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How did The Michael Coss Brain Injury Foundation get its start?

When Michael Coss's parents were told by doctors that their son would possibly remain in a coma for years and would need long term care for the rest of his life, they then decided to find solutions, alternative treatments. They found information about HBOT treatments on the internet and they decided to give it a try. After 6 months in a coma, Michael finally woke up. Since then he is making huge improvements thanks to HBOT together with other therapies to stimulate brain functions. Michael Coss received help from his family, from friends and co-workers, psychological support of course which is extremely important during recovery, but most importantly, financial help to cover the cost for HBOT treatments.

Today, even though he made tremendous improvements from being in a deep coma to being able to stand up and walk a little bit today, he knows that he is not there yet and he will have to work hard every single day to get better and better - step by step - and he considers himself extremely lucky for having such a huge support that helped him to get where he is today.

The case of Michael may be seen as an exception. And Michael knows it. That's why today, he wants to give back to the community, he wants to contribute in giving a chance to brain injury survivors like himself and their coping families who don't have the means to have a better quality of life. This is why Michael has decided to create his own foundation - The Michael Coss Brain Injury Foundation - which is now his top priority, after his Rehab and his family.

Does The Foundation help only brain injury survivors?

Yes. The Michael Coss brain Injury Foundation's mission focuses on helping people (children and adults) who sustained traumatic (car accident, fall, sport injury...) and acquired brain injury (stroke, cardiac arrest...)to access HBOT and benefit from these treatments. Sorry but we do not provide assistance and grants for people suffering from degenerative brain deseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or brain deseases at birth such as Cerebral Palsy for instance.

Do I need a doctor's referral to get HBOT treatments?

You don't need any doctor's referral to get support from us and/or receive Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy

How do I start the process of accessing the support of The Michael Coss Brain Injury Foundation? What do I need to do?

First thing first, you have to contact us and tell us about your story and how/why The Michael Coss Brain Injury Foundation could help you. After a first evaluation based on your case, you would be assessed by a N.D doctor in one of the HBOT clinics we are partnering with, close to you, to make sure you are a good candidate for this type of treatment.

Can I receive assistance from The Foundation's even if I'm more than 50 years old?

Sure. Everybody should have access to HBOT treatments. Send us an email and we'll evaluate your case.

Do you accept young children for HBOT treatments?

Absolutely! Even though everybody, of all ages can contact us for assistance, children from a few months old to 13-14 years of age who sustained a traumatic brain injury or a acquired brain injury are very good candidates for HBOT. They should start treatments as soon as possible while their brain is still growing.

Can I still benefit from HBOT treatment if my brain injury occured years ago?

Yes. It has been proven that HBOT treatments can significantly improve the quality of life of those who are suffering from a brain damage that occured many years after the accident.

How can The Michael Coss Brain Injury Foundation help me?

If it has been determined that you are a good candidate for HBOT treatments, the Foundation will cover the cost of the treatments.

If I'm living far from the clinic, will you pay for my transportation and my stay?

For most people, accessing HBOT treatments is just a illusion since the cost of the treatments are extremely high. That's why our mission is to help those who don't have the means by paying for the cost of the treatments. Another part of our work is to find and partner with clinics offering such treatments and that are easy to access. Most clinics are located in main towns and/or their suburbs. If you live far from the nearest clinic that works with us and you have to travel everyday for your treatments, or if for your convenience you decide to rent a room at a motel close to the clinic, any related costs will be of your responsability.

You say that your mission is to help those who don't have the means. How do you determine who can or cannot receive financial assistance for HBOT?

Because Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy can be costly depending on each brain injury survivor's case, it makes it out of reach of most people who simply cannot financially afford to pay for it. For some people, having to pay tens of thousands of dollars is not a problem. But for most of us, having to pay out $2,000 is just not possible. Without this money, any hope towards recovery and a better quality of life remains a dream. We, The Michael Coss Brain Injury Foundation, want to give a chance to these people to live a better quality of life and at the same time help families in their everyday's lives.
Determining those who are the right candidates for HBOT and who are the right candidates financially speaking, this will be part of the whole assessment by the HBOT clinic.

I'm the owner of a HBOT clinic in Canada. How can I partner with The Michael Coss Brain Injury Foundation to provide HBOT treatments?

We are of course looking at partnering with HBOT clinics in BC - Lower Mainland. But we also have to consider partnering with other clinics located in the other provinces of Canada since it would be much more convenient for brain injury survivors from other provinces to access HBOT treatments at a participating clinic near them. Asking survivors and their family to travel to Vancouver BC and stay for weeks is simply out of question. If you are willing to partner with us, please contact us. We will be very happy to discuss partnership options.