Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat.
Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly.
To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot has appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long since been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs.
Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!"
All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave.
Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness. Whenever he spied children, he would come running meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.
One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbors huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.
Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. I must be hurting him terribly I thought.
Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear - Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.
At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.
Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. -- Author Unknown
Showing posts with label Headache Chiropractor in Orange County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Headache Chiropractor in Orange County. Show all posts
Friday, September 27, 2013
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
A Gift Of Pure Love
This tale of love has helped many people find happiness and build
self-esteem over the years. "Can I see my bundle of joy?" the
happy new mother asked, ready to pour love and affection on her
new child. When the baby was nestled in her arms and she moved
the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The
doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window.
The baby had been born without ears.
Over time, it became clear that the baby's hearing was just fine.
It was only his appearance that was marred. One day he rushed
home from school and flung himself into his mother's arms. She
sighed deeply, recognizing that his life was to be a succession
of heartbreaks. He blurted out the tragedy. "A boy, a big
boy...called me a freak." Surely this boy would never find peace
or happiness.
He developed a gift for literature and music, his solace in a
hostile world. "But you might mingle with other young people,"
has mother told him, although she understood why he focused on
solitary pursuits.
The boy's father met with the family physician. Could nothing be
done? "I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears if they
could be procured" the doctor advised. That's when the search
began? Who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years
went by. Two years of searching. Two years of frustration. Then
his father told him, "You are going to the hospital, son. Mother
and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a
secret."
The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged.
His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became
a series of triumphs. Later he married and entered the diplomatic
service. "But I must know!" He urged his father. "Who gave so
much for me? I could never do enough for him."
"I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the agreement
was that you are not to know...not yet." The years kept their
profound secret, but the day did come . . . one of the darkest
days that ever pass through a son. He stood with his father over
his mother's casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth
a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal .. .
that the mother had no outer ears.
"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," he
whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful,
did they"?
Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the
heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but what
that cannot be seen. True love lies not in what is done and
known, but in what that is done but not known.
-- Author Unknown
self-esteem over the years. "Can I see my bundle of joy?" the
happy new mother asked, ready to pour love and affection on her
new child. When the baby was nestled in her arms and she moved
the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The
doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window.
The baby had been born without ears.
Over time, it became clear that the baby's hearing was just fine.
It was only his appearance that was marred. One day he rushed
home from school and flung himself into his mother's arms. She
sighed deeply, recognizing that his life was to be a succession
of heartbreaks. He blurted out the tragedy. "A boy, a big
boy...called me a freak." Surely this boy would never find peace
or happiness.
He developed a gift for literature and music, his solace in a
hostile world. "But you might mingle with other young people,"
has mother told him, although she understood why he focused on
solitary pursuits.
The boy's father met with the family physician. Could nothing be
done? "I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears if they
could be procured" the doctor advised. That's when the search
began? Who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years
went by. Two years of searching. Two years of frustration. Then
his father told him, "You are going to the hospital, son. Mother
and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a
secret."
The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged.
His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became
a series of triumphs. Later he married and entered the diplomatic
service. "But I must know!" He urged his father. "Who gave so
much for me? I could never do enough for him."
"I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the agreement
was that you are not to know...not yet." The years kept their
profound secret, but the day did come . . . one of the darkest
days that ever pass through a son. He stood with his father over
his mother's casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth
a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal .. .
that the mother had no outer ears.
"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," he
whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful,
did they"?
Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the
heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but what
that cannot be seen. True love lies not in what is done and
known, but in what that is done but not known.
-- Author Unknown
Friday, November 9, 2012
What Two Days Can Do
Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of
Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented
the upstairs rooms to out patients at the clinic. One summer evening
as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to
see a truly awful looking man. “Why, he’s hardly taller than my eight
year old,” I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But
the appalling thing was his face – lopsided from swelling, red and
raw. Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, “Good evening. I’ve come
to see if you’ve a room for just one night. I came for a treatment
this morning from the eastern shore, and there’s no bus ’til
morning.” He told me he’d been hunting for a room since noon but with
no success, no one seemed to have a room. “I guess it’s my face…I
know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more
treatments…”
For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I could
sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the
morning.” I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the
porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready,
I asked the old man if he would join us. “No thank you. I have
plenty.” And he held up a brown paper bag.
When I finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him
a few minutes. It didn’t take a long time to see that this old man
had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he
fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and
her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He
didn’t tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was
preface with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no
pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin
cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going. At
bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children’s room for him. When I got
up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little
man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he
left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said
“Could I please come back and stay next time I have a treatment? I
won’t put you out a bit, I can sleep fine in a chair.” He paused a
moment and then added, “Your children made me feel at home. Grown-ups
are bothered by my face, but children don’t seem to mind.” I told him
he was welcome to come again.
On his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As
a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I
had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he
left so that they’d be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 am
and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us.
In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time
that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his
garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by
special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young
spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must
walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had
made the gifts doubly precious. When I received these little
remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor
made after he left that first morning. “Did you keep that awful
looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by
putting up such people!”
Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could
have know him, perhaps their illness’ would have been easier to bear.
I know our family will always be grateful to have know him; from him
we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the
good with gratitude to God.
Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse. As she showed
me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden
chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my surprise, it was
growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, “If this
were my plant, I’d put it in the loveliest container I had!”
My friend changed my mind. “I ran short of pots,” she explained,
“and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t
mind starting out in this old pail. It’s just for a little while,
till I can put it out in the garden.”
