Ep. 3 - Providing Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments To Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury And PTSD. Talking With Ashley Williams, 22 Project, Boca Raton, Florida.

When I first crossed paths with Ashley Williams at a veterans outreach event, I knew I’d stumbled upon someone extraordinary. Her dedication as Program Director for 22 Project shines through as she aids veterans in their battle against traumatic brain injury and PTSD, using hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This episode peels back the curtain on the life-altering work done at 22 Project, where traditional therapeutic support is augmented through the healing powers of increased oxygen pressure. Ashley recounts her journey with the organization and the Cruz family's inspiration for its creation, setting a deeply personal tone for our discussion on the critical care provided to those who've served our nation.

The transformative nature of hyperbaric therapy is a beacon of hope for many, and we take you through the intimate stories of recovery and resilience. It's more than just the 40 treatments; it’s about the comprehensive approach, encompassing logistical support, essential case management, and a suite of therapeutic offerings. These veterans' stories resonate with my own battle as a cancer survivor, finding parallels in the healing journey and the power of visible proof through SPECT imaging. The shared experiences and connections made through these brain scans are profound, offering veterans a tangible grasp on their path to wellness.

As we navigate the nuanced landscape of non-profit organizations, the commitment to support our veterans remains our true north. This conversation underscores the importance of preparation, community, and financial backing for operations like 22 Project. We're reminded of the collective role we play in supporting veterans through fundraisers like 22 Projects upcoming golf tournament, bridging the gap between those who need help and those who can offer it. By joining us today, you'll uncover the heartfelt mission behind 22 Project and be inspired by the tenacity of those who work tirelessly to honor and uplift our servicemen and women.

Transcript

Scott: 0:25

Welcome to the podcast. I'm Scott McLean. My guest today is Ashley Williams, program Director for 22 Project in Boca Raton, florida. 22 Project offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment to veterans with traumatic brain injury and PTSD. Now, I met Ashley a little over a year ago, I think now, when I first started with Herd Foundation.

Scott: 0:53

We were at an outreach up at Palm Beach State College put on by Jonathan Oakley and Mission United, and the first day there was probably 40 nonprofits there, 50. I don't know, it was a bunch. And the first day was everybody, would you know, each nonprofit and these all work with veterans would get up and do their presentation and you know everybody came with teams and you know there was like three people, two people, four people, four people, and then they, they, they. Jonathan announces 22 project and Ashley just gets up by herself, walks down the middle of the road, gets up front and when she started talking I was floored. I was like, what they do? What Like? And I've said this, I said this to her on this past Friday. We talked and I'm still amazed at what they do. This is what I, when I say they do next level stuff, and I was, I was really eager to have her come on the podcast and talk about 22 project and the next level stuff that they do for veterans. So, with all that said, how are you today, ashley?

Ashley: 2:12

I'm great. Thank you for having me. I have to say I am just honored to be a part of your podcast. I'm honored to work for the 22 Project, and not only did we meet on that day where we all were giving presentations about veterans, we were actually placed next to each other the next day, and so Scott and I really got to know each other well, and that was just the fortunate occurrence of the day so glad to have met you, then yes, absolutely, and I think our meeting ended with trying to put your sign down, trying to put it up at the beginning and then get that thing to come down, the roll-up sign.

Ashley: 2:56

Yeah, now I'm short. Those bands are a lot taller than me. I need help sometimes I looked over.

Scott: 3:02

I'm like I have to help her. I don't care, I left my stuff and I got to help her because she's by herself and she's trying to fight with this. So it was a really good two days. And, yeah, the second day we got to talk a lot and I was I'm still extremely impressed with what 22 Project is doing. But before we get to 22 Project, tell the listeners a little about yourself project.

Ashley: 3:28

Tell the listeners a little about yourself.

Ashley: 3:29

So, as Scott said, my name is Ashley Williams.

Ashley: 3:30

I'm a licensed clinical social worker who practices here in South Florida, and so most of my career has been dedicated specifically to the area of trauma healing and trauma recovery. And I've done that working as the director of organizations but also in a private practice, working with individual clients, and I think so much of my practice was influenced just by the reality that whenever someone has experienced trauma or they're recovering from trauma, there's so many different ways to be able to address that healing. But there must be a way that really helps the individual reconnect their mind and body, and so so much of what we do with the 22 Project helps address the physical healing of trauma, so that individuals or veterans who are looking for healing can then get more from some of the other supports that they're trying to receive, whether that's from mental health therapy, equine therapy, aqua therapy or some of the other partners that we work with, particularly passionate about. Based off of my career path and my history kind of working with trauma and seeing how necessary the physical component to healing is, Right?

