Story made light of her efforts to treat son

MY SON and I were featured in the Dec. 1 Health/Science article "Hope in the air." While I am pleased that hyperbaric oxygen therapy received some media coverage, I was disappointed that the article perpetuated the image of parents of kids with special needs as desperate and willing to try anything despite all reason.

During my telephone interview, I explained that we became interested in trying this therapy because our son's medical ailments were so similar to those already being successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen, such as gastrointestinal inflammation and oxidative stress. We arrived at our decision only after extensively reviewing existing science and conferring with our son's physicians, not simply out of blind hope, as the article implies. I understand that the scope of the article was limited, and that much of the medical jargon I discussed wasn't appropriate, but in quoting me out of context, your reporter misrepresented my point of view and discredited our decision.

Furthermore, to interview and quote only those doctors who deem off-label use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as so-called quackery without quoting doctors with an opposing view was inadequate reporting.

I agreed to be interviewed in hopes that it might help other parents persevere in pursuit of potentially helpful interventions for their children, and open lines of communication between parents and professionals. Instead, like most of what is published in mainstream media, the article portrayed parents who seek alternative treatments for their special-needs children as hopeful but foolish. This was a missed opportunity, and I regret my participation.

Abby M. Stern
North Andover