She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was
imagining just such a scene in heaven. “Here’s an especially
beautiful one,” God might have said when he came to the soul of the
seet old fisherman. “He won’t mind starting in this small body.” All
this happened long ago and now, in God’s garden, how tall this lovely
soul must stand.
The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
– Author Unknown
Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented
the upstairs rooms to out patients at the clinic. One summer evening
as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to
see a truly awful looking man. “Why, he’s hardly taller than my eight
year old,” I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But
the appalling thing was his face – lopsided from swelling, red and
raw. Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, “Good evening. I’ve come
to see if you’ve a room for just one night. I came for a treatment
this morning from the eastern shore, and there’s no bus ’til
morning.” He told me he’d been hunting for a room since noon but with
no success, no one seemed to have a room. “I guess it’s my face…I
know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more
treatments…”
For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I could
sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the
morning.” I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the
porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready,
I asked the old man if he would join us. “No thank you. I have
plenty.” And he held up a brown paper bag.
When I finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him
a few minutes. It didn’t take a long time to see that this old man
had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he
fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and
her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He
didn’t tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was
preface with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no
pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin
cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going. At
bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children’s room for him. When I got
up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little
man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he
left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said
“Could I please come back and stay next time I have a treatment? I
won’t put you out a bit, I can sleep fine in a chair.” He paused a
moment and then added, “Your children made me feel at home. Grown-ups
are bothered by my face, but children don’t seem to mind.” I told him
he was welcome to come again.
On his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As
a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I
had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he
left so that they’d be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 am
and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us.
In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time
that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his
garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by
special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young
spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must
walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had
made the gifts doubly precious. When I received these little
remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor
made after he left that first morning. “Did you keep that awful
looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by
putting up such people!”
Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could
have know him, perhaps their illness’ would have been easier to bear.
I know our family will always be grateful to have know him; from him
we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the
good with gratitude to God.
Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse. As she showed
me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden
chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my surprise, it was
growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, “If this
were my plant, I’d put it in the loveliest container I had!”
My friend changed my mind. “I ran short of pots,” she explained,
“and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t
mind starting out in this old pail. It’s just for a little while,
till I can put it out in the garden.”
She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was
imagining just such a scene in heaven. “Here’s an especially
beautiful one,” God might have said when he came to the soul of the
seet old fisherman. “He won’t mind starting in this small body.” All
this happened long ago and now, in God’s garden, how tall this lovely
soul must stand.
The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
– Author Unknown
Friday, October 26, 2012
Breakfast Anyone?
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, and 3) and have recently
completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was
Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the
qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called “Smile.” The class was
asked to go out and smile at three people and document their
reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at
everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a
piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest
son, and I went out to McDonald’s one crisp March morning. It was
just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were
standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden
everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband
did. I did not move an inch. An overwhelming feeling of panic
welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible “dirty body” smell, and
there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked
down at the short gentleman close to me, he was “smiling”. His
beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched
for acceptance. He said, “Good day,” as he counted the few coins
he had been clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his
friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged, and
the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I
stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He
said, “Coffee is all Miss” because that was all they could
afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up,
they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it – the compulsion was so great I almost
reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That
is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me,
judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind
the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate
tray.
I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had
chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my
hand on the blue-eyed gentleman’s cold hand. He looked up at me,
with tears in his eyes, and said, “Thank you.” I leaned over,
began to pat his hand and said, “I did not do this for you. God
is here working through me to give you hope.”
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.
When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, “That is why
God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope.” We held hands for a
moment, and at that time, we knew that it was only because of the
Grace we had been given that we were able to give. We are
believers.
That day showed me the pure Light of God’s sweet love. I returned
to college on the last evening of class with this story in hand.
I turned in “my project” and the instructor read it. Then she
looked up at me and said, “Can I share this?” I slowly nodded as
she got the attention of the class.
She began to read, and that is when I knew that we as human
beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and
to be healed. In my own way, I had touched the people at
McDonald’s, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that
shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college
student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever
learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
- Author Unknown
completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was
Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the
qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called “Smile.” The class was
asked to go out and smile at three people and document their
reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at
everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a
piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest
son, and I went out to McDonald’s one crisp March morning. It was
just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were
standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden
everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband
did. I did not move an inch. An overwhelming feeling of panic
welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible “dirty body” smell, and
there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked
down at the short gentleman close to me, he was “smiling”. His
beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched
for acceptance. He said, “Good day,” as he counted the few coins
he had been clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his
friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged, and
the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I
stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He
said, “Coffee is all Miss” because that was all they could
afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up,
they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it – the compulsion was so great I almost
reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That
is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me,
judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind
the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate
tray.
I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had
chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my
hand on the blue-eyed gentleman’s cold hand. He looked up at me,
with tears in his eyes, and said, “Thank you.” I leaned over,
began to pat his hand and said, “I did not do this for you. God
is here working through me to give you hope.”
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.
When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, “That is why
God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope.” We held hands for a
moment, and at that time, we knew that it was only because of the
Grace we had been given that we were able to give. We are
believers.
That day showed me the pure Light of God’s sweet love. I returned
to college on the last evening of class with this story in hand.
I turned in “my project” and the instructor read it. Then she
looked up at me and said, “Can I share this?” I slowly nodded as
she got the attention of the class.
