Our History

On a cold November evening in 1996 Jane Dean first met three year old Andrew Waddington. Andrew, as a result of medical negligence, had sustained a  catastrophic and life changing brain injury. Jane, along with Charles Tisdal, a local osteopath, set out to find a key to unlock Andrew from a life which seemed to be locked without communication or future.

It was during this search to help one small boy, that Jane discovered the potential benefit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Breathing oxygen under pressure has the ability to improve lives of severely brain injured children and adults. HBOT is not a miracle cure but can help to achieve many small miracles.

In 2011, Andrew, aged eighteen, became the first official Associate of A Breath for Life, in recognition of his inspiration and progress which has given hope to so many.

The Trustees

I was born and brought up locally, leaving to study Maths at Leeds University before returning and spending 33 years teaching Maths.
I am married and have a delightful son who sadly suffered an acquired brain injury during a minor operation 20 years ago. I have a strong interest in complementary therapies of many kinds.
I am passionate about the positive effects of HBO through the changes it has helped bring about in my son’s ongoing recovery – as well as what I have seen in our many sessions in the chamber.  We are so lucky to have this facility here -our family has been involved since the Charity’s inception.
I was keen to support A Breath for Life as I have been using their excellent Unit for a number of years in an attempt to reduce debilitating symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Breathing oxygen under pressure has helped me personally and I was keen to help others.
I am an Independent Financial Advisor, married with two grown up children.
Zoe has lived and worked locally all her life, she is married with two children.
Although a qualified Teacher, Zoe spent the greater part of her career in commerce and was a joint owner and director of a large laundry company.

Her eldest child, Becky, now 27, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy / dyspraxia at age 3 and was unable to walk or talk.

“ I was searching for any treatments which might help my daughter when I heard of HBOT and was fortunate to meet Jane Dean who was trying to obtain a chamber and lived locally. I became a Trustee to A Breath for Life and Becky was one of the first children to receive oxygen treatment. I have no doubt that HBOT has given Becky a quality of life exceeding all expectations.

I am delighted to be a Trustee of A Breath for Life and I have seen for myself the difference it has made to so many people’s lives.”

Other Staff Members

We have a Centre manager, who is an experienced diver and technician and is supported by four part-time Operators.

Our Honorary Medical Adviser is Professor Philip James of Dundee.

Our Patron is Suzie Reynolds

The Secret Diary of Andrew Waddington – Age 20 ¾

Name – Andrew Waddington
Age – As already stated ahem pay attention……….. 20 ¾
Personality – Bags Of!!!!!!! Strength, Determination, Achievement
Attributes – Great Friend- How Lucky am I?
Confidante – Yvonne Martin, Age TBC once original birth certificate is located!!
Occupation – Student, cyclist, interior designer and film maker, film star in the making.
Secret Weapons – My trusty bike, faithful camera and excellent memory.