. Britni and I both came away from that consultation very encouraged and optimistic.

Despite its decades of proven success in wound treatment, hyperbaric oxygen treatment is not covered by Britni's insurance. Britni's doctors have thrown up their hands and given up on helping her, advising her to get accustomed to the constant pain, disability, and complications of open wounds because "this is just your life now". We cannot accept that. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has helped many other people return to a functional life, and that is the opportunity Britni deserves as well.

Our goal is to raise at least $7,000 to cover the initial cost of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Britni's treatments will consist of a total of 40 visits, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Each session takes approximately one hour and 20 minutes. Oxford Recovery Center also offers intensive rehab therapy which will be an additional cost, although we do not know yet how much that will be until it is submitted to her insurance. Any funds raised over the initial $7,000 will go to rehab and the eventual purchase of a hyperbaric chamber for the home to help maintain the healing achieved from her treatments. 

Please, would you consider giving to help this young woman achieve the health and strength that we so often take for granted?  We really cannot begin therapy until we have raised the initial $7,000. There is a substantial discount for paying up front and the pay-as-you-go plan would increase the cost by over a thousand dollars.  The sooner we can raise the $7,000, the sooner Britni can begin this life-changing treatment.