Make a Microloan for 37-year old Ben's Health!

This loan has been repaid in full!

Photo: Ben smiling in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber.

First Posted: July 3, 2010

Name: Ben

Age: 37 years old

Location: Ohio, USA

Diagnosis: Autism

Loan Sought: $1,200

Loan Needed For: Rental of a hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) chamber.

Repayment Terms: 24 monthly payments ($50/month)

Other Notes: Ben's mom, Karen, writes, "Ben is 37 years old and has a 2-year-old comprehension. At the present time he does not talk. He was first diagnosed with brain damage and seizures at 11 months of age. We believe the initial cause was the series of the DPT shots at 3, 6 and 9 months (seizures started at 9 months). Looking back, the seizures and autism grew worse with each immunization shot. He was hospitalized with the first Asthma attack at 18 months shortly after he received the MMR shot. At 14 years of age, he received the series hepatitis B shots, after which he became aggressive.

When Ben was born, Autism’s ratio was 1 in 10,000 and now it is something like 1 in 150! He wasn't officially diagnosed with Autism until he was 20 years old, even though we mentioned it to doctors when he was young. Ben was also diagnosed with Colitis 3 years ago that causes him to have chronic constipation and severe stomach pain.

When Ben is having a good day, he smiles and giggles a lot, and when he is happy it brings us great joy. He loves playing ball and going for walks. His memory is amazing. When he is having pain in his body, the only way he knows how to react is by being aggressive or biting his hand. Not being able to tell us what is wrong must be difficult for him, and it is extremely hard for us to determine how we can help.

We have started the hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatments and are noticing more cognitive awareness and interaction with us. The HBOT started to heal the callus on Ben’s hand but when he bit it again the skin broke. In the past when we tried to bandage his hand he would immediately take it off but this time he didn't even try to take it off! He holds his hand out and allows us to put a bandage on him (without someone else holding his other hand down) and will keep it on most times for hours or even over night. Angie from Dr. Demio's office [from whom we rented the chamber], said that was very significant because cognitively he was able to realize the bandage helped him. Ben is also taking our arm and leading us to what he wants a lot more. All of this is very exciting!

HBOT is expensive but with prayer and God’s direction we believe it could improve Ben’s quality of life. Many conditions including Autism and Colitis can improve from HBOT therapy because it decreases inflammation. Reducing inflammation helps aid in the healing process. We believe in miracles and that it is God’s will to heal Ben. Mal 4:2 But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. Thank you for your support!"

Special Note: Ben's mom sells nutrition/vitamin products online to help cover the costs of Ben's treatment. She invites everybody to visit her website as an additional way to help the family pay for Ben's HBOT. Click HERE to go to her products site.

Special Note #2: Click HERE to download a free toolbar for your computer that will generate $0.10 for Ben's treatment from every click on a sponsored link!

Reference Provided By: Hope J., Tami L., and the office of Dr. Demio.

Ben's Community of Lenders:

Tami (Sawyrr's mom): $20
Patty: $10
Sandra: $20
Grandma Gini: $10 ["Celebrates the 30th birthday of Meridith Falkavage July 5, 20l0. CHEERS!!!"]
Diane: $20 [Cinco de Linco]
Grandma Gini (again): $5 ["Happy Cinco de Linco from the Land of Lincoln"]
Karen F: $5 [Cinco de Linco]
Shirley: $10
Dr. Matt: $100 [Re-loaned from Gabriel & Christopher's repaid loan]
Kathleen S: $50
Petra: $20 ["Happy Cinco de Linco (and what an incredibly dedicated family!!). Many blessings"]
Renee: $10 [Re-loaned from Gabriel & Christopher's repaid loan]
Grandma Gini (again): $10 [Re-loaned from Joshua's repaid loan. "Celebrates the 88th birthday of great grandpa Paul Riordan July 9, 20l0."]
Patti B: $5
Renee (again): $10 [Re-loaned from Levi's repaid loan]
Stacie: $5 ["Happy Cinco De Linco Ben! God bless you and your parents. Wishing you health and happiness and HBOT."]
Grandma Gini (again): $10 ["Celebrates the 60th birthday of Debbie Riordan on Aug. 9, 20l0. CHEERS!!!"]
Bahar: $5 ["My mom made Lend4Health. I am 8 years old. This is money that Irene repaid. I hope you feel better soon!"]
Grandma Gini (again): $10 ["Celebrates the 7th wedding anniversary of Jenni & Jake Peterson on Aug. 3l, 20l0. CHEERS!!! (from Irene's repaid loan)"]
Patricia S: $100 ["Happy Cinco de Linco!! Best wishes to you!!"]
Karen F (again): $5 ["Cinco de Linco"]
Grandma Gini (again): $5 ["Happy Cinco de Linco from the Land of Lincoln (from Irene's repaid loan)"]
Patti B: $5
Grandma Gini (again): $10 ["Celebrates Tori's 38th birthday Sept. 6, 20l0. CHEERS!!! Keep smiling! (from Irene's repaid loan)"]
The Baileys: $20 ["Our prayers are with Ben's family. We are in agreement the Ben will be healed!"]
Grandma Gini (again): $10 ["Celebrates Angela Skinner's 34th birthday Sept. l9, 20l0. CHEERS!!!"]
Grandma Gini (again): $10 ["Celebrates the 67th birthday of Lyman Welch Sept. 24, 20l0. CHEERS!!!"]
Karen T: $5
James: $20 [Loan made at DAN! conference in Long Beach, CA]
Stephanie: $1 [Loan made at DAN! conference in Long Beach, CA]
Twyla: $1 [Loan made at DAN! conference in Long Beach, CA]
Cyndy: $10
Petra (again): $10
Karen T (again): $5
Lee: $500 ["Get better!"]
Karen F (again): $20
Karen F (again): $5
Heather (Brock's mom): $20 ["Best wishes for Ben. God Bless you as parents for never giving up on Ben. You make me remember that new things are possible. ALWAYS and ALL WAYS!"]
The Lunsfords: $103 ["Happy Holidays to you BEN!"]