Scott: 4:53

And how did you get involved with the 22 Project? How did that come into your life?

Ashley: 4:59

So the 22 Project really focuses on hyperbaric oxygen therapy but for the veterans who come through, they host events and recreational opportunities for veterans, and so it was a couple years ago. I was invited to their Thanksgiving dinner and so I came as the guest of someone who had been through the program before and was really introduced to this organization. That really just brought veterans in like family, and so throughout the next few years I stayed apart by going to some of these events until the opportunity became available for me to work for the 22 Project, which is one of the biggest blessings I've had.

Scott: 5:44

Absolutely. Now I can say this is kind of serendipitous because that's how I ended up with heard as I. You know you went as a guest to 22 projects Thanksgiving. I went to heard foundation as a veteran seeking help and and it was brought to me. Yeah, here you go and like you on the 22 Project Herd Foundation, I never left.

Ashley: 6:13

Yeah.

Scott: 6:15

And they're kind of polar opposites in a sense, but it's almost like it's a calling, Like you feel it. You're like I need to get involved with this, you know, and you fell right into the perfect spot for you, I fell into the perfect spot for me, and we end up, you know, tabling next to each other. And now this Friday we're getting together for our big coalition of care through the VA. We're partnered up right with the VA, and so we'll be seeing a lot more of each other. I have a funny feeling in the future.

Ashley: 6:50

I agree, I get that sense too.

Scott: 6:53

So how did the 22 Project get started? Like? What's the history of it?

Ashley: 6:59

So the 22 Project has two founders.

Ashley: 7:02

They're a couple, Alex and Erica Cruz, and they own an imaging business in Delray Beach, actually, and over 10 years ago they were approached asking if they would facilitate SPECT imagery of the brain for a study that was being done on Gulf War veterans and the effectiveness of hyperbaric treatment in treating Gulf War veterans.

Ashley: 7:27

And so they participated by offering these brain scans for pre and post of hyperbaric to see the effectiveness of the treatment. And Alex, our founders, looked at the scans of all of these veterans and said like, wow, this works, this is something that works. Why aren't more people doing this and so really being exposed through it through their personal business? They decided that they, as a way to give back, wanted to sponsor one veteran per year through Hyperbaric because they saw the effectiveness of the treatment, and after that it really just grew. A lot of people shared a lot of interest in wanting to receive the treatments and wanting to be involved, and so in 2014, they started the nonprofit officially of 501c3 to help veterans, and since then we've served over 350 veterans in the last 10 years, so we've seen quite a few veterans come through and receive that hyperbaric treatment.

Scott: 8:32

Now you, that's again. That's, that's the next level stuff, and I'm going to have you kind of explain a little more in detail. But you don't just have veterans from the local area, from South Florida area, right? So tell the audience where they come in from.

Ashley: 8:53

So we have veterans coming in from all over the country I think we've had veterans from 48 states at this point and we typically serve an average of about 50 veterans a year, and the way that veterans hear about us is really through word of mouth, through people who have had good experiences, who go and tell their friends, their brothers, about their experience in wanting to offer that type of help. I'd say probably about 10% of the veterans that we serve each year come from Palm Beach County and so we definitely have a local presence to Palm Beach County, but 90% of our veterans come from all over the country.

Scott: 9:36

Which is very unique. That's very unique for a nonprofit in a region like South Florida. That means you have legs out there, you know it's getting and that's great. What does the 22 Project offer the veteran? So okay, I'm in Wyoming and I hear about 22 Project and I go to the website and I reach out to you guys and that process starts. So take it from there. How do I get from Wyoming to Boca Raton? And then the experience. If you would.