She began to read, and that is when I knew that we as human
beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and
to be healed. In my own way, I had touched the people at
McDonald’s, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that
shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college
student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever
learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
- Author Unknown
Friday, October 19, 2012
Chiropractic Safe And Effective For Back Pain During Pregnancy
Low back pain can be a serious problem during pregnancy: studies show that over half of women report back pain at some point during pregnancy. Furthermore, as a new study1 explains, many women experience their first episode of back pain during pregnancy:
“The incidence of low back pain with an onset during pregnancy has been reported to be 61%. It has been shown that among women with low back pain of pregnancy, 75% reported no low back pain before pregnancy. In a study of women with chronic low back pain, up to 28% stated that their first episode of back pain occurred during a pregnancy.”
In this report, the authors studied 17 women with low back pain lasting an average of 21.7 days. The intensity of the back pain was 5.9 on a 1-10 scale, and the onset of pain occurred at 20.6 weeks into the pregnancy.
Each study participant was treated according to the particular symptoms that the patient was experiencing. The authors reported the following:
“In most instances, the average pain level is moderate, but severe pain has been reported in 15% of cases. Pain intensity often increases with duration and can result in significant disability. Sleep disturbances have been reported by 49% to 58% of women and impaired daily living by 57% in women with low back pain of pregnancy.
“Despite the apparent impact it has on women, many cases of low back pain of pregnancy go unreported to prenatal providers and/or untreated. Wang et al. found that just 32% of women reported their low back pain of pregnancy to their prenatal providers, and just 25% of these providers recommended a treatment. Skaggs et al. found that among women with low back pain of pregnancy, 80% thought that their providers had not offered treatment for their back pain.”
This study shows that chiropractic effectively reduced pain from low back pain during pregnancy, without any adverse effects.
Lisi AJ. Chiropractic spinal manipulation for low back pain of pregnancy: a retrospective case series. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2006;51:e7-e10.
“The incidence of low back pain with an onset during pregnancy has been reported to be 61%. It has been shown that among women with low back pain of pregnancy, 75% reported no low back pain before pregnancy. In a study of women with chronic low back pain, up to 28% stated that their first episode of back pain occurred during a pregnancy.”
In this report, the authors studied 17 women with low back pain lasting an average of 21.7 days. The intensity of the back pain was 5.9 on a 1-10 scale, and the onset of pain occurred at 20.6 weeks into the pregnancy.
Each study participant was treated according to the particular symptoms that the patient was experiencing. The authors reported the following:
- About half of the women were self-referred, and the other half were referred by their obstetrician.
- The average time to reach clinically significant pain relief was 4.5 days, while the range was from 0 to 13 days after the initial treatment.
- The average number of treatments necessary to reach clinically relevant pain relief was 1.8.
- The pain levels decreased from the 5.9 at the beginning of the study to 1.5 at the end.
- The patients received between 3 to 15 treatments, with the average being 5.6.
- One patient did not experience clinically significant pain reduction.
- There were no adverse reactions reported by any of the patients.
“In most instances, the average pain level is moderate, but severe pain has been reported in 15% of cases. Pain intensity often increases with duration and can result in significant disability. Sleep disturbances have been reported by 49% to 58% of women and impaired daily living by 57% in women with low back pain of pregnancy.
“Despite the apparent impact it has on women, many cases of low back pain of pregnancy go unreported to prenatal providers and/or untreated. Wang et al. found that just 32% of women reported their low back pain of pregnancy to their prenatal providers, and just 25% of these providers recommended a treatment. Skaggs et al. found that among women with low back pain of pregnancy, 80% thought that their providers had not offered treatment for their back pain.”
This study shows that chiropractic effectively reduced pain from low back pain during pregnancy, without any adverse effects.
Lisi AJ. Chiropractic spinal manipulation for low back pain of pregnancy: a retrospective case series. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2006;51:e7-e10.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Chiropractic and Osteoarthritis
Numerous studies have shown that chiropractic can be an effective treatment for lumbar spinal pain. A new study1 describes the previously reported benefits of chiropractic:
“Giles and Muller compared the outcomes of acupuncture, medication, and spinal manipulation on spinal pain syndromes. Only spinal manipulation led to significant improvement. Rao et al. reported that 73% of the patients who sought pain relief treatment from both a rheumatologist and an alternative form of medicine found chiropractic care to be helpful. It may be reasonably concluded that chiropractic care is a successful treatment for lower back pain.” 1
No previous study, however, has examined the effectiveness of chiropractic for back pain symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis. This current report set out to do just that, by comparing chiropractic treatment to moist heat treatment. Previous studies2 have shown that application of heat to the affected area is an effective self-management tool for arthritis symptoms.
The authors of this study recruited 252 patients with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine; subjects were excluded if they were currently receiving chiropractic care, physical therapy, or were using anti-inflammatory medications.
The patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group received 20 chiropractic treatments with 15 minutes of moist heat; the control group received only the moist heat treatments. The subjects were evaluated at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 weeks for pain levels, activities of daily living (ADL), and range of motion.
The study found significant improvements in the patients who were given the chiropractic/moist heat treatments, as illustrated by the following graph that shows average extension of the spine measured at each evaluation point:
Here is a summary of the other findings:
“There are no studies in the literature that evaluate the effectiveness of chiropractic care in the treatment of OA. We found that chiropractic care was significantly better than moist heat alone for the treatment of OA. Although moist heat did improve low back pain, there is a more rapid and greater decline in pain under the treatment condition than with moist heat alone. The chiropractic treatment group also showed a more rapid and greater increase in range and flexion scores. With the exception of standing, sleeping, and sexual activity, chiropractic treatment participants reported a statistically significant improvement in their ADL.”
