Bay area man uses oxygen therapy to improve lives of autistic children

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St. Petersburg, FL - This week, the Centers for Disease Control released staggering new statistics about autism.

Experts say now, 1 in every 91 children is autistic. That compares to former numbers that showed 1 in every 160 children.

St. Petersburg resident Mark Fowler says he has a way to improve the lives of those children and hopefully reverse those numbers.

It is a type of therapy called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, or HBOT. For more than ten years, Fowler has been providing HBOT right out of his own living room.

He uses portable oxygen chambers, that are FDA approved, to provide the oxygen therapy.

When he first began the therapy, it was to better patients with brain injuries. Then, he started working with autistic children and soon found the therapy helped them too.

"I don't know where to start," said St. Pete mother Hanli Putter. "It is awesome."

Putter's four-year-old son Daniel was diagnosed with autism two years ago. Since then, she has had him in and out of numerous therapies - none of which seemed to help.

Then, this year she found out about Fowler's oxygen therapy, so she decided to give it a shot. Multiple treatments later, Putter says, "It has been a life-changing experience for the whole family. Day by day you see a change."

Putter says when before her son would barely speak any words, now, he is forming sentences.

That isn't all.

"We now ride bicycles as a family! I never thought it would ever happen. I truly believe the treatments are the reason why. Now, I actually look forward to every day, wondering what is he going to do next?"

To be clear - Fowler is not a medical doctor. He doesn't have to be to provide this therapy. State law does not require Fowler to have a license either.

We have connected with local medical doctors, like Dr. Ron Knaus of Seminole, who back Fowler's therapy.

While autism is a touchy subject in terms of what causes the disease, Fowler believes it is simply a "misfiring" in the brain and oxygen being the "breath of life," is the way to improve it.

The best part of Fowler's therapy - it is FREE. Normally, it would cost more than $200 per session. Fowler provides numerous sessions at absolutely NO cost.

To learn more about Fowler's HBOT, click here. You can also call Fowler's home directly at (727) 866-9047.

To hear from Fowler himself, click on the video to the right for the entire interview.