Benefits Planned to Aid Myla Gott's Brain Injury Recovery

Local businesses are holding a variety of charity fundraiser events in the upcoming weeks to benefit a North Hampton family struggling to make ends meet while funding expensive, specialized treatments to help their daughter recover from a traumatic brain injury.

The , and the are all hosting events to help offset the cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions for , a 21-year-old North Hampton resident who was in a January 2009 crash.

Myla's father, Bill, said she has been making steady progress in the three years since the accident, although Bill Gott said his family fell on hard times right before they planned to begin the $200-a-day HBOT sessions, which he said are needed to ensure his daughter is able to continue advancing in her recovery.

Myla's current course of treatment — which can cost up to $1,500 a month — has already increased the burden on the Gotts, who have been behind on rent, heat and electric bills for months. Because of this, Bill Gott said he was beyond grateful for the help of the local business owners and community as his family looks to begin a 40-day HBOT treatment that will cost roughly $8,000.

"We've raised about 20 percent of what we need so far and we haven't done any of these events yet, so I feel very comfortable that we'll reach the goal, but it'll take a lot of people's support," said Gott.

The 401 Tavern will host "Brunch with Team Myla" from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, during which 20 percent of the restaurant's proceeds, which will include raffles, will go to the Gotts. Divine Elements Massage Therapy and Reiki Healing, of Exeter, will also be on site to give chair massages at a rate of one minute per every dollar donated to the Gotts.

Wally's Pub will also host chair massages by Divine Elements from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, while the Old Salt will host a comedy night at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, in honor of Myla. The Old Salt's comedy night will have a suggested donation of $15 at the door, which opens at 5:30 p.m.

Bill Gott said he hopes to use the funding to continue Myla's progress and begin the expensive HBOT sessions, which are a scientifically-proven course of treatment for a variety of trauma-related brain injuries.

Gott hopes to start his daughter on 40 straight days of the treatment, a period which he said is used to develop a baseline to see if the therapy will work for Myla. Each day costs $200, and it's possible that more than 40 sessions — which would cost roughly $8,000 in total — will be required.

Friends of the family have been very supportive both emotionally and financially thus far, although Bill Gott said he has had to "rob Peter to pay Paul" each month and likely would have a difficult time funding the HBOT sessions along with Myla's other treatments — which can cost up to $1,500 a month thanks to neurofeedback sessions that cost $200 per week and special vitamins that cost $500 per month — if not for the generosity of the aforementioned businesses.

We'll have more information about each event as the benefits draw closer, although some information is available on the "Support for Myla" Facebook page.

Bill Gott is working on a new page for Myla, which he said he hopes to use as a blog as well as a one-stop hub for updates about his daughter's recovery.