“Giles and Muller compared the outcomes of acupuncture, medication, and spinal manipulation on spinal pain syndromes. Only spinal manipulation led to significant improvement. Rao et al. reported that 73% of the patients who sought pain relief treatment from both a rheumatologist and an alternative form of medicine found chiropractic care to be helpful. It may be reasonably concluded that chiropractic care is a successful treatment for lower back pain.” 1
No previous study, however, has examined the effectiveness of chiropractic for back pain symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis. This current report set out to do just that, by comparing chiropractic treatment to moist heat treatment. Previous studies2 have shown that application of heat to the affected area is an effective self-management tool for arthritis symptoms.
The authors of this study recruited 252 patients with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine; subjects were excluded if they were currently receiving chiropractic care, physical therapy, or were using anti-inflammatory medications.
The patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group received 20 chiropractic treatments with 15 minutes of moist heat; the control group received only the moist heat treatments. The subjects were evaluated at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 weeks for pain levels, activities of daily living (ADL), and range of motion.
The study found significant improvements in the patients who were given the chiropractic/moist heat treatments, as illustrated by the following graph that shows average extension of the spine measured at each evaluation point:
Here is a summary of the other findings:
- Chiropractic was significantly more effective in reducing pain than moist heat alone, even though both treatments reduced pain to some degree.
- The study examined right and left lateral flexion, average flexion, and average extension. “Chiropractic care plus moist heat is more effective than moist heat alone for improving ROM, as measured by these particular tests.”
- Chiropractic care was also more effective in improving daily activities, while moist heat alone did not improve ADL.
“There are no studies in the literature that evaluate the effectiveness of chiropractic care in the treatment of OA. We found that chiropractic care was significantly better than moist heat alone for the treatment of OA. Although moist heat did improve low back pain, there is a more rapid and greater decline in pain under the treatment condition than with moist heat alone. The chiropractic treatment group also showed a more rapid and greater increase in range and flexion scores. With the exception of standing, sleeping, and sexual activity, chiropractic treatment participants reported a statistically significant improvement in their ADL.”
- Beyerman KL, Palmerino MB, Zohn LE, Kane GM, Foster KA. Efficacy of treating low back pain and dysfunction secondary to osteoarthritis: chiropractic care compared with moist heat alone. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2006;29:107-114.
- Veitiene D, Tamulaitiene M. Comparison of self-management methods for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2005;(37)1:58-60.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Chiropractic and Pain Relief
Low back pain is a very common condition, and one that is very expensive for our health care system. Experts estimate that chronic back pain costs the US about $100 billion each year in direct and indirect costs. As the authors of a new study write:
“One factor explaining these enormous costs is the high rate of recurrence and chronic disability related to low-back disorders…It has been suggested that only 10% of LBP patients generate more than 80% of the total costs related to LBP.”
Because of the enormous costs of treating chronic back pain, prevention is an important goal. This current study set out to examine the role of chiropractic in treating chronic low back pain. The authors studied 30 patients who had back pain for at least six months. All patients were subjected to a one-month control period that consisted of no treatment. This was included so that the researchers could observe the natural course of the back pain symptoms.
After this baseline period, half of the patients (Group 1) received intensive chiropractic treatment consisting of 12 treatments in one month, then no treatments for nine months. The other half of the patients (Group 2) received the same intensive treatment, but also received maintenance chiropractic treatments every 3 weeks for nine months. At the end of the nine-month period, both groups were again examined.
After analyzing the results, the authors found the following:
The authors conclude:
“This study appears to confirm previous reports showing that LBP and disability scores are reduced after spinal manipulation. It also shows the positive effects of preventive chiropractic treatment in maintaining functional capacities and reducing the number and intensity of pain episodes after an acute phase of treatment. Maintenance chiropractic care involving spinal manipulation combined with other treatment modalities (exercises, pain management program) should be investigated. Such combined interventions may have a critical influence on pain, disability, and return to work.”
Descarreaux M, Blouin JS, Drolet M, Papadimitriou S, Teasdale N. Efficacy of preventive spinal manipulation for chronic low-back pain and related disabilities: a preliminary study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2004;27:509-514.
“One factor explaining these enormous costs is the high rate of recurrence and chronic disability related to low-back disorders…It has been suggested that only 10% of LBP patients generate more than 80% of the total costs related to LBP.”
Because of the enormous costs of treating chronic back pain, prevention is an important goal. This current study set out to examine the role of chiropractic in treating chronic low back pain. The authors studied 30 patients who had back pain for at least six months. All patients were subjected to a one-month control period that consisted of no treatment. This was included so that the researchers could observe the natural course of the back pain symptoms.
After this baseline period, half of the patients (Group 1) received intensive chiropractic treatment consisting of 12 treatments in one month, then no treatments for nine months. The other half of the patients (Group 2) received the same intensive treatment, but also received maintenance chiropractic treatments every 3 weeks for nine months. At the end of the nine-month period, both groups were again examined.
After analyzing the results, the authors found the following:
- Pain levels were reduced in both groups of patients. The intensive month of chiropractic adjustments reduced pain, even without follow-up care.
- Disability levels, however, showed a different response. For the patients with no continuing treatment, the disability levels returned to their pretreatment levels on the Oswestry. The Group 2 patients – who received maintenance care – continued to see improvement in disability scores over the whole nine months.
“This study appears to confirm previous reports showing that LBP and disability scores are reduced after spinal manipulation. It also shows the positive effects of preventive chiropractic treatment in maintaining functional capacities and reducing the number and intensity of pain episodes after an acute phase of treatment. Maintenance chiropractic care involving spinal manipulation combined with other treatment modalities (exercises, pain management program) should be investigated. Such combined interventions may have a critical influence on pain, disability, and return to work.”
