Right now, I have a couple of fears on my mind. 

1- I fear we won’t be able to raise enough money for treatment a second time. The first time felt like such a miracle, and I’m worried that’s not going to happen for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
2-I’m having trouble finding someone to come along with me for the drive and the entire 2 month stay in Louisiana for HBOT. I fear that making this trip alone will be an extremely difficult challenge that might postpone lifesaving treatment due to lack of support. 
3- I fear that I’m not communicating well enough to our supporters about the treatment we are seeking and why we are seeking it. 

Please pray with me over these fears. I remember our first round of fundraising; I voiced to a friend how I felt like we weren’t going to raise enough money for the intensive in Texas and 3 days later a stranger from church dropped off a check for $18,000 at our doorstep. This was the check that made Texas possible. Looking back, it seems like God was telling me to be vulnerable so others could see how well timed that blessing of a check was! 

Our goal with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: 
support his body and cognitive progress. There is evidence that HBOT positively impacts gene expression, turning off inflammatory genes and turning on anti-inflammatory genes. This could possibly improve seizure frequency. There is evidence that HBOT heals and improves brain function. Mack has brain damage in his brain stem due to unmanageable seizures. The part responsible for primitive reflexes like breathing, swallowing, balance, coordination. We will be using HBOT to improve that area of his brain specifically. 

This isn’t a fun vacation. This is lifesaving, hard to find treatment for Mack that people travel from far and wide to get. We are watching epilepsy take away his ability to breathe. Respiratory failure has been on his chart for several months now. After the removal of his adenoids, he has not improved respiratory wise, so we know his oxygen dependence is due to damage in his brain stem from seizures (encephalopathy). 

The challenges of saving, fundraising, traveling and living out of state for an extended period of time do not compare to the urgency and helplessness I feel as his mom knowing we have a limited window of time to get him this kind of help. The older he gets the less neuro plasticity he has. 

 I pray we are able to do what seems impossible- raise $25,000 again for HBOT in Louisiana. Please continue to share our story! Please share our flyer. Consider bringing our story to your family, congregations, coworkers.

attached to this update is our new flyer! Hang this where you see fit!  Businesses, parks etc. and if you’d like to help with a fund-raising event, please reach out! I can send a print quality file to your email if you'd like! Email me at mallorye71@gmail.com. 

We have one event planned to help raise funds and it’s on 9/19. The parade of lights truck show! Here’s the link to that event flyer if you’d like to support us in person and participate in the raffles taking place! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ECa7yUPuy/

At the risk of being annoying, sounding like a broken record, I’m determined to continue spreading the word about our mission. Strangers from all over have shown up for us in ways I never expected. There are some people who haven’t shown up for us at all that I thought would. This has been such an incredible, growth provoking experience. The more I share, the more people I meet. Mack has added so much joy and community to our lives. He is worth every minute of energy I have to advocate for him in this way. 

Thank you for being here!
-mal