Rockie's Story: Why I Am a Chiropractor

If my chiropractic story were all I had to tell you,nervous system can have adverse effects on
I probably wouldn't be a chiropractor today.the body and how it expresses health. During the
Instead, I'd probably be just another satisfiedcase history, her mom revealed that Rockie had
customer who gets adjusted regularly. I injuredan extremely difficult delivery at birth and had had
my back lifting weights for high school football andproblems from the beginning.
suffered for 20 years. Eventually, the pain got soOver the years, Rockie's condition steadily
bad that I was even willing to consider surgery orimproved. Eventually, she ended up in the National
chiropractic. At the time, both options wereHonor Society, on her high school basketball team
equally as scary to me. Then, I met aand joining a local archery club. The long and short
chiropractor and started getting adjusted. Theof the story is that Rockie has just finished
results were incredible and I've been without acollege after receiving a full academic and is on
back problem ever since. In fact, I've not takenher way to an advanced degree. Not only can
even an aspirin for over 17 years.Rockie ride a bicycle, she drove back and forth
However, I'm a chiropractor today because of abetween Marietta, GA and Columbia, SC every
little girl named Rockie. I first met Rockie whenweek for four years. She also competes
she was eight years old. At that time, Rockie wasinternationally in archery at the championship level.
having 15-20 grand mal seizures EVERY day andNot only has Rockie overcome incredible odds,
taking over a dozen different prescription drugsshe no longer has seizures and takes no more
for the seizures, ADD/ADHD, emotional and aprescription drugs. No. Rockie is not like normal
host of other problems. In fact, Rockie's problemskids, she's incredible!
had been so bad that her doctors hadWhen asked what chiropractic did for Rockie, her
recommended that she be institutionalized so hermom says that more than relief from the
mom could live a normal life without beingseizures, learning disabilities and other diagnoses,
burdened by a child like hers. You see, thethe chiropractor was the FIRST and ONLY doctor
doctors said that Rockie would never be likewho offered even a sliver of HOPE for her little
normal kids, unable to get along in social settingsgirl. After knowing Rockie for several years and
or do routine physical tasks, even ride a bicycle.having watched her progress, I heard a story of
Needless to say, Rockie's mom said "No!" to thatanother little girl suffering from seizures. Sadly,
advice declaring that her little girl was a gift fromthis little girl ended up having a hemispherctomy
God and responsibility that she would willingly face.(an experimental procedure where HALF of the
Rockie's first visit to the chiropractor was withbrain is removed) to relieve her symptoms. The
her babysitter's family. The babysitter madeparents were told that a chiropractor should not
weekly visits to their chiropractor for wellnessadjust their daughter. At the time, my first child
adjustments. Seemingly unable (or unwilling) towas only 15 months old. Imagining that happening
cope with another doctor, Rockie would literallyto my child broke my heart.
curl up in a corner and watch as all her youngKnowing what potential is designed and available
friends would get adjusted. One day, thefor every living person, I decided that I would
chiropractor got a call from Rockie's mom sayingdedicate my life to letting people know there is
that Rockie wanted to get adjusted and how oralways hope of improving their health and their
why would anyone adjust a child, anyway? Herlife. Every day I awaken, I give thanks that I met
little girl didn't have any back pain. Rockie's momRockie and the difference she has made in so
was told simply that adjustments help take stressmany lives.
off the nervous system and that stress on the