Descarreaux M, Blouin JS, Drolet M, Papadimitriou S, Teasdale N. Efficacy of preventive spinal manipulation for chronic low-back pain and related disabilities: a preliminary study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2004;27:509-514.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Chiropractic Care: A safe way to heal the body
There are a lot of misconceptions about chiropractic. Forget the rumors you’ve heard about chiropractors, and learn the facts about this safe and effective path to wellness.
Chiropractic care is not new.
Spinal adjustments aren’t a new-age fad. The Greeks and Chinese were writing about chiropractic manipulations as far back as 2700 BCE. Even the Greek doctor Hippocrates wrote about the importance of spinal manipulations.
The practice began to take formal shape in the late 1800s. Today, chiropractic has become an important part of the health-care landscape. Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health care programs recognize and cover chiropractic care.
Chiropractors are trained health care professionals.
Chiropractic students attend schools with curricula just as demanding as those of medical students. Courses include instruction in anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. Each candidate completes a residency program under the supervision of experienced chiropractic doctors. After successfully completing a program, the student receives a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, or D.C.
All chiropractors must pass a minimum of four tests that are administered by a national board. To maintain their licenses, these health care professionals must also take a specific number of continuing education credits each year, and a chiropractor must meet licensing requirements for the state in which he or she practices. This rigorous training ensures that a licensed chiropractor is qualified to help you achieve the wellness you’re looking for.
Chiropractic methods are safe.
Conventional medical therapies can have many hazards. Even a treatment as commonplace as taking Tylenol for a headache can carry risks: In 2005, the American Journal of Gastroenterology published a study showing that more than one-third of acute liver failures are linked to acetaminophen misuse. Surgical procedures carry their own perils, including pain, infection, and even death.
In contrast, spinal adjustments are drug-free and non-invasive. Numerous studies published in peer-reviewed journals have found chiropractic care to be a safe treatment for a variety of conditions. According to one study that looked into the incidence of stroke in chiropractic patients, there is a higher risk of getting into a car accident on the way to the appointment than having a serious reaction to spinal adjustments.
If you’re looking for a low-risk, drug- and scalpel-free way to treat aches and pains and improve overall wellness, make an appointment to see a qualified chiropractor.
References
Haldeman S, Carey P, Townsend M, Papadopoulos C. Arterial dissections following cervical manipulation: the chiropractic experience. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2001 Oct 2;165(7):905-6.
Lanas A, et al. A nationwide study of mortality associated with hospital admission due to severe gastrointestinal events and those associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2005;100:1685–1693.
Lauretti W. The Comparative Safety of Chiropractic. In Daniel Redwood, ed., Contemporary Chiropractic. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1997, p. 230-8.
Chiropractic care is not new.
Spinal adjustments aren’t a new-age fad. The Greeks and Chinese were writing about chiropractic manipulations as far back as 2700 BCE. Even the Greek doctor Hippocrates wrote about the importance of spinal manipulations.
The practice began to take formal shape in the late 1800s. Today, chiropractic has become an important part of the health-care landscape. Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health care programs recognize and cover chiropractic care.
Chiropractors are trained health care professionals.
Chiropractic students attend schools with curricula just as demanding as those of medical students. Courses include instruction in anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. Each candidate completes a residency program under the supervision of experienced chiropractic doctors. After successfully completing a program, the student receives a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, or D.C.
All chiropractors must pass a minimum of four tests that are administered by a national board. To maintain their licenses, these health care professionals must also take a specific number of continuing education credits each year, and a chiropractor must meet licensing requirements for the state in which he or she practices. This rigorous training ensures that a licensed chiropractor is qualified to help you achieve the wellness you’re looking for.
Chiropractic methods are safe.
Conventional medical therapies can have many hazards. Even a treatment as commonplace as taking Tylenol for a headache can carry risks: In 2005, the American Journal of Gastroenterology published a study showing that more than one-third of acute liver failures are linked to acetaminophen misuse. Surgical procedures carry their own perils, including pain, infection, and even death.
In contrast, spinal adjustments are drug-free and non-invasive. Numerous studies published in peer-reviewed journals have found chiropractic care to be a safe treatment for a variety of conditions. According to one study that looked into the incidence of stroke in chiropractic patients, there is a higher risk of getting into a car accident on the way to the appointment than having a serious reaction to spinal adjustments.
If you’re looking for a low-risk, drug- and scalpel-free way to treat aches and pains and improve overall wellness, make an appointment to see a qualified chiropractor.
References
Haldeman S, Carey P, Townsend M, Papadopoulos C. Arterial dissections following cervical manipulation: the chiropractic experience. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2001 Oct 2;165(7):905-6.
Lanas A, et al. A nationwide study of mortality associated with hospital admission due to severe gastrointestinal events and those associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2005;100:1685–1693.
Lauretti W. The Comparative Safety of Chiropractic. In Daniel Redwood, ed., Contemporary Chiropractic. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1997, p. 230-8.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Traditional Health vs. Chiropractic Wellness
No fever. No nausea. No problem? Even the doctor says you’re fine, so why do you feel so cruddy? Perhaps you’ve been seeking health instead of wellness. This guide will explain how health is not the same as wellness, and how a chiropractor can help you achieve the wellness you deserve.
Health and standard medical treatment
Conventional medicine defines health as the absence of disease. When you have a problem, standard medical care focuses on treating the symptoms. For example, if you live with back pain, a physician might prescribe medications, which can have side effects, or recommend painful, pricey surgery. Some of these treatments are the equivalent of slapping a bandage on a bleeding wound—it might stop the bleeding, but it won’t do a thing to cure what caused the bleeding in the first place.
