A toddler who endured significant brain damage following an incident where she fell into her family’s pool has exhibited remarkable advancement after undergoing a sequence of oxygen treatments. Over a year later, her mother attests that she has achieved a state of being “almost normal.”

The incident involving Eden Carlson occurred in early 2016 when she accidentally fell into the swimming pool at her residence in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Her mother found her motionless body about 15 minutes later, lacking a pulse and the ability to breathe. Reacting swiftly, she administered CPR until emergency responders arrived. Eden was then urgently transported to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals took charge of her care.

Approximately two hours later, medical efforts succeeded in reviving Eden, who had also experienced a cardiac arrest. Nonetheless, the near-drowning event had inflicted significant repercussions, rendering her incapable of speaking, walking, or offering coherent responses. About six weeks following the incident, Eden was released from the hospital. Subsequently, she embarked on an extensive journey of rehabilitation, aimed at restoring some of the impaired neural tissue in her still-developing brain.

The medical team proceeded with caution, implementing a deliberate approach. Eden underwent oxygen therapy twice daily, for 45 minutes each session, administered at sea-level air pressure. Over time, her progress became evident as she regained mobility in her arms and hands, resumed communication, and even found herself laughing once more.

Following this phase, Eden’s care shifted to LSU Health New Orleans. Here, she underwent a different form of oxygen therapy called hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This involved inhaling pure oxygen under higher-than-normal pressure. However, despite the positive outcomes observed, hyperbaric oxygen therapy remains met with skepticism by some medical professionals. Additionally, this treatment is not typically covered by insurance.

But Dr. Paul Harch, a hyperbaric specialist with LSU Health New Orleans, says the procedure reduced brain swelling, reinvigorated her surviving brain cells, and allowed oxygen-enhanced blood to help repair the brain tissue before long-term damage set in.

Remarkably, following only 10 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Eden’s mother attested that her daughter’s condition had improved to a state of being “near normal.” Astonishingly, Eden’s ability to walk and speak had surpassed her pre-accident capabilities. Furthermore, comprehensive assessments of her neurological function, cognitive abilities, and other tests revealed substantial enhancements.

MRI scans performed immediately after the accident showed her brain had begun to shrink, but a subsequent scan revealed that her brain “had almost completely re-grown,” said Harch, who oversaw Eden’s treatment.

This outcome is indeed uncommon, yet it can be attributed to several factors including the child’s developmental stage, hormone-rich brain, and the stimulating environment. The remarkable consequence is the undeniable and substantial regrowth of brain tissue, clearly attributable to the therapy.

You can watch the video below to learn more about Eden’s incredible recovery and share it to inspire others with this remarkable story of hope and resilience.