Immediately after surgery         

This is an amazing story of young Daniel's determination and desperate quest to LIVE.

Daniel's overwhelming changes have been as a result of 2.5 months of intensive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy combined with appropriate strategies under the direction of HyperMED.

'Hi my name is Daniel Frezza, I'm 17-years old. Two and half years ago after suffering with terrible headaches, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour with extension into the upper part of my spinal cord. I was told I had a Chordoma in my brain which had wrapped itself around my spinal cord and attached itself to my bones. I was told the tumour had also melted away parts of my spinal cord.

I deteriorated rapidly at this stage and was admitted to hospital with mild paralysis and loss of feeling. The pain was incredible and within days an operation was performed. This operation was 9-hours in length.

Another operation was performed 3-weeks later as complications set in due to fluid on the brain. Another 3-operations were performed in an attempt to rectify the complications. After the third operation I suffered a stroke which left me blind, collapsed lungs and not able to walk or talk. Even after the first operation my headaches returned and eventually I was told the Chordoma was growing back!

I was told I was going to DIE - the Chordoma was incurable resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The only other option given to me and my parents was from a specialist in the USA using a Proton Beam Therapy a very specialised form of radiation but my doctors said that the Chordoma was too big!

I was told at 15 "to go home and await death - your old enough to understand!" ... I was going to die. 

The forms of surgery that I have had have been extreme. I have had literally the back end of my skull partially removed. The back of the vertebra in my neck have also been removed and titanium rods, screws and wire are literally holding my head on my shoulders. Ever since the surgery I have terrible pains, the entire left side of my body burns and severe burning to my right side of my face. I have extreme pain in my right shoulder and left leg and I have difficulty with my balance and require a walking stick to help me.

During the past operation I suffered a brain stem stroke and I lost my ability to swallow and many other bodily functions. I was told I suffered damage to the 11th and 12th cranial nerves and nerves to my vocal cords, tongue and soft palate which were also damaged. My muscles have wasted terribly and my balance and coordination has been greatly affected. I was told that the surgeon had to retract my cerebellum at the base of my brain to get to the tumour.

I have come to Dr Hooper for help!

The rods in my neck are causing a lot of pain and are actually stopping me from growing. The disk just under the fusion has collapsed and I have to wear a neck brace just to support my head. I have been told that I require another operation to fuse my neck down into my middle back. My surgeon told me that I could end up a quadriplegic if I don't have the fusion; but during the same consultation informed us that I could end up a quadriplegic even with fusion because of the complexity and potential complications associated with this form of spinal fusion!

Dr Hooper ordered new MRIs of my brain and full spinal cord. Independent reports on the MRI identified many issues that we were not aware of and had not been told. The tumours in my brain were virtually exactly the same size and location as before the first operation!

The MRIs also revealed that my neck has virtually collapsed from the surgery to the back of my head and neck. The MRI's very clearly show that the lower disc in my neck has collapsed with massive arthritic degeneration (very large spur formation) and ruptured disc compressing back into my spinal cord!

The most alarming news was the fact that when all the MRI's were examined and compared from before the initial surgery, MRI's taken at different stages during the operations and then the most recent MRI's with Dr Hooper. The Chordoma which initially extended into the upper part of my spinal cord was now extending all the way down my spinal cord to the level of T8/9 (middle back) with thinning (deterioration) of the cord. My spinal cord was wasting. The independent report has called the spinal cord appearances as a 'syrinx' which Dr Hooper describes as an inflammatory degeneration often observed in victims of spinal cord injury.

Dr Hooper gave my parents and myself a very through examination and explanation of my condition and possible benefits of Hyperbaric Therapy. He carefully explained that this approach was not to cure my condition but hopefully provide some worthwhile form of pain relief and to then review the situation after several months of treatment. Dr Hooper said that a base-line of between 40-60 hours of therapy would be required before some form of benefit could be measured. What other options did I have; so I began the slow process of treatment.

After 40-hours of Hyperbaric Therapy

• My pain has decreased dramatically

• I can sleep 100% better than when I first started

• I could never sleep on my left side due to the pain and now I can sleep quite comfortably on my left side

• I can sing higher notes, whistle and swallow without coughing

• When I stick my tongue out it does not deviate as much as before treatments

• My lung capacity has improved, I can talk without taking so many short breathes like before

• The pains down the right side of my body have improved and my left leg has improved

• Scar tissue in my neck has softened

• My balance has improved 

• I can play my saxophone

• My neck is straighter and not as stiff. I don't require my neck brace as often. I can hold my neck up better

• I don't use my walking stick as often

• I have heaps more energy

Improvements after 80-hours of Hyperbaric Therapy

• The pain has decreased a little more. It is still there but more bearable

• I can stand straighter, my neck continues to get better

• I am more stable on my feet

• My ability to swallow, sneeze, blow my nose continue to be stronger

• I am having my first saxophone lessen since I was diagnosed in October 2000

• My energy levels have skyrocketed!

• I am more independent and more mobile

• I want to go out more with friends and go to school more often

• I don't rely on my walking stick as much

• My hearing is returning in my right ear

Improvements after 120-hours

• I am very strong and carry my own bags

• I am much more stable on my feet and have started to kick a football again

• My pain continues to decrease

• I am more independent going out with friends. Recently I was invited to an 18th birthday party - the first party I have been to since my stroke!

• I drove my uncles car in a paddock on his farm (after my stroke I thought I would never be able to drive a car)

• My hearing continues to improve more and more each day

• I am enjoying life - my quality of life has improved dramatically!

• I enjoy playing my saxophone

• My energy levels are great! I can stay up longer and enjoy going out without gettying tired

• I am loosing weight and I am feeling great!

Improvements gained after 160 hours

• The story doesn't stop, I continue to get better!

• I have notioced improvements in the burning sensation down my left side, its still their but has reduced significantly

• When I had a haircut yesterday I noticed I could feel the vibrations of the clippers against the right side of my head. I had lost this sensation with the priuor two surgeries to the back of my skull!

• I am more mobile and walk longer distances, which is good because I can go out with friends almost anywhere

• I am going out with friends every week. No longer am I house bound and feeling like a recluse!

• I am enjoying 'life', sometimes I cry because I am so happy and thank God for the second chance given to me

Overall the treatment has been of great benefit. I have generally between 3-4 hours per day of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Between chamber sessions I receive acupuncture needling into my neck, skull, back and legs with an electrical stimulation. I receive different vitamin injections and I also take large quantities of MSM (Methylsulphonmethane). Dr Hooper also has me taking a number of other 'unusual' products but overall I am very optimistic and encouraged. 

I would like to thank the team for all their support and encouragement - Daniel Frezza