Rachel was a perfectly healthy 19 year old girl. She had graduated high school and was in college full time plus working a full time job. She had a boyfriend and drove a nice little yellow convertible. Rachel has always been a loving person growing up. Especially to her little brother who she always had an awesome bond with. She loves people, she loves animals, and would go out of her way to try to help who ever and where ever she could. Rachel had dreams of being a Special Education teacher and all this was taken away one July night. While in the middle of a heated argument with her cousin Rachel all of a sudden stiffened up and dropped. her heart just stopped. We performed CPR within 4 minutes of the incident but Rachel's heart did not start up for almost 9 minutes. Because of this Rachel is suffering from an Anoxic Brain Injury (Lack of Oxygen). When this first happened we were told there was no chance for quality of life because she was down too long. As parents, you would not want to hear something like that about your child. So we fought for her survival with her. We pushed for rehab and after almost a week of arguing with the doctors and Insurance companies finally, Rachel was moved to Rehab Hospitals of Indiana. This approval from the Insurance company was for 3 days. 72 days later Rachel walked out of that rehab and her recovery still continues today. Rachel is a miracle and continues to amaze the doctors who we are all trying to prove wrong. Rachel now has an amazing opportunity ahead of her. Rachel qualifies for HBOT Therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment which enhances the body's natural healing process by inhalation of 100% oxygen in a total body chamber, where atmospheric pressure is increased and controlled. It is used for a wide variety of treatments usually as a part of an overall medical care plan. Under normal circumstances, oxygen is transported throughout the body only by red blood cells. With HBOT, oxygen is dissolved into all of the body's fluids, the plasma, the central nervous system fluids, the lymph, and the bone and can be carried to areas where circulation is diminished or blocked. In this way, extra oxygen can reach all of the damaged tissues and the body can support its own healing process. The increased oxygen greatly enhances the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria, reduces swelling and allows new blood vessels to grow more rapidly into the affected areas. It is a simple, non-invasive and painless treatment. After the phone consult we were told that RACHEL IS TREATABLE! Her cognitive problems, speech problems, even some of the physical problems are all treatable with HBOT
As parents, after what we have been through to hear those words and would again do ANYTHING we can to make this happen so we are asking for you to help be the miracle for Rachel Lapidus. She spent 10 days on full life support and 72 days in intensive inpatient rehab at Rehab Hospital of Indianapolis. She now faces years of outpatient rehab to regain basic self-care skills. Rachel's parents, Randy and Robin Lapidus, have been working very hard with Rachel and their efforts are paying off. Even though Rachel has a long way to go, her recovery so far has been miraculous. Help support the Lapidus family in their time of need. You can donate by going to www.gofundme.com/MiracleForRachel
