2025 Making Connections Presentations

Our 9th Annual Making Connections Pediatric Brain Injury Conference & Resource Fair took place on October 24 and 25 in Austin, Texas, featuring keynote speakers Dr. Brandon Crawford, Dr. Paul Harch, and Dr. Kenneth Proefrock. Below, you’ll find recordings of all the weekend’s presentations. Thank you so much for your patience as we worked to process and upload each one!

* Keynote Speakers

* Dr. Brandon Crawford: Light, Energy, and the Healing Brain

NeuroSolution Center of Austin

In this inspiring and accessible talk, Dr. Brandon Crawford explains how light is far more than what we see — it’s a vital form of energy and information that the brain and body use to heal, grow, and communicate. Drawing from cutting-edge science in photobiomodulation and quantum biology, Dr. Crawford simplifies how light, water, and magnetism work together to help the brain recover after injury. Parents and caregivers will learn why natural light exposure, healthy daily rhythms, and new light-based therapies can make a real difference in brain healing and function.

*Dr. Paul Harch: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Acquired Pediatric Brain Injury: Proof in Cerebral Palsy as the Model for all Acquired Brain Injury

Harch Hyperbarics

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has traditionally been a treatment that is most successful treating wounding and inflammatory/infectious conditions. Cerebral Palsy is a wounding condition of a child's brain. In the midst of investigating hyperbaric oxygen therapy's effects on a wide variety of chronic neurological disorders a 4 year old boy with cerebral palsy was referred in 1992. Hypotonic, unable to stand or walk, he gained the ability to walk with fingertip support for balance after a series of HBOTs. Subsequently, HBOT CP studies were performed at multiple centers throughout the world with controversial results. Finally, in 2024 a groundbreaking review of CP therapies was published in which HBOT was compared to traditional therapies. This talk will chronicle the above history and show the unequivocal and astonishing results of this review. Parents will now have a chance of obtaining reimbursement for HBOT for their CP children.

*Dr. Kenneth Proefrock

Total Wellness Center

Our bodies and minds are designed to adapt to a world that shifts between safety and threat, constantly recalibrating our neural architecture in response to sensory input. This is the essence of neuroplasticity—an ongoing process where neural connections form, strengthen, or fade depending on experience. Intimate touch, breastfeeding, being held, movement, play, and music all nourish healthy brain development, while the absence of such experiences can lead to sensory deprivation and hinder remodeling. Anxiety and pain also play powerful roles in shaping how we perceive safety or danger. Our senses and mind work together to decide what we remember, what feels pleasant or unpleasant, and what is meaningful. Botanical medicines such as Kava, Valerian, and Motherwort can help recalibrate these experiences, offering new ways to understand ourselves, others, and the world around us.

Dr. Tony Ebel: The Foundational First Step in Neurological Healing: Why Sequencing Matters Most

PX Docs

Finding a clear path through the maze of neurological healing can feel overwhelming—especially when it seems like the answer is to “do more, try everything, and do it fast.” Drawing on two decades of clinical success with tough neurological cases—and his own son’s recovery from a traumatic birth injury—Dr. Tony Ebel reveals why “less, in the right order” is the real catalyst for lasting change. In this transformative talk, you’ll discover: The Healing Hierarchy – a step-by-step sequence to calm an overloaded nervous system. Why More Isn’t Better – how piling on therapies stalls progress, while simplicity accelerates it. Action Steps for Tomorrow – parent-friendly strategies that bring real progress even if you’ve “tried everything.” Walk away with renewed hope, clear answers, and a focused roadmap to help your child’s nervous system finally heal—one foundational step at a time.

Dr. Svetlana Masgutova: How MNRI® Reflex Neuromodulation Can Support Post-Trauma Stress Recovery for Children with Brain Injuries

Svetlana Masgutova Educational Institute

Primary reflexes serve as crucial building blocks for resilience and neurodevelopment. Trauma, stress, or limited oxygen to the brain can disrupt these reflexes, as seen in events like non-fatal drowning or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Even after the event has passed, reflexes may remain improperly activated, hindering recovery. In severe cases, reflex dysfunction can lead to further damage, skill loss, and disrupted neurodevelopment. Families often find hope in how the MNRI Method of reflex integration can help children overcome challenges from brain injuries.