Ashley: 10:13

Yeah, so we offer a couple of different things and our screening process is really, I mean, focused on the veteran. I mean our criteria. We're looking for any veteran, reservist, active duty individual who has either been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury or suspects diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury that was sustained during a deployment or during a combat tour, and so that's our main criteria. Criteria Now, if we have someone fill out our application process and they meet the criteria and they're able to come through for hyperbaric, we try to offer as much as possible in order to eliminate whatever barriers there might be to someone getting access to this treatment. And so our veterans who are coming in from out of town, we provide for airfare, rental, car, hotel stay while they're here, to kind of eliminate some of those expenses that might cause stress or anxiety associated with getting the treatment, but while they're here, we really offer three different components of our program. So the first one is SPECT imaging of the brain. So it's essentially a brain scan that we do before and after the treatments, and the reason that we do this is to show like the efficacy of the treatments, show that they really work, and we want the veteran to see the condition of their brain prior to going into the hyperbaric treatments.

Ashley: 11:44

And I'm the one who sits with our veterans and reads their brain scans with them, and I have to one who sits with our veterans and reads their brain scans with them, and I have to say this is probably one of the most powerful parts of my job and one of the most powerful experiences for our veterans.

Ashley: 11:57

A lot of veterans come to us questioning whether or not the symptoms they're experiencing are actually valid or, if they aren't, I think many have maybe received communication that maybe they're not as severe as what they're experiencing, and so our brain scans look for oxygen flow in the brain and we can pinpoint to a degree where there's areas of low oxygen flow, there's some sort of injury that has happened to the tissue in that part of the brain. And so when I sit with veterans and I look at their brain scan and I can point out here's some damage that we're seeing and it relates to this symptom. It relates to maybe headaches or to irritability or to depression or anxiety. I typically have veterans tell me that this is an extremely validating part of their experience, that they can see that the symptoms that they've been dealing with are valid, and then there's hope that there's some sort of treatment that can address those symptoms, because in our minds that can address those symptoms.

Ashley: 13:10

Because in our minds, if the damage is caused by low oxygen flow to the brain or the damage causes low oxygen flow to the brain, then one of the best treatments that you can give to an individual in that condition is by flooding their body and their brain with oxygen. And that's essentially what the hyperbaric treatments do, and so that's part of why we offer that as a way to help heal as the aftermath of traumatic brain injury. So, hyperbaric oxygen treatment we offer 40 treatments. Each treatment is called a dive, so we offer 40 dives, typically over a four-week period. So our veterans come down, they do one dive in the morning, they do one dive in the morning, they do one dive in the afternoon, and these are typically about an hour apiece.

Ashley: 13:53

And the reason that hyperbaric is effective is because the veterans will be in a chamber breathing 100% oxygen. Typically, like in our normal air, it's 21%. So when you're in the chamber you're breathing 100% oxygen and then that chamber is pressurized. And when the air is pressurized it actually forces the oxygen not only to be carried by your bloodstream, but it forces the oxygen into the fluids of your body, which means that it can get to more places, and so we're kind of forcing oxygen to get into those nooks and crannies of the brain that might have damage, and oxygen is considered healing for the body, and so by getting oxygen to those places it's causing cell regeneration, it's causing actual healing of the damaged tissue.

Ashley: 14:41

So those are really the two main things that we offer at the 22 Project the spec scans and the hyperbaric treatments. But then we also offer kind of case management services for our veterans while they're here, because we don't want them to be isolated while going through treatment in a place that might be unknown to them, and so we partner with so many organizations in the area to offer recreational opportunities, maybe some therapeutic opportunities to get them out of the hotel and interacting with other people while they're here. So we're really trying to look at all sorts of healing the physical healing, social, emotional healing, spiritual healing, in a lot of senses. So we try to kind of cover the spectrum, if you will. So we try to kind of cover the spectrum, if you will.

Scott: 15:27

So you at the 22 Project have built a network no-transcript. They don't really have a lot of people coming in from out of the country and you have sent two or three veterans over to Herd Foundation and Rhonda's always talking about Ashley from 22 Projects. She loves you, love Rhonda, and we're always open to send them right over and we appreciate you doing that Now. And we talked on Friday and you broke something down for me that was pretty interesting and we could relate on this level. Also my situation this isn't what the show is for, but I had the. I have the unique perspective of being the veteran that went in for the equine assisted services and now I help facilitate and I get to see what I experienced through other veterans. So during our discussion on friday you kind of mentioned that your experience before having hyperbaric chamber treatment right and you said like I had really it was, you got to do it. So tell me that like the befores and the afters, because that's very interesting yeah, that's a great question.

