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Coal miner Randal McCloy likely never anticipated being the sole survivor of one of
the worst mining disasters in West Virginia history. Or that something as simple as fish oil may play
a major role in saving his life. On January 2, 2006 an explosion at the Sago Mine in Upshur County left
McCloy and 12 others trapped underground as teams of rescuers struggled to free them.
After nearly two days, McCloy was carried out of the mine with multiple injuries and
obvious signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. He had suffered heart failure, kidney failure and liver failure,
and the damage to his brain was so severe that he had almost no brain activity whatsoever.
In an unprecedented decision, neurosurgeon Dr. Julian Bailes of West Virginia University
followed the advice of Dr. Barry Sears and began administering high doses of the Omega-3 fatty acids
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) through a feeding tube. Sears, author of the
best-selling Zone diet, is a leading authority on the use of Omega-3 oils to reduce inflammation in the body,
and it was the hope of both doctors that the combination of EPA and DHA would help reduce the inflammation
in McCloy’s organs (the result of oxygen deficiency) and rebuild his damaged brain matter.
Indeed, recent studies have shown that in addition to their anti-inflammatory properties,
Omega-3 oils help nourish the active tissues in the body, including those in the brain, heart, eyes and
kidneys. Such oils—found predominantly in cold-water fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines and salmon—have
been shown also to support healthy immune, circulatory and nervous system function, as well as a healthy
metabolism and hormone balance. Yet, despite a growing database of evidence confirming their countless
benefits, conventional medicine is still quick to dismiss the use of Omega-3s as a reliable treatment.
Fortunately for McCloy, Dr. Bailes thought differently.
With a mega-dose of 15,000 milligrams a day of the EPA/DHA combination, the recovering
miner soon began to show signs of improvement. In March 2006 he returned home for the first time since the
accident, and in less than six months the damage to his heart, kidneys and liver had been reversed. His brain
showed signs of neural growth, and his memory had improved. He gradually regained his speech and vision, as
well as his ability to walk, and doctors began calling his recovery a “miracle”. Now two years later, McCloy
is home with his family, including his youngest son Isaac Martin, born in 2007.
While access to superior medical staff no doubt contributed to McCloy’s amazing recovery,
it was the quick thinking of his neurosurgeon that resulted in him receiving the beneficial Omega-3 oils that
may have made all the difference. Said Dr. Bailes in a recent interview, “In terms of what we did medically,
I think it had a great impact.”
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