Wellness and chiropractic care
Wellness is a state in which the entire body works as it is designed to do. This means that you’ll feel well, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally.
Chiropractic care can help you achieve a state of wellness by looking for internal disturbances or misalignments, called vertebral subluxations, that have the potential to trigger a host of chronic conditions, from headaches to carpal tunnel syndrome. When the chiropractor finds one, he or she will manipulate the body back into a position that allows it to function properly. These adjustments are typically made with the hands, although sometimes the chiropractor will use special tools.
Because your chiropractor is concerned with wellness rather than applying a temporary fix to aches or pains, he or she may also recommend stretching or strengthening exercises that you can continue to do at home to keep your body in working order.
Be aware that there are conditions that require conventional medical treatments or procedures. However, if you are looking for a way to improve your quality of life and allow your body to heal itself in a healthy and natural way, it’s time to make a chiropractic care appointment.
Health and standard medical treatment
Conventional medicine defines health as the absence of disease. When you have a problem, standard medical care focuses on treating the symptoms. For example, if you live with back pain, a physician might prescribe medications, which can have side effects, or recommend painful, pricey surgery. Some of these treatments are the equivalent of slapping a bandage on a bleeding wound—it might stop the bleeding, but it won’t do a thing to cure what caused the bleeding in the first place.
Wellness and chiropractic care
Wellness is a state in which the entire body works as it is designed to do. This means that you’ll feel well, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally.
Chiropractic care can help you achieve a state of wellness by looking for internal disturbances or misalignments, called vertebral subluxations, that have the potential to trigger a host of chronic conditions, from headaches to carpal tunnel syndrome. When the chiropractor finds one, he or she will manipulate the body back into a position that allows it to function properly. These adjustments are typically made with the hands, although sometimes the chiropractor will use special tools.
Because your chiropractor is concerned with wellness rather than applying a temporary fix to aches or pains, he or she may also recommend stretching or strengthening exercises that you can continue to do at home to keep your body in working order.
Be aware that there are conditions that require conventional medical treatments or procedures. However, if you are looking for a way to improve your quality of life and allow your body to heal itself in a healthy and natural way, it’s time to make a chiropractic care appointment.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tension Headaches
Manual therapy
People with tension-type headache often use chiropractic, manual therapy, spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy, and myofascial trigger point treatment. A 2006 systematic review found no rigorous evidence supporting manual therapies for tension headache.[15] A 2005 structured review found that the evidence was weak for effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation for tension headache, and that it was probably more effective for tension headache than for migraine.[16] A 2004 Cochrane review found that spinal manipulation may be effective for migraine and tension headache, and that spinal manipulation and neck exercises may be effective for cervicogenic headache.[17] Two other systematic reviews published between 2000 and May 2005 did not find conclusive evidence in favor of spinal manipulation.[18]
Source: Wikipedia
People with tension-type headache often use chiropractic, manual therapy, spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy, and myofascial trigger point treatment. A 2006 systematic review found no rigorous evidence supporting manual therapies for tension headache.[15] A 2005 structured review found that the evidence was weak for effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation for tension headache, and that it was probably more effective for tension headache than for migraine.[16] A 2004 Cochrane review found that spinal manipulation may be effective for migraine and tension headache, and that spinal manipulation and neck exercises may be effective for cervicogenic headache.[17] Two other systematic reviews published between 2000 and May 2005 did not find conclusive evidence in favor of spinal manipulation.[18]
Prognosis
Tension headaches that do not occur as a symptom of another condition may be painful, but are not harmful. It is usually possible to receive relief through treatment. Tension headaches that occur as a symptom of another condition are usually relieved when the underlying condition is treated. Frequent use of pain medications in patients with tension-type headache may lead to the development of medication overuse headache or rebound headache.Source: Wikipedia
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Gift Of Love
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford
Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was
suffering from a disease and needed a blood transfusion from her
five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same
disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness.
The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and
asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his
sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep
breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liza."
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister
and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her
cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.
He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice,
"Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the boy had
misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give
her all his blood.
-- Author Unknown
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Wallet
As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone
had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find
some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet
contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as
if it had been in there for years.
The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it
was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to
find some clue. Then I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had
been written almost sixty years ago.
It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue
stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a
"Dear John" letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared
to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because
her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always
love him.
It was signed, Hannah.
It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the
name Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I
called information, the operator could find a phone listing for
the address on the envelope.
"Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to
find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can
tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an
envelope in the wallet?"
She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a
moment then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that
address, but I can't give you the number." She said, as a
courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would
ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a few minutes
and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak
with you."
I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone
by the name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from
a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years
ago!"
"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked.
"I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home
some years ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with
them they might be able to track down the daughter."
She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number.
They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they
did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might
be living.
I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that
Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.
This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I
making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that
had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was
supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me,
"Yes, Hannah is staying with us."
Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to
see her. "Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a
chance, she might be in the day room watching television."
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse
and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor
of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me
to Hannah.
She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a
twinkle in her eye.
I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter.
The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little
flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man,
this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael."
She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said
Softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and
my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked
like Sean Connery, the actor."
"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person.
If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she
hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still
love him. You know," she said smiling as tears began to well up
in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up
to Michael..."
I thanked Hannah and said good-bye. I took the elevator to the
first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked,
"Was the old lady able to help you?"
I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name.
But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole
day trying to find the owner of this wallet."
