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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 7, 20 22 | 12 Simple Cremation Package CREMATIONHELP.CA 905-512-5799 info@cremationhelp.ca by P.X. DERMODY FUNERAL HOME 1989 LTD & CREMATION HELP +tax $1816* Dermody's $1999$1997 Includes All disbursements & Crematorium Fees Monthly Payments Starting at $45 - *Prices effective April 1, 2022 and subject to change without notice. Price excludes HST but includes professional staff services ($300), documentation ($235), transfer within 50 kms ($200), administration vehicle ($175), Container ($225), Facilities Shelter ($160). City Registration Fee ($49), Coroner Certificate ($75), Cerematorium ($560). Dermody's www.IODEOakvilleON.com IODEOakville, ON Opportunity Shop IODEAngelaBruce The IODE is a national charitable organization. The Oakville chapter IODE Angela Bruce runs a popular thrift shop on Kerr Street. In person meetings are held once a month and new members or volunteers are welcome. Getting involved is an opportunity to be part of a dynamic group of women raising funds for education and community initiatives. It's a place to be of service, express your talents and connect with others. After a year-long search, Dan- iel Gericke and Deane Nesbitt Jr. settled on an Oakville site for their hyperbaric oxygen treat- ment centre; specifically, a roomy ground floor office inside the North Oakville Medical building next to Oakville Trafal- gar Memorial Hospital. Although not affiliated with OTMH, many of Halton Hyper- barics' patients are referrals from hospital doctors, as well as physicians from throughout the region. "We knew there was a need in the community -- there was nothing here," said Gericke, a board-certified hyperbaric tech- nologist (CHT). The two men, who share an "unwavering" belief in the benefits of HBOT, met sev- eral years ago at a North York clinic, where Gericke was work- ing and Nesbitt was receiving the therapy after radiation treat- ment for prostate cancer left him with internal burns. "It healed totally, so I'm a great believer in it (HBOT)," said Nes- bitt. Talk about the therapy, which uses concentrated levels of oxy- gen to repair damaged tissue, led to a partnership and a quest to open their own private facility. It wasn't a journey without its ob- stacles, but in the end, permits were granted, hundreds of legal documents signed and a 350 me- tre pipe from the hospital's oxy- gen tank to Halton Hyperbarics' premises was successfully built. For many, HBOT is associated with the bends, or decompression sickness experienced by divers. In fact, there are some 14 condi- tions for which it is now used in- cluding wound healing, embo- lisms, thermal burns, delayed ra- diation injury and sudden hear- ing loss for which a few COVID long haulers have been referred to the clinic. "Anything where there is tis- sue damage. That's where it all evolved, from diving medicine," said Gericke, who has 25 years' HBOT experience in South Afri- ca, Bermuda and Canada, begin- ning his career with the South Af- rican Navy Marines and Diving Unit, specializing in underwater explosive clearance, and foun- ding the first multiplace hyper- baric medical centre in Durban. Medical director of the facility, Dr Joseph Kay, is a diving medi- cine physician as well as a hyper- baric medicine physician. Halton Hyperbarics opened in April with three oxygen cham- bers but the company quickly re- alized demand required an addi- tional three chambers immedi- ately. All six are in use now and easing pressure on neighbouring clinics in Hamilton and Missis- sauga. "I think location-wise we couldn't really have chosen a bet- ter spot. We're on hospital prem- ises so we have access to hospital patients. We have easy access for people from the community to come to us because of the hospital and its location," said Gericke. The goal ahead of time was al- ways to create a medical office "people looked forward to visit- ing, something different and wel- coming," said Nesbitt, who has served on numerous medical in- stitution boards while working as a lawyer and co-founding an in- vestment management firm. Nature murals adorn walls, soft music permeates the office. There is a no news policy. "It's still medical, but we're trying to make it into a healing environment," said Gericke. "We don't put news on because news is sometimes not good for healing; it stresses people out. We feel it's important for patients for healing to have their mindset all focused on the healing process." The partners believe Halton Hyperbarics is an addition of real value to Oakville and the region. "We really wanted to do this and give back. I think it's a really nice addition to the hospital and to the hospital grounds and to Oakville," said Nesbitt. HYPERBARICS TREATMENT CENTRE OPENS IN OAKVILLE KATHY YANCHUS kyanchus@metroland.com BUSINESS Halton Hyperbarics owners Deane Nesbitt (left) and Daniel Gericke stand in front of their hyperbaric oxygen therapy units. Graham Paine/Metroland