Like most Americans, I grew up under the traditional medical model that dictates medication as a cure-all solution. We relied on the medicine cabinet to "fix" our pain problems. For years, I suffered with debilitating hip pain. I limped through the last two years of high school. There were times when I had to be carried; because walking or even crawling was virtually impossible due to pain. I was taking multiple medications, none of which was helping. The prescription doses got stronger and stronger.

While attending the University of FL, I met my future husband who shared information about a chiropractic workshop he attended with his father. I was immediately intrigued. I wanted to know more about this natural health care alternative that could possibly help my body function better without taking drugs.

When I graduated from UF, I went to South Carolina to visit family members while preparing to attend graduate school. While there, I decided to do a more in depth research of chiropractic. I visited Sherman Chiropractic College and spoke to several local chiropractors. My next question was...Where do I sign up? Five months later, I began attending Life University, School of Chiropractic in Atlanta.

I realized that I was extremely subluxated, which may have lead to the years of hip pain that I endured. I began receiving regular chiropractic adjustments. I have not had a prescription drug in over 15 years,  and I have never had that hip pain again. In fact, I've since run one marathon, 6 half marathons and numerous 5K's, 10K's and 15K races.

Understanding that chiropractic can actually correct the cause of many health problems instead of taking drugs to cover the symptoms, have changed my life. Not only am I a Chiropractor; I am also a lifetime chiropractic patient.

I was born and raised in Jamaica and I never heard the word "chiropractic" until I came to the U.S. at age twenty. Up to that point, I was brought up believing that healing comes from the outside in the forms of herbs, pills, potions, lotions, and knives. Soon after I came to the United States, something happened that changed my life for ever, and in turn, changed many other lives, too.

At the time, my dad had a very bad motor vehicle accident. He sustained injuries to his neck and lower back. The pain in his spine was so severe, he could not even bend to put his shoes on, and was unable to go to work. After several weeks of "popping" dozens of pain pills without any lasting relief, he decided to try Chiropractic. Anyway, I will get back to my dad's story later...

My personal journey with chiropractic really began when I accompanied my injured and hurting dad to the chiropractor. It was life changing! I learned that day that the word 'chiropractic' is made up of two Greek words, cheiros and praktikos (meaning, "done by hand"). The Chiropractor also explained that doctors do not heal anyone; and pills and surgeries do not cure any disease...but that God created our body with an innate intelligence that gives it the power to heal and regulate itself if there is no interference to the nerve system. He said, and I quote "the real doctor is within each of us."

...now back to my dad's story; he got phenomenal results! In two weeks, he was able to return to work. I was so impressed with the philosophy and effectiveness of Chiropractic that I decided not just to become a Chiropractor, but also to marry one, who happens to be my Chiropractor.