I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case
with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said,
"Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it
anywhere with that right red lacing. He's always losing that
wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times."
"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake.
"He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike
Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his
walks."
I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I
told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator
and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in
the day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man."
We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a
man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he
had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put
his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing!"
"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could
be yours?"
I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he
smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have
dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a
reward."
"No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I
read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet."
The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that
letter?"
"Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is."
He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah? You know where she is? How is
she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me,"
he begged.
"She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said
softly.
The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell
me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand
and said, "You know something, mister, I was so in love with that
girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never
married. I guess I've always loved her. "
"Mr. Goldstein," I said, "come with me."
We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were
darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to
the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the
television. The nurse walked over to her.
"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting
with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man?"
She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a
word. Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's
Michael. Do you remember me?"
She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My
Michael!"
He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I
left with tears streaming down our faces.
"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be,
it will be."
About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the
nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding?
Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!"
It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing
home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light
beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit
and stood tall. They made me their best man.
The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to
see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two
teenagers, you had to see this couple.
A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60
years.
-- Author Unknown
had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find
some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet
contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as
if it had been in there for years.
The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it
was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to
find some clue. Then I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had
been written almost sixty years ago.
It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue
stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a
"Dear John" letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared
to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because
her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always
love him.
It was signed, Hannah.
It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the
name Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I
called information, the operator could find a phone listing for
the address on the envelope.
"Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to
find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can
tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an
envelope in the wallet?"
She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a
moment then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that
address, but I can't give you the number." She said, as a
courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would
ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a few minutes
and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak
with you."
I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone
by the name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from
a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years
ago!"
"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked.
"I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home
some years ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with
them they might be able to track down the daughter."
She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number.
They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they
did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might
be living.
I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that
Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.
This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I
making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that
had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was
supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me,
"Yes, Hannah is staying with us."
Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to
see her. "Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a
chance, she might be in the day room watching television."
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse
and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor
of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me
to Hannah.
She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a
twinkle in her eye.
I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter.
The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little
flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man,
this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael."
She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said
Softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and
my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked
like Sean Connery, the actor."
"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person.
If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she
hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still
love him. You know," she said smiling as tears began to well up
in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up
to Michael..."
I thanked Hannah and said good-bye. I took the elevator to the
first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked,
"Was the old lady able to help you?"
I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name.
But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole
day trying to find the owner of this wallet."
I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case
with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said,
"Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it
anywhere with that right red lacing. He's always losing that
wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times."
"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake.
"He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike
Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his
walks."
I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I
told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator
and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in
the day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man."
We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a
man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he
had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put
his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing!"
"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could
be yours?"
I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he
smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have
dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a
reward."
"No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I
read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet."
The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that
letter?"
"Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is."
He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah? You know where she is? How is
she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me,"
he begged.
"She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said
softly.
The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell
me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand
and said, "You know something, mister, I was so in love with that
girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never
married. I guess I've always loved her. "
"Mr. Goldstein," I said, "come with me."
We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were
darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to
the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the
television. The nurse walked over to her.
"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting
with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man?"
She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a
word. Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's
Michael. Do you remember me?"
She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My
Michael!"
He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I
left with tears streaming down our faces.
"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be,
it will be."
About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the
nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding?
Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!"
It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing
home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light
beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit
and stood tall. They made me their best man.
The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to
see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two
teenagers, you had to see this couple.
A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60
years.
-- Author Unknown
Monday, October 1, 2012
To Be 6 Again
To Whom It May Concern:
I hereby officially tender my resignation as an adult. I have
decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of a 6 year
old again.
I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star
restaurant. I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and
make ripples with rocks. I want to think M&Ms are better than
money, because you can eat them. I want to play kickball during
recess and paint with watercolors in art. I want to lie under a
big Oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot
summers' day.
I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you
knew were colors, addition tables and simple nursery rhymes, but
that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't
know and you didn't care. When all you knew was to be happy
because you didn't know allthe things that should make you
worried and upset. I want to think thatthe world is fair. That
everyone in it is honest and good. I want to believe that
anything is possible.
Somewhere in my youth... I matured and I learned too much. I
learned of nuclear weapons, war, prejudice, starvation and abused
children. I learned of lies, unhappy marriages, suffering,
illness, pain and death. I learned of a world where men left
their families to go and fight for our country, and returned only
to end up living on the streets... begging for their next meal. I
learned of a world where children knew how to kill... and did!!
What happened to the time when we thought that everyone would
live forever, because we didn't grasp the concept of death? When
we thought the worst thing in the world was if someone took the
jump rope from you or picked you last for kickball? I want to be
oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by
little things once again. I want to return to the days when
reading was fun and music was clean.
When television was used to report the news or for family
entertainment and not to promote sex, violence and deceit. I
remember being naive and thinking that everyone was happy because
I was. I would walk on the beach and only think of the sand
between my toes and the prettiest seashell I could find. I would
spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike. I didn't
worry about time, bills or where I was going to find the money to
fix my car. I used to wonder what I was going to do or be when I
grew up, not worry about what I'll do if this doesn't work out.
I want to live simple again. I don't want my day to consist of
computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to
survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank,
doctor bills, gossip, illness and loss of loved ones. I want to
believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth,
justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind and making
angels in the snow. I want to be 6 again.
-- Author Unknown
Friday, September 28, 2012
Are You Out Of Control?
Does your life feel
like's it out of control sometimes?
Did you ever say to yourself, "Why does this always happen to me?"
