Mother wants to bring hyperbaric chamber to Jasper

A Jasper mother is attempting to raise money to bring a hyperbaric chamber to Jasper to help local children.

Grace Kohn is asking the community to help raise up to $125,000 for the chamber, which can be used to treat a variety of ailments. Kohn hopes to bring a chamber to Jasper, where it will be available free of charge to treat sick children.

“I’ve seen how this can help and it’s amazing,” Kohn said.

Kohn recently returned from Mexico, where her 13-year-old autistic daughter Julianne Shea, received 20 sessions inside the hyperbaric chamber. The sessions were designed to lessen swelling in Shea’s brain and while they helped, Kohn said treatment must be more frequent to be effective.

“There’s a calm element to her,” Kohn said. “The doctor said it brings down the inflammation in the brain...” Kohn said. “It takes about 80 sessions to see a real impact.”

Kohn took her daughter to Puerta Vallarta for the treatments because the sessions were much cheaper in Mexico. Health Canada does not cover hyperbaric treatment sessions for children with autism and private clinics charge upwards of $300 per session. Each session in Mexico cost $45 dollars, she said.

Coupled with inexpensive vitamin injections, Kohn said the savings helped fund the trip.

“All of the savings helped pay for the trip,” Kohn said.

Kohn also tried the chamber while in Mexico for her own interest. In order to subsidize the cost of the service, she’d like to offer adults a chance to use the chamber as well for a cost.

“It was like having a fantastic massage,” Kohn said.

A technician will also be required to run the chamber, and Kohn is still looking for a location for the machine. However she doesn’t envision housing it at the Seton General Hospital. But, she has spoken with medical professionals in the community, and said she’s received their support to bring it to town. Kohn believes the cost of the machine could be subsidized by adults who require it.

According to Health Canada, the chamber delivers high doses of oxygen to damaged areas of the body, and is effective in treating embolisms, carbon monoxide poisoning, blood loss, crushing and burn wounds, flesh eating disease and other injuries. Internationally, hyperbaric chambers are used for a variety of ailments, they are only covered for use in 13 different instances by Health Canada. Health Canada cautions that there are claims they can also help patients with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, AIDS, stroke and migranes, however there is currently no scientific data proving these claims.

During treatment, the patient is placed inside a chamber where the air pressure is increased and they are given 100 per cent oxygen for several minutes at a time. Inhaling deeply from a mask, they are asked to take periodic breaks to breath regular air, which only contains 21 per cent oxygen.

The device has become popular with athletes as well, with several sports teams purchasing the devices to hasten recovery time.

Kohn is currently pursuing charitable status for the effort, and has approached several Jasperites to help her raise money. Dave McDowell has agreed to raise funds as part of the 24 hours of adrenaline race in Canmore to help bring the device to town.