Chris' SCUBA Diving Medical Fund

Hello everyone, my name is Christopher Prevel and today I am reaching out to friends, fellow divers, and crowdfunders to ask for help.
I recently was involved in a SCUBA diving accident in the Philippines and came down with a bout of DCS ( decompression sickness or the "bends" 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decompression_sickness)
The incident occured on the WW2 wrecks off the coast of Coron, Philippines. We were set to perform a more technical dive, reaching a depth of 38M and while using a Nitrox air mixture.  The dive was done correctly and as planned. Immediately after the dive I felt fine, but within 30 minutes symptoms had started to occur. Muscle pain, dizziness, joint pain, and headaches. I was immediately put on medical oxygen. Symptoms subsided for a few days but on arrival in Manila they had returened. I immediately found Dr. Jojo Bernado, dive specialist with Advanced Hyperbaric Life Support in Quezon City. He immediately put me in a hyperbaric treatment chamber where I spent the next few days completing 5 hour cycles of treatment. The treatment saved my life and I am so thankful for their professional facility and work they perform at Advance Hyperbaric.


I currently am stuck in Manila waiting out the symptoms and the doctor's OK to fly again. Since DCS deals with atmospheric pressure, going in an airplane where the cabin pressure is not the same as sea level could be potentially dangerous. I still am expiernecing minor neurological symptoms and want to be safe before I fly So for now, I wait here in the Philippines. 
Today I am reaching out to ask for financial assistance and to help get me home. These costs came out of nowhere and unfortunately I was not insured for this type of instance. At $900 a session in the chamber, a new plane ticket, and added costs of staying here, it has taken a financial blow on me. This was the last thing I wanted to deal with while at the same time fighting medical issues. For now, credit cards and personal loans have kept me afloat and able to pay for the treatments.
Thank you all so much for any help, financially and emotionally. It means the world to me. Looking forward to getting back to America and continuing on with this journey that is life. This has been a hard time for me but I am staying positive that I will get home soon to my family and friends! 
-Chris