Ashley: 17:20

I am not a veteran I did not serve but I tell people all the time that I feel at home with veterans because I am a cancer survivor. I have a cancer that I've had multiple treatments before, and many times when I meet with veterans, I hear them talking about the symptoms that they're dealing with as a result of their experience that they've gone to seek help, that they've tried everything and that nothing really seems to be working and that's an experience that I can relate to something going on in my body. Nobody seems to know what to do about it. Nothing seems to be working, and I'm trying all the different avenues that are presented to me, and so, as a result of my diagnosis and some of my treatments, I have been left with some you know physical complications as a result, and so lots of brain fog, body fog and, before going through hyperbaric myself, lots of panic attacks that were happening kind of suddenly and pretty debilitating, and so it's a testament to the 22 Project. I just have to say one of our veterans had heard my story, and so they got together last year a group of the veterans who came through in 2023 and raised money for me to go through hyperbaric, and so it really is just a family who takes care of each other.

Ashley: 18:43

Once you come into our herd, I'll use your terms, but I had the opportunity in January to go through hyperbaric myself and it's very different telling people about it and going through it yourself, just like you said, and so at first it was just exhausting. You know it takes a lot out of you from an energy perspective just anytime you're healing, but once I hit about the 26th or 27th treatment I noticed some pretty significant changes myself. I was having maybe four or five panic attacks a week that I just could not get a hold of, and I haven't had a panic attack since mid-January. It's the end of March now, so almost two months, which is amazing. Brain fog has definitely improved.

Ashley: 19:36

I write grants for the 22 Project and sometimes it was a challenge sitting down and being able to focus on writing, and that's been a lot easier being able to focus, pull up things like memory retention, anxiety levels, all sorts of things I've kind of seen level off a little bit. The intensity has been taken off, and so these are things that I've heard from our veterans going through the program as well of just the headaches are decreasing, sleep is getting better, anxiety is leveling off, panic attacks are stopping, and to be able to witness that myself, especially at the kindness of our organization, has been humbling. But it has been such an amazing experience, life-changing. I can definitely attest to that.

Scott: 20:25

So you also mentioned the little things that you had no idea about when you were giving these treatments to the veterans, those little nuances you were like I never even realized it. So tell us a couple of those, because it's kind of important.

Ashley: 20:43

Of course. I mean, my job is really preparing the veterans to come into town to understand and be prepared for what they're going through, and I think veterans are a group that I've learned. You know, setting the right expectation is very important and being able to have the answers to questions to eliminate as much anxiety or uncertainty as possible is important. And so little things like okay, they provide me scrubs whenever I get there so I have something to wear into the chamber, but I also can't wear perfume or makeup or nail polish. As a female Like those are good things to know.

Ashley: 21:19

Going into the chamber to prepare somebody, knowing that they give you a bottle of water before you go into the chamber to help you clear your ears, because hyperbaric chambers can feel like you're going up in an airplane, so your ears fill up and you've got to be able to clear them in order to get to the right pressure. So just these kind of little nuances I wouldn't have known without going through the treatments myself. That has been great to get a better understanding so I can better prepare those who are coming in for what they're going to experience and answer any questions that they have, because hyperbaric is not a commonly known treatment. So there's a lot of questions about um the experience and what is it like. So it's good to have gone through it myself.

Scott: 22:07

Yes, I, I'm walking in those same boots. So money, and it's always and I I'll say this every episode money, episode, money is the gasoline that fuels the engine for nonprofits. It's the unspoken thing, but you know, people look at nonprofits this was my perspective of nonprofits is, oh, everything is free.

Ashley: 22:37

Yeah.

Scott: 22:38

Well, you come to find out, there has to be this it's necessary to have a business side of a nonprofit. So if somebody wants to donate to the 22 Project, how would they do it?

Ashley: 22:55

So we accept donations on our website. Our website is support22projectorg 22 the number, so support22projectorg and there's a button at the top to donate. 96% of all monies that we receive go directly to the veteran, and so we really believe strongly in whatever money we raise, whatever money we get, it's going to serve veterans, and so we take that as high priority and we, of course, love any financial support that we can receive. Hyperbaric is not the cheapest treatment, and so for veterans who are coming in from out of town, it's about $15,000 per veteran for them to get the transportation, the hotel and to access these treatments and these scans, and so for our local veterans it might be closer to $12,000, but still it's a pretty penny to be able to put veterans through these treatments. But we try as best as possible to do our due diligence on our end with all donations, ensuring that the majority of what we see goes directly to providing for the veterans who are coming to receive the treatments.

