From Rodeo to Recovery: Jerry Norton’s Hyperbaric Healing Story
Meet Jerry—one of our determined patients at Healing with Hyperbarics, on his journey toward recovery. Every healing story starts with a first step, and for Jerry, that step began here.
How HBO Therapy Helped Him Regain Mobility, Reduce Pain & Reclaim His Life
Known for stepping into the ring to protect bull riders from danger, bullfighters face numerous risks every evening in the rodeo. For world champion bullfighter Jerry Norton, this was his life as a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled rodeo bullfighter. This life took a toll, though, including an astounding 20+ concussions over the course of his career. After his career ended, unbeknown to Jerry, the impact of those concussions lingered, bringing unforeseen challenges to every aspect of his life.
But Jerry's story isn't one of despair. It’s one of hope, recovery, and transformation, all thanks to an innovative and cutting-edge treatment that is making waves in the Fargo-Moorhead area: hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. This is the story of how a man who was afraid his best days were behind him, found hope through healing.
The Struggles of a Rodeo Veteran
About 10 years after retiring from rodeo, Jerry’s life took an unexpected turn. Symptoms of traumatic brain injury, including memory loss, irritability, anxiety, brain fog, inability to focus, poor sleep, poor recall, apathy, and mood swings, began to creep in. He often felt like he was “losing himself,” struggling to find words mid-sentence or forgetting entire conversations. Jerry admits that he grew scared as his mental health declined, leading him to a dark place of depression and anxiety.
“I was getting kind of scared inside ... I was struggling, and I didn’t know what was going on,” Jerry shared.
These mental health challenges were not just personal frustrations; they affected experiences at home and work, as well as interfering with his relationships. His wife noticed changes in his personality, and Jerry found himself unable to control outbursts of anger that seemed to come out of nowhere.
“After seeing images showing the actual damages to my brain, I wanted to crawl in a hole and disappear,” he says. “I knew what other people who had gone through the same thing were facing ... and I didn’t want that to be my future.”
A Rodeo Clown Discovers the Power of Hyperbarics
Jerry, ready to begin his healing journey with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Before each session, all patients change into 100% cotton scrubs as part of our safety-first protocols.
In the midst of his struggle, Jerry sought medical advice, and that’s when he discovered the potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). Doctors explained that HBO could help regenerate parts of the brain, stimulating nerve tissue, and restoring blood flow to areas that were once dormant. During HBO treatment, patients breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, which can aid in healing by increasing oxygen supply to the brain, repairing damaged tissue, and turning off brain inflammation.
Realizing his mental health was slowly declining and knowing the probable outcome, he and his wife asked themselves, “How much is my life worth?”. Coming to that conclusion, the decision was easy, he would pursue hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Since he was far from the nearest hyperbaric clinic, Jerry packed up his life and made the trip to Fargo, ND, where he was introduced to the team at Healing with Hyperbarics of North Dakota. For Jerry, it was a leap of faith, but one he felt was worth taking.
The Healing Process: A Long Road Ahead
Initially, Jerry didn’t feel any changes from the first several treatments. At around 15 hyperbaric sessions, he even began to doubt whether the HBO therapy was working. But his doctor reminded him that healing takes time. “We’re playing the long game,” he explained, emphasizing it was about rebuilding the brain’s neural pathways over time, a process called neurogenesis.
In the short term, hyperbaric oxygen helps to decrease inflammation in the brain, but patients with significant brain injury, like Jerry, may need some of the long-term benefits from the therapy. The long-term goal is angiogenesis, which is actually growing new venous tissue, or blood vessels, in the brain. This process takes time and further hyperbaric treatment, with many people needing at least 20 treatments.
By the time Jerry reached 25 treatments, something began to shift. He started feeling more alert, more engaged in life, and even noticed that his relationships were improving. His wife observed that Jerry seemed more flexible and easier to get along with. His brother noticed a significant difference, too.
"You used to speak slower, it seemed like you were trying to find the words as you talked," his brother told him. "Now, you're talking faster, with more energy." These were changes his family noticed before Jerry was able to see a difference in himself. (This is common when treating brain injuries. Those around the person may notice differences in them before the individual notices differences in themselves.)
At this point, Jerry was able to begin to see a change. One of the most noticeable changes for him was his ability to think and speak more clearly and in more depth. These signs of improvement were enough to push him to continue the treatments. After completing 40 sessions, Jerry felt like a completely different person. He was more relaxed, more focused, and his work performance improved significantly. In fact, Jerry was able to handle nearly double the workload and stress that had once overwhelmed him.
A recent study (published in 2025) demonstrates the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the brain post-injury. The study included 40 one-hour treatments over the course of 12 weeks, very similar to the treatment journey Jerry completed. The study concluded significant results after hyperbaric treatment in anxiety, sleep difficulties, olfaction (sense of smell) and vestibular complaints (visual changes).
Life After Hyperbaric Treatment
Jerry’s experience with hyperbaric treatment transformed not only his mental health but his entire outlook on life. He credits hyperbaric oxygen therapy with giving him a renewed sense of purpose and energy.
“Through this experience, I got my life back,” Jerry says with gratitude.
His journey to recovery wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. He believes in the power of HBO therapy, and he encourages others who might be suffering from the effects of brain injuries or mental health issues to explore this treatment option.
“If you’ve been struggling and feel hopeless, don’t give up! There’s hope, and there’s an opportunity to heal, there is a future for you,” Jerry says. “A person has to commit themselves and play the long-game!”
Why Fargo-Moorhead Residents Should Consider Hyperbarics
For residents of the Fargo-Moorhead area, Jerry’s story is a powerful reminder that there are innovative treatments available locally that can make a life-changing difference. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy isn’t just for athletes of high-impact sports—anyone experiencing neurological issues, memory loss, anxiety, PTSD, or mood changes might benefit from this groundbreaking treatment. After all, brain injuries can affect anyone, at any time.
The Healing with Hyperbarics clinic in Fargo—the starting point for so many healing journeys. A welcoming space where recovery begins, hope is restored, and lives are changed.
If you or a loved one is dealing with the effects of concussions, brain injuries, or a change in mental well-being, consider exploring hyperbaric oxygen therapy, right here in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
Jerry Norton’s life story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the ability of the human body to heal itself, when placed in the right environment, and the power of hope, through healing. With HBO, he regained not only his physical health but also his mental clarity and emotional well-being. Whether you’re an athlete, a Veteran, or someone dealing with brain-related health challenges, there’s hope for a brighter future.
If you’re in the Fargo-Moorhead area and looking for a path to recovery, hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be the key to unlocking your best life—just as it was for Jerry Norton.