The decisions we make every minute of the day sometimes come back to us later and we're not always happy with the results.
But an important secret to success s to accept responsibility for every decision we make, not just the good ones.
When you take responsibility for your own actions, positive things start happening in your life.
I don't know what the reason is for that, but as soon as you accept the responsibility for where you are and what you are and what you've done suddenly you are in control of your life.
You realize that all the blame is on you. You are where you are in life because of CHOICES you've made... no one else.
No one else is to blame for your situation. Only you are to blame.
Once you realize that and accept that, you're in control. And once you're in control you can change your situation - if you want.
Does your life feel "out of control" sometimes (all the time?). This is the reason why.
I want you to get this planted firmly in your mind:
The question you need to ask yourself continually is:
"What am I going to do to change my life right now, for the better?"
Now if you're one of those individuals who has always accepted responsibility for your own actions, then bless you.
You are to be congratulated- you are also rare.
I guarantee you though that re-affirming "you are responsible for you own actions" will be good to remember once in a while.
Start taking control of your life instead of being lead by your fears, insecurities, phobias, hate or other people.
It starts by accepting responsibility for yourself and your actions.
David J Vallieres
Did you ever say to yourself, "Why does this always happen to me?"
The decisions we make every minute of the day sometimes come back to us later and we're not always happy with the results.
But an important secret to success s to accept responsibility for every decision we make, not just the good ones.
When you take responsibility for your own actions, positive things start happening in your life.
I don't know what the reason is for that, but as soon as you accept the responsibility for where you are and what you are and what you've done suddenly you are in control of your life.
You realize that all the blame is on you. You are where you are in life because of CHOICES you've made... no one else.
No one else is to blame for your situation. Only you are to blame.
Once you realize that and accept that, you're in control. And once you're in control you can change your situation - if you want.
Does your life feel "out of control" sometimes (all the time?). This is the reason why.
I want you to get this planted firmly in your mind:
"I am responsible for my
own actions. I am responsible for the
situation I'm in right now. No one else is to blame for it. It's my mess and I'm
going to do something to clean it up starting today."
The question you need to ask yourself continually is:
"What am I going to do to change my life right now, for the better?"
Now if you're one of those individuals who has always accepted responsibility for your own actions, then bless you.
You are to be congratulated- you are also rare.
I guarantee you though that re-affirming "you are responsible for you own actions" will be good to remember once in a while.
Start taking control of your life instead of being lead by your fears, insecurities, phobias, hate or other people.
It starts by accepting responsibility for yourself and your actions.
David J Vallieres
Friday, September 14, 2012
Bad Sleep Habits And Headaches
Sleeping on your stomach or with your pillow bunched up is a
sure way to a headache. What happens is that your neck becomes twisted for long
periods of time as you sleep, putting pressure on the nerves, blood vessels and
vertebrae in your cervical (upper) spine. That pressure sends messages to the
brain that there’s something that needs to be addressed, and a pain signal is
sent to your head. Presto! You have a headache and your neck hurts as well.
The solution is sleeping on your back with a pillow that
supports your neck fully. You may also sleep on your side, but check with us at
the office about the proper sleeping position that won’t create headaches. If
you bring in your pillow to our office, I’ll check it to see if it’s part of
the reason you have headaches. For example, a pillow that is too thin or too
fluffy will contribute to headaches because it doesn’t support the cervical
curve in your neck. The cervical curve is a natural S-shaped curve in your
neck. If the pillow is too flat, that pillow flattens your cervical curve. If
the pillow is too fluffy, it exaggerates your cervical curve.
In the past 20 years, chiropractic physicians have used a
complete range of cervical pillows to fit the necks of those who are young and
old.
Headache Advice
When you have a headache, nothing seems right. The sooner
you feel better, the sooner you can get back to life as usual.
Headaches can result from many causes, some serious and some
not as serious. As your chiropractic physician, I’ve already done everything to
insure that your headache is not the result of serious disease. I have set up a
treatment plan for you that I believe will help us address the root of your
headaches once and for all. My goal for you is for you to be headache-free
within six months. Many of my patients begin their headache-free life a lot
sooner than that and they do it with my home care recommendations.
What chiropractic physicians, medical doctors, nutritionists
and herbalists have discovered in the last ten years is that the reason why
many people have headaches is that there are some personal habits and diet
habits that contribute greatly to causing headaches. Have you ever noticed that
sometimes after a very heated argument, you get a headache? One trigger for
headaches is stress.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes after eating a nice
dinner with a glass of wine, you get a headache? You may not have felt any
stress during that dinner and everything was going very well when a headache
appeared out of nowhere that sent you to bed early. Your night was ruined. This
type of headache can be caused by diet, and even though every headache sufferer
does not get diet-induced headaches, the great majority do. That’s why part of
your home care recommendations will be to monitor and alter your diet.
There are many different Headache Diets you can find online
and all of them are different from each other. Some eliminate monosodium
glutamate (MSG), others eliminate aspartame, and others eliminate tyramine.
These diets have ignored some basic facts. What I’ve found is that there are
certain dietary principles to follow that will address most of these – the MSG,
aspartame, and tyramine simultaneously. Start here, and after you get these
mastered, we can go further with individual diets later.
As a headache sufferer, what’s important for you is to make
a commitment to start noticing the little things in your life that are
contributing to your headaches. Today starts your personal journey into a
headache-free life.
As your chiropractic physician, I will alert you to all
types of possible headache triggers that you can control in this home care
manual. I’ll continue your chiropractic treatment and with both of us working
together, your headache-free life is right around the corner! Have hope and
take action and we will both see results!
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