KENTUCKY — For thousands of veterans, the scars of service aren’t always visible. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often linger long after the battlefield has faded—impacting sleep, memory, mood, and quality of life. But a promising therapy is changing the story for many. It’s called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)—and veterans in Kentucky are sharing powerful stories of healing.
Watch the FOX 56 feature:
Inside a pressurized chamber, veterans breathe in pure oxygen. According to Bob Thacker, a hyperbaric safety director featured in the recent FOX 56 News segment, “What oxygen will do is force new blood vessels to grow in the direction of where these injuries are—and that begins the healing process.”
Each session lasts about an hour and is typically repeated five days a week for 40 to 80 sessions. For some, the transformation is profound.
“This is your new normal,”—until it wasn’t.
Retired Staff Sgt. Kyle Lankford was told there was nothing more doctors could do for his TBI after an IED blast in Iraq left him battling depression, pain, and cognitive fog. He followed all the VA’s recommendations. Medications failed. Then he tried HBOT.
“The second week… I noticed I was sleeping better,” Lankford said.
“I battled depression for many years. After completing all my dives, I have zero depression.”
Lankford’s story echoes what other veterans across the country are reporting: HBOT works. Veterans like Medal of Honor recipient Sam L. Davis and Capt. Matt Smothermon credit HBOT with helping them reclaim their health and their hope.
“I’m here for two reasons—because God is good and because hyperbaric oxygen therapy works.” – Capt. Smothermon
The Data Supports It
Dr. Bill Duncan of the International Hyperbaric Medical Foundation shared measurable outcomes from HBOT use:
- 39% reduction in post-concussive syndrome
- 30% reduction in PTSD symptoms — the largest ever published
And while the VA has yet to approve HBOT for TBI or PTSD, the state of Kentucky is stepping up. A $1.5 million grant will fund free HBOT treatments for veterans through June 2026.
A National Call to Action
Every day, veterans are lost to suicide—many connected to untreated or undiagnosed brain injuries. As advocates, families, and survivors push for broader access to HBOT, stories like these show us what’s possible when healing begins at the source.
“Worst-case scenario is it doesn’t work,” said Thacker.
“Best case—it does. So if you can get into a program like this, why not give it a try?”
At HBOT4Heroes, we’re working to expand access to life-changing therapy like this. We provide free HBOT treatment to veterans suffering from TBI and PTSD, because we believe healing is possible—and no hero should suffer in silence.
Know a veteran who needs help?
Visit HBOT4Heroes.org
Or call 919.874.5754 to learn more.
Sources
FOX 56 News. Healing Hidden Wounds: Kentucky Veterans Find Hope in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Published April 2024. Read the full article