A 10 Year Old Boys Testimonial Highlights the Problem with America’s Healthcare Crisis
By Michelle Huguley
Zachary(Z), my son, was involved in a motor vehicle accident when he was 4 years old, he suffered a broken leg and a contusion to his forehead. We thought that our son was going to be just fine. Then, three years later he cried out in excruciating pain. This pain can only be described as the kind of pain where you wouldn't care if someone cut off the extremity that was causing the pain.
We immediately rushed him to the hospital where x-rays were taken. We were sent home with the diagnosis of a possible bone infection, anti-inflammatory medications, pain relievers, the possibility of surgery, and an appointment with an orthopedist for an MRI.
After numerous visits to multiple doctors, several more x-rays, a CAT scan, and more bills than we care to count. We were told that our son had hamstring contractures, so they sent him to physical therapy for stretching. After no real improvement in Z’s condition, the therapist felt there was more going on with Z. We were sent back to the orthopedist who did more x-rays and ordered another MRI. Hamstring contractures was ruled out!!
He was still taking a lot of anti-inflammatory medications, pain relievers, morphine at times, cream for his leg and a TENS unit when the pain got really bad, we’re talking 10/10 pain, screaming and crying in pain! Z even developed ulcers, surely from all the pain medications he was taking.
We visited a pediatric neurologist who ordered another MRI and a spinal tap because the MRI that was done previously couldn’t be read very well. The results gave us a diagnosis of Superficial Siderosis due to trauma. This was the first documented case of this condition in a child!
As far as Z’s prognosis? There is no known cure and he would ultimately have to suffer with the pain for the rest of his life. In adults this condition causes blindness, hearing loss, and puts most individuals in a wheelchair!
Even with the growing doctors visits and medical bills, we kept searching. We visited a neurosurgeon who did a spinal angiogram. This led to nothing. A CT Myelogram was then done that showed in the lower portion of Z’s spinal cord there was no free flowing spinal fluid. Still the doctors said nothing could be done. Finally we visited one more orthopedist hoping that maybe he could help with Z’s pain. More x-rays were taken of Z’s spine and no answers were given.
Now, after all of these tests and all of the stress of trying to find the cause of Z’s condition we’d only walked away with the diagnosis of Superficial Siderosis and as far as the pain goes we could take him to a pain management clinic and let them teach him to breathe through the pain. Umm? Yea? No, don’t think so. We were desperate to find the root cause of our son’s condition and after all the medical tests; we were still at square one with nothing to help our son get better.
Now as Z’s mom, I was taught, that when one door closes another one opens.
On several occasions over a six-month period, some of the Sisters at our church, had mentioned Dr. Dale Brown(a Maximized Living Chiropractor). They told us that they believed we should go to see him and hear what he has to say. My first instinct was, "NO WAY”, to twist, turn and pull at Z would be painful and who knows what kind of damage it would inflict. But my concerned friends persisted.
I had to find out what it was about this guy that so many from our church would be so highly recommending him.
But I still had my doubts. So when in doubt get on your knees... and I did! And I asked Him about what to do next and let Him know that I felt like I had done everything that I could, that I didn't know where else to turn and if Dr. Brown was where we needed to be then I asked Him to please give me the courage to move my feet in that direction. God knows what we've been through and He knows what Zachary needs.
Finally, after 3 years of no answers and no hope from the medical doctors, we took Z to see Dr. Brown. Dr. Brown first talked with us about the spine and the spinal cord and the importance of having a healthy well-adjusted spine “so that the body could heal itself, the way God intended.” WHAT! A doctor referred to God?!! He explained how the alignment of the spine dictates how all the fluids and nerve supply flow properly to their destinations with ease if the spine is in its proper alignment… Hey, this makes sense I thought! For the first time in what seemed like forever, hope began to creep back in!
Dr. Brown examined Z and pointed out some abnormal curvatures of Z’s back. Z’s back was shaped like a C and his head also tilted slightly to one side. Why had the Orthopedist not noticed this? After he examined Z, he requested to do full spine x-rays so that he would have a better view of the upper part of Z’s spine, specifically his head and neck. Unlike all the other doctors, Dr. Brown never asked where Zachary’s pain was, though Dr. Brown had already read Z’s Blog. Instead, Dr. Brown explained that he would be looking for the cause of the misalignments in Z’s spine and that if he could fix that it would give Z’s body a greater potential to heal. This was completely new but it made the most sense. So we agreed.
When we came back to view Z’s x-rays, Dr. Brown took great detail in explaining how the spine protected the spinal cord and nerves and how the misalignments in Z’s spine would not be allowing Z’s body to heal and function properly.
Within just a few visits we started noticing a difference, and so did Z! Though the adjustments didn't heal Z immediately, we were heading in the right direction. We brought Z to get adjusted nearly on a daily basis. At times when Z’s pain was so severe we would “campout” in his office for up to 3 hours, sometimes twice a day. Dr. Brown would adjust Z multiple time a day and it was amazing how the adjustments could almost completely stop Z’s pain! Hurray! Something is working!
One time when Z’s pain was getting really bad I called Dr. Brown on his cell, he had given it to us in case of emergencies. I asked what we could do for Z. He offered to make a house call, I was shocked! Doctors don’t do that anymore! And we live 30 minutes away. This is how I knew we found the right doctor. He cares for his patients enough to go completely out his way to help them.
Long story short, Z has almost completely recovered and there is no way to explain the joy I have as a mother to see my son be a “regular” boy again!
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