Scott: 24:09

So it's donations, grants, right. Grants is a big deal. You mentioned that I could not imagine. I am not a grant writer. My wife has written grants and I see the grant writer for Herd Foundation and I couldn't imagine doing it with brain fog. I don't know how you did that. It's a very specific talent to write a grant.

Ashley: 24:35

It's very extensive. Yes, it can be, so the grace of God is the only thing that got me.

Scott: 24:44

That's beautiful. So does the 22 Project. Do fundraisers? Do they have a fundraiser and if so, what is it?

Ashley: 24:54

Yeah, we do do fundraisers. We have one of our main fundraisers coming up at the end of the year. It's going to be on November 7th and it's really celebrating our 10-year anniversary as well, which is big for us, and so that fundraiser is going to be a golf tournament at the Boca Raton Golf and Racquet Club, and we are open now for finding foursomes and people to come through to either sponsor or play for that event. And so November 7th we really wanted it to be around Veterans Day so that we could honor our veterans in the way that we could. But that's the main fundraiser that we're looking at this year.

Scott: 25:35

And something tells me wait a minute, I'm getting this thing in my head that you will be back on this podcast before your fundraiser. I don't know where that came from, I don't know, but something tells me you'll be back, probably more than once, because there's so much more we could talk about. I know there's more discussion and we're going to be talking a lot more outside of this now that we're teaming up with the VA and you're on Friday. So, once again, if you want to give the website to the listeners, support22projectorg.

Scott: 26:16

Give them money. Thank you, give them money. Thank you, give them money. Now I have to kind of correct you on something, and this is not normal that a podcaster does this, or even an interviewer. It's kind of rude actually. But you said something. I have to kind of straighten it out Now. You said that you're not a veteran and you don't serve. You didn't serve. But I'm telling you from a veteran you're serving, you're serving those that served, and that, to me, is just as important as serving. I truly mean that what you do is beautiful, beautiful stuff. So you might say you're not a veteran, but you are serving, and the people that serve, those that served, are just as important to a veteran as the VA and as anything. So in the future, as the VA and as anything so in the future, I would recommend you say I'm not a veteran, but I'm serving those who served because you really are, you're doing some God's work here.

Ashley: 27:31

Thank you, I mean that I am deeply grateful for our veterans, for those who have served our country, who protect us and protect our freedoms, and so I feel very honored at the opportunity to be able to give back in this way and to serve those who have served us, who have paid a very high price for keeping us safe and keeping us free.

Scott: 27:57

And veterans are very lucky to have people like you in their lives, thank you, or available to them. So with that, ashley, thank you.

Ashley: 28:04

Thank you.

Scott: 28:05

I'm going to. I'm going to put you in the green room and we'll talk. I'll be right back after I, after I figure out what I'm going to say to close this podcast. So I'll talk to you off the air. So thank you again, ashley Williams, program director for the 22 Project Boca Raton, florida. Go to their website. Give them money. I'll talk to you in a minute, ashley.

Ashley: 28:31

Thank you.

Scott: 28:33

Well, there you go. That was an amazing. I have been looking forward to this interview since I thought about this podcast, and Rhonda and Nungay from Herd Foundation, of course, had to be my first. But Ashley, she's a very impressive young lady and I could not wait to talk to her. She has so much more to say, so she'll be back on this podcast. So I just, with that said, I want to thank you for listening. If you like it, share it.

Scott: 29:08

My goal is to bring as many non-profits into the light as possible and I've said this before. Nonprofits can be islands unto themselves and the only way you can connect the islands is build a bridge. So today we built a bridge and next week we'll build another bridge and eventually all these bridges will connect. That's my goal. So with that, again, thank you. If you have any questions, any comments, if you would like to be on the podcast, if you're a nonprofit that works with veterans, if you're a veteran that's benefited from a nonprofit, you can reach me at vetsconnectpodcast at gmailcom. I will definitely answer your email. I look forward to hearing from you. I look forward to bringing you a new nonprofit or a new story every Monday. I don't see an end to this. I'm in it for the long run and I hope you are too. So again and always. Thank you, herd Foundation, for giving me the opportunity to be able to do this, just by introducing me to the world of nonprofits. Herd Foundation will always be my foundation and you'll hear me next Monday.