A little boy from Abbotsford who survived a drowning in Cultus Lake is on a slow road to recovery, and needs help to take the next step.

Azaryah (Ryah) Hope will be traveling to New Orleans soon to access hyperbaric oxygen treatment that isn香蕉视频直播檛 covered by health care and available with the necessary level of expertise in B.C.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 an amazing specialist (Dr. Paul Harch) who香蕉视频直播檚 been doing this for 30-plus years and you could say he香蕉视频直播檚 an icon in the field,香蕉视频直播� said Ryah香蕉视频直播檚 mom Natalie. 香蕉视频直播淗e treats a lot of drowning victims, and in particular children like my son. When it comes to kids with these issues, and because it香蕉视频直播檚 so soon after the injury, what we香蕉视频直播檝e been told is it requires a lot of doctors knowing what to look for in a patient and and how they respond to the treatment.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 all these details and it香蕉视频直播檚 one of those things where you don香蕉视频直播檛 wnat to risk doing it with someone who doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know this specific injury, because all of these variables come into play. You don香蕉视频直播檛 want to experiment with your child, so that香蕉视频直播檚 why we香蕉视频直播檙e doing it with Dr. Harch.香蕉视频直播�

Ryah and his family need to charter a properly-outfitted airplane to get there, and they香蕉视频直播檒l have to stay in Louisiana for two months before coming home. The three-year-old will need ongoing support when he gets back, including the use of a home-version hyperbaric chamber. When all is said and done, mom Natalie Hope figures it香蕉视频直播檒l cost the family around $300,000 to $400,000.

But you could triple that and she wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 care. All that matters is getting her son well.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 been home for a few days now, which is incredible,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 responding to us in terms of his emotion. He can feel, touch, and all that kind of stuff. He香蕉视频直播檚 smiling and laughing and crying, and he香蕉视频直播檚 needing less and less life-support type of monitoring, which is a huge good sign. So every day we香蕉视频直播檙e seeing improvement, but it香蕉视频直播檚 a process. It香蕉视频直播檚 a journey.香蕉视频直播�

It香蕉视频直播檚 been a roller coaster of emotion for Natalie and husband Cam since their child was pulled from the waters of Cultus Lake on June 1.

香蕉视频直播淗e was gone. He didn香蕉视频直播檛 have a heartbeat when I pulled him out and started CPR,香蕉视频直播� Natalie said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 one of those things you never think is going to happen and it was like a living nightmare.香蕉视频直播�

Ryah was on a ventilator, barely responsive for days afterwards. Natalie and Cam were told he香蕉视频直播檇 probably never come off the ventilator. He was on heart and oxygen monitors. He had pneumonia and a collapsed lung.

Now he香蕉视频直播檚 breathing on his own and maintaining a relatively normal sleep schedule for a toddler. The 香蕉视频直播榥eurological storms香蕉视频直播� that he experienced are getting less frequent and less severe, and he香蕉视频直播檚 been able to go off some of the heavier medications he was on.

香蕉视频直播淭he fact that he香蕉视频直播檚 there, inside, when you香蕉视频直播檝e been told he香蕉视频直播檚 never going to be there, he香蕉视频直播檚 never going to do this or do that 香蕉视频直播� for him to defy all the odds keeps me going. We are faith people (they go to Hope City Church in Abbotsford) and that香蕉视频直播檚 been a huge part of our journey, seeing God help him defy the odds. All these little miracles have been confirmation of our faith and to keep praying.香蕉视频直播�

Ryah香蕉视频直播檚 motor functions are now the big concern, and that香蕉视频直播檚 where the hyperbaric treatments are supposed to help. The Hopes are going to New Orleans because Dr. Paul Harch is a rock star in the field. He香蕉视频直播檚 done this sort of thing for 30-plus years and helped children in Ryah香蕉视频直播檚 position. Natalie and Cam connected with the parents of two other kids in similar situations who went through hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e done a few consultations with him and you can tell he香蕉视频直播檚 very passionate about helping people,香蕉视频直播� Natalie said. 香蕉视频直播淲e feel confident with him treating Azaryah.香蕉视频直播�

As she understands it, hyperbaric oxygen treatments increase stem cells in the body to the point where dying brain cells can be brought back to life. Harch wrote a book about it called 香蕉视频直播�The Oxygen Revolution.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 pretty incredible if you think about it, and those kids he treated are thriving today,香蕉视频直播� Natalie said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e walking and talking and pretty close to the way they were before their accidents.香蕉视频直播�

A GoFundMe that was created June 2 () is nearing $28,000 and the family is grateful for the help. Natalie is uncomfortable asking for more, but the sooner they get Ryah香蕉视频直播檚 treatments started the better the outcome is likely to be.

香蕉视频直播淚f you have a child, you know you would do anything to get them healthy and happy,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淓ven a little amount helps because small amounts in large numbers can totally make this happen. Just peoples香蕉视频直播� hearts doing what they can, and if they can香蕉视频直播檛 give financially, their prayers are a huge help to us.

香蕉视频直播淧eoples香蕉视频直播� love and willingness to lend a helping hand carries you through stuff like this. The prayers and encouragement and people dropping off meals at our house, it has been overwhelming.香蕉视频直播�

eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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