When I was a few months old, my parents took me for my first chiropractic adjustment. I was born with forceps and they heard that it would be good for a baby to be checked for subluxations, especially with birth trauma. As a kid, I would get adjusted once every few months. My mom told me that occasionally I’d be fussy as a baby or have nightmares as a toddler but they’d both stop after I got adjusted.
In early high school I wanted to be an optometrist. I have worn glasses or contacts since about 10 years old. I liked the technology and tools my optometrist got to use and I wanted to help people somehow. Fast forward a couple years and I was running a lot in high school and was going to a chiropractor in Niagara Falls who worked with many professional athletes. He even adjusted Donovan Bailey shortly before he won the gold medal in the 100m at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He travelled to lots of athletic events and games and cared for players on the Buffalo Bills, Blue Jays and Maple Leafs. I thought that was pretty cool so I decided I wanted to do what he was doing.
I completed undergrad at McMaster University and started chiropractic school in central New York. At this point I was sure I wanted to be a sports/rehab chiropractor. However, in my first year in chiropractic school I went to a seminar where doctors talked about helping families in their communities to get well and stay well. I loved how these doctors talked about releasing the body’s innate ability to heal, and how they’d see miracles happen. Their vision was to see regular families living better, more fulfilled lives, because they were fully connected. I was inspired and decided that’s exactly what I wanted to do.
Over the 16+ years I’ve been in practice, I’ve been blessed to be able to serve babies that are hours old to seniors in their 90s. We get to be part of your lives, to celebrate with you, mourn with you and sometimes get frustrated with you (cause I’m impatient when healing isn’t happening quickly). I’m continually amazed at the body’s ability to heal. Several times each week I’ll say “I knew this chiropractic thing worked!” And it only works because there is an innate intelligence within you that is constantly healing, rebuilding and repairing you!