UPDATES - UPDATES - UPDATES

December 3, 2010: This loan has been fully funded!

December 6, 2010: Promissory note to sent to Karen for signature.

December 8, 2010: Signed promissory note received.

December 8, 2010: Loan of $1,200 disbursed to Karen via check in the mail. This loan is scheduled to be repaid over 24 months, beginning on February 15, 2011.

December 16, 2010: Thank you note from Karen: "We want to thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts for funding the loan for Ben. We started the HBOT treatments today and he did great. I don't know if it is a coincidence, but he has been happy all afternoon :) Yea! May you be blessed abundantly, above and beyond what you could ever ask or think. You have hearts of gold and you will be rewarded for your thoughtfulness of others. We will keep you updated on Ben's progress. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!"

February 8, 2011: 1st repayment of $50 (due February 15) received, early.

March 7, 2011: 2nd repayment of $50 (due March 15) received, early.

April 11, 2011: 3rd repayment of $50 (due April 15) received, early.

May 5, 2011: 4th repayment of $50 (due May 15) received, early.

June 8, 2011: 5th repayment of $50 (due June 15) received, early.

July 11, 2011: 6th repayment of $50 (due July 15) received, early.

July 19, 2011: Update from Karen: "Ben is up and down. We found out he has had kidney stones probably since at least last year when all of the behaviors started again. We have tried a lot of things but nothing big has happened. When he is not in pain, he is very happy. Hoping to do a colonic with him. I will do one first to see what it is like. I have heard a lot of good things about them and his main issues are gut related. Disappointed that we didn't see better results with the Hyperbaric treatments but do feel they had to have helped, and he probably needs so much more because he is an adult. I don't know if we will do HBOT again. Our focus has been trying to keep him in our home because the State is fighting against giving 24-hour care for him. Then once we get that, we have to find the right people. We will get there. I haven't given up yet."

August 8, 2011: 7th repayment of $50 (due August 15) received, early.

September 7, 2011: 8th repayment of $50 (due September 15) received, early.

February 11, 2012: 9th repayment of $50 (due October 15) received, early.

February 11, 2012: 10th repayment of $50 (due November 15) received, early.

February 11, 2012: 11th repayment of $50 (due December 15) received, early.

February 11, 2012: 12th repayment of $50 (due January 15, 2012) received, early.

June 9, 2012: 13th repayment of $50 (due February 15, 2012) received, early.

June 9, 2012: 14th repayment of $50 (due March 15, 2012) received, early.

June 9, 2012: 15th repayment of $50 (due April 15, 2012) received, early.

June 9, 2012: 16th repayment of $50 (due May 15, 2012) received, early.

June 9, 2012: 17th repayment of $50 (due June 15, 2012) received, early.

July 9, 2012: 18th repayment of $50 (due July 15, 2012) received, early.

August 8, 2012: 19th repayment of $50 (due August 15, 2012) received, early.

September 10, 2012: 20th repayment of $50 (due September 15, 2012) received, early.

October 15, 2012: 21st repayment of $50 (due October 15, 2012) received, on-time.

November 13, 2012: 22nd repayment of $50 (due November 15, 2012) received, early.

December 3, 2012: 23rd repayment of $50 (due December 15, 2012) received, early.

December 3, 2012: 24th repayment of $50 (due January 15, 2012) received, early.

This loan has been repaid in full, one month before its due date!

December 30, 2012: All lenders have been repaid their original loan amounts via PayPal.

Thank you note from Ben's mom, Karen:

"Dear Lend4Health Friends, we would like to thank you for your support by lending finances for our son Ben to receive H-Bot treatments. We have seen some steady improvements with him cognitively over the past year. I shared before how he allows us to put a bandage or bandaid on his hand without immediately tearing it off and recently he allowed us to put gloves on him. It was very exciting because in the past he would quickly take them off. Yesterday he wore them for two hours after he came inside! He also has been giving us way more eye contact, lots and lots of hugs with giggles. He gives lots of interaction while tossing balls. He is doing more things on his own instead of waiting for us to do it for him. For example, one of Ben’s favorite toys is a yellow shape sorter. Once he has finished putting all the shapes in the container he now takes the lid off, dumps the shapes out then puts the lid back on so he can do it again. I know this sounds really simple but we are rejoicing in the little things that he has never done before. I believe Ben understands more of what we say and he is responding in a very positive way. Another cute thing he is doing when we play a "pick up his toys" game. We sit his toy bin in front of him and he helps put the balls and toys away. When he comes to a toy he likes he sits it beside him on the couch so he can play with it later. Before long he has several sitting beside him. It is really neat to see him pick and choose which ones he wants to put away and which ones he wants to keep beside him. We are very excited because he has not shown this kind of awareness before. Thank you so much again for believing in us and allowing us to borrow the finances for his treatments. We hope we will be able to get Ben additional H-Bot treatments again someday. Thank you for making this possible! God bless you all abundantly. Happy New Year!
Karen, Vince and Ben"