The Children of Autumn Foundation is celebrating Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 15 to support their goal of bringing a hyperbaric chamber to Jasper. 

The event will be held at the Legion and the proceeds will go to the fund-raising efforts of the foundation. Children of Autumn began holding events to raise money for a hyperbaric chamber last year and about $10,000 has already been raised. 

Grace Kohn, who helps out with the foundation and is one of the key instigators of the effort, said the chamber can help many individuals in the community, including her own daughter who has autism. 

Kohn has been bringing her daughter to Mexico to receive treatments for her autism. It is believed that hyperbaric chambers reduce swelling. In autistic children that means they often calm down and their behaviour improves. Children with Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy can benefit as well. There are many ailments and diseases that have been eased by hyperbaric chamber therapy. MS, stroke, vascular disease, migraines, Alzheimer’s, 

infections, heart disease, lyme disease and more have all shown improvement after oxygen therapy. 

“There’s a whole list of things it can provide,” Kohn said. 

The chamber can bring down inflammation and stimulate the growth of stem cells. Many professional athletes use hyperbaric chambers as treatment for sporting injuries. Cancer can also be treated. 

“Cancer cells can’t grow in an oxygen rich environment.”

Elderly people have found benefits in oxygen therapy. The chamber helps injuries heal faster and can cure infections. Research has shown that entering a hyperbaric chamber within an hour of a stroke can prevent the body from forming scar tissue that can cause long-term damage. 

A hyperbaric chamber works by delivering a high concentrated amount of oxygen to affected areas of the body very quickly. The chamber is enclosed with a single patient, but some can accommodate up to 10 people at a time. Atmospheric pressure inside the chamber is increased. Regular air is about 21 per cent oxygen. Patients in a hyperbaric chamber will breath 100 per cent oxygen with breaks in between to prevent seizures and lung problems. Other risks include inner ear, lung, nasal sinus and tooth damage, promotion of nearsightedness and fire due to the build-up of oxygen. A properly installed and maintained hyperbaric chamber and trained medical staff can limit the risk of fire. 

Despite hyperbaric therapy growing in popularity all over the world, Health Canada has been slow to jump on the bandwagon. Health Canada currently approves only a short list of ailments that are publicly treated. Those include carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning, sever anemia, gas gangrene, skin grafts, thermal burns, diabetic wounds and decompression sickness. The list continues on Health Canada’s website, www.hc-sc.gc.ca

“We’re kind of the last to get on board,” Kohn said, adding that many countries have embraced the treatment, such as China and the U.S. “We use it for a few things.”

A hyperbaric chamber can cost up to $100,000 for a large, hard-sided chamber. Soft-shelled personal chambers are also sold, but they are less effective. Kohn said the foundation hopes to bring one of the hard-sided units to Jasper. 

“Our goal is to get a $100,000 one,” she said. “They’re coming down in price.”

The foundation hopes to be able to offer the chamber to children with disabilities free of charge in Jasper and surrounding towns. Eventually people could head into Jasper for medical tourism as well. 

For now, the foundation is focusing on raising the funds. Kohn said they don’t know where the chamber will end up going once it’s purchased, but they have looked at the possibility of having it placed in a local spa or clinic. 

“It probably won’t go in the hospital,” she said. “It’s a ways until we get there.”

The $10,000 already in the bank for the chamber has been raised a number of different ways. Dave MacDowell helped out by riding the 24 Hours of Adrenalin race for the foundation last year. He contributed funds and helped raise awareness. Vidal Michaud and Pam Roy also biked the recent TransRockies from Fernie, B.C. To Canmore and raised some funds. 

Since beginning hyperbaric therapy with her daughter, Kohn said she has seen her behaviour improve from high strung to quiet. Doctors have described the girl’s brain as “being on fire”.

“Now she’s cool as a cucumber,” Kohn said. 

Kohn has travelled to Mexico for the treatment, where she pays about $45 a session. In Canada, patients can expect to hand out between $150 to $300 a session. Most hyperbaric therapies last at least 20 sessions. Kohn said she saves about $1,700 by travelling to Mexico for the treatments. While there, Kohn and her daughter utilize other treatments that are more expensive in Canada. Private chambers are scattered around the country in B.C., Toronto, Hamilton and a few other places. 

The Children of Autumn Foundation has received positive feedback from the community on their goal. Many people have approached Kohn and said they would use the chamber if it were in Jasper. The foundation has no time limit for their efforts, but hope the chamber will be available to Jasperites as soon as possible. 

“Obviously the sooner we can get it here the better,” Kohn said. 

The Mexican Independence Day fund-raiser was inspired by Kohn’s trips to Mexico for her daughter’s treatment and the growing population of Mexican-Canadians living in Jasper. 

“There’s quite a few Mexican people here now,” Kohn said. 

The event will be held at the Legion on Sept. 15 starting at 6 p.m. It will include a Mexican buffet, a live band and more. There will be a chance to win seven nights accommodation in Mexico.