Who I am and why I do what I do.

Thirty years ago something happened to me that changed my life forever. Let me tell you my story and about that journey.

I was a field engineer for a big chemical engineering company. It was stressful work that involved a great deal of travel and heavy lifting. Eventually, that stress caught up with me and I began to suffer from headaches and neck pain that were so intense that sometimes I couldn’t even lift my head off my pillow in the morning. I actually had to roll out of bed onto the floor before I could stand up. I began to lose so much feeling in my hands that it was hard to even button my shirt. My doctor gave me medicine to help, but even with pain killers and muscles relaxers, the pain got worse and worse. I was afraid that I’d lose my job if the disability continued. After the medicine didn’t work, he recommended injections into my neck and spine or surgery but I decided against that.

Someone suggested that I see a chiropractor, but I didn’t believe in it! I was desperate.

Finally, a friend of mine convinced me to give their new doctor a try. This new doctor did an exam, took some x-rays and then clearly explained to me what he saw and what it meant to him. Then he adjusted my spine. The adjustment didn’t hurt at all, it actually felt good! My headaches began to improve with each adjustment and the neck pain cleared up within a couple of weeks. Soon after that I even noticed that my energy was coming back, my digestion improved and I felt better than I had in years. That new doctor was a chiropractor! It worked so well for me and I was so impressed with other people’s successful results in his clinic that I eventually quit my engineering job and went to chiropractic school myself. I was 37 years old. That is how it happened!

It’s strange how life is, because people now come to see me with their headaches. They also come with arthritis, fibromyalgia, neck and shoulder pain, whiplash from accidents, carpal tunnel, low back pain and sciatica, and athletic injuries. We even see lots of people who have no pain at all but know that proper chiropractic care will improve their quality of life, athletic performance and even slow down the damage from degenerative spinal disease.

After passing all the national boards, receiving my Doctor of Chiropractic degree and state licenses I began to practice here in Leavenworth. What an adventure and leap of faith that was to bring my wife, small children and no money to a new town to start a new life and business from scratch. Quickly the practice grew as the results we saw in the clinic spoke for themselves and through word of mouth more and more people came in to see if we could help them, too.

As the practice grew we eventually added another doctor and then another. Our dream was to have the largest drug-free health care center in the area, and by 2006 we were seeing over 130 patients a day in our office. It was amazing! We had two full time doctors and a staff of ten. Unfortunately, I was moving into a position as chief executive officer in the “business” instead of