Making Sure It's Understood

Dr. Brown diagnosed Z with Whiplash and this had been the root cause of Z's intense pain. Dr. Brown has relieved Zachary of all that pain. X-rays have not be done but I know that the adjustments to our sons neck have made a huge difference in his life. Dr. Brown has cured Zachary of all his pain and as far as I know of the whiplash that Z obtained due to the MVA he was in when he was 4.
As far as the Superficial Siderosis is concerned, that is not cured, as of today there is no known cure for this disorder.
Our next fight now is to regain the mobility that Zachary once had, that is our goal!

Published! In the Clarksville Family Magazine

$94,492.49 and For What?  

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!

The Pain Returns

Zachary saw Dr. Brown just before leaving for Arkansas on the 22nd. We thought that since he had been doing so well that he would be okay for a couple of weeks without an adjustment. Umm? Yeah!! Oh, how wrong we were. Zachary started going down hill on Friday the 29th, my Aunt noticed that the way he walked and the way he carried himself had changed (which is typical of the pain starting to set in). This evening on our way to spend a week in Texas and pick up our four little ones Z's pain kicked in. He wasn't doing well at all and, again, the feelings of helplessness came to revisit me. His pain got up to a 9 or a 10 and he suffered through it for about 6 1/2 hours. Ugh! This is not the kind of memory lane I like going down. The next morning I took him to the nearest Marathon Chiropractor to get an adjustment. I contacted Dr. Brown so that he could inform the doctor there of Z's situation so that he could accurately adjust Z. The doctor was very gentle, so gentle that I worried that he didn't accomplish what needed to be done so that Z wouldn't suffer through the pain again. Z did experience some pain a couple of days later but insisted he wanted to see Dr. Brown. So we did not revisit Dr. Kordic's office.

Lesson 1: Zachary's body took 6 years to get to the state that it's in, a few months isn't going to return him back to normal, remember patience and time are your friends not your enemys.
Lesson 2: Remember to fold Dr. Brown up and put him in Z's pocket when planning another out of state trip, lol, seriously tho .... if it were possible we'd do it!! I think that next time we will go ahead and plan to have appointments set for Zachary to be adjusted while he's away. Something even if it is gentle is better than nothing at all. ;)
Lesson 3: Watch that diet, it makes a bigger difference than we thought.

Cub Scout Day Camp

We sent Zachary to Cub Scout Day Camp, he had a wonderful time and even made a new friend! Completely pain free all week! I don't think anyone can understand the magnitude of emotions that a mother feels when she sees her child who was once unable to even get through one day without pain see him make it through a week without pain. The emotions are seriously overwhelming. Oh and how blessed and grateful we all are. We got to watch him while he enjoyed being the active adventurous 10 year old boy that he is and deserves to be. It was amazing and what an awesome privilege it is to see the Lord work His mighty miracles! I was so pleased to see and watch him I took pictures and video, just so I could remember how happy our boy is now!!

Zachary and Tyler 

 Zachary wanting to give away a "wet hug"

 Zachary trying to be generous and give his brother, Wesley, a hug and Wesley resisting, lol 

28 Days!!!

Yes, it's been 28 days! And Zachary wanted me to know that even tho... he had minor pain on two of those days he still considers it 28 days pain free. :D So? By Zachary's request, the title remains!!

A Grateful Mother's Day!

It's Mother's Day and on this day I often wonder why it is I feel so cheated! Why on this day I miss my mom more then ever and this is the day I will be constantly reminded that she isn't here. But then I realize, I'm good! I've got this! It's no problem!

I go to my computer to go through my pictures because I'm short on hard drive space and I come across the photos of my parents truck after their accident in '06.

Why? Why am I here? I'm not here to feel sad or sorry for myself. I'm not here to try and envision the trauma that they experienced. No?!? 

I'm here because despite all the trauma and all the feelings of loss and despair, I am full of gratitude!!

Surprised? Do you want to know why? Because I have a set of twins who made it out of that accident. Our daughter, Aubrey, came out of it with just a broken clavicle

The only picture I have of Aubrey in her sling. 

and our son, Zachary, who we thought just had a broken leg and a bruise on his forehead, he came out of it alive as well.

He's had some pretty harsh bumps and trials and has endured some pretty rough days in the last three years, but despite that ... he is happy and without pain today.

You know what I'm filled with? Pure GRATITUDE!! My eyes well up with tears looking back and seeing what events have crossed my path and I see .... that I am very blessed!! My parents are gone, this is true, but I get comfort from the fact, that I know, that they are together. I am comforted by the fact that I know without doubt that there is more to this life then just living and that when we have accomplished the things that we need to here, one day my parents and I will be together again. I'm truly blessed as I travel my rocky little winding road, there are some occasional boulders that I must climb and there are those scary cold storms that I must seek shelter from, but despite all those things, I see that I am blessed to have all 7 of my children happy and healthy and a loving husband who stands by me, holds me up and helps me over those boulders and through those storms. I'm blessed with a wonderful family and many many friends who are constantly encouraging me and cheering me on as I navigate myself through this life. 

Zachary has made some huge leaps of his own. 

He spent Friday night and yesterday with his pal! They played and rode on some pretty impressive rides,

and he has felt no pain from it at all!! Oh yes!! I am truly blessed, as is he. I know that my Father in Heaven loves us. I know that He only gives us what He knows we can handle, sometimes pushing us to the very edge where we start to doubt ourselves, but we always make it through.

This Mother's day!! I am filled with gratitude!!

A little note for my Mom ....

I love you, mom!! And miss you more then I can ever express!! Thank you, for teaching me the gospel for teaching me that I am a strong woman and for teaching me that I can climb mountains. Sending hugs your way! I know that they don't have to travel very far to get to you, because I know you are always close by me!!

With Love,

Michelle

A Weekend of Play and No Pain!!

Can I just say? Wow!! Our son played hard this last weekend! He played war in the woods with his friend and went swimming. These guys played all day Saturday, and they played hard. In the past this kind of weekend would have ended with his friend leaving and Zachary suffering in severe pain. His friend left and Zachary was ready to play some more. :D
We can not express the feelings we have .. it's very overwhelming!! I love seeing our son be a 10 year old boy without worrying about the consequences after playing hard like he did. Dr. Brown has changed our sons life! We thank the Lord everyday for giving us the courage to talk to Dr. Brown, to just listen to what he had to say. That's all it took! What can I say? All we can do now .. is share the knowledge and testimony we have of eating healthy and taking care of the most important part of our bodies, our spine. No more feelings of helplessness! Whew! And the hope? We've finally got it back!! ;)
As of today Z has been pain free for 22 days!!! That my friends is a long time!! His pain started in June of '09 and was consistent! And now, April 2012 the pain free boy we all know and love is as happy as he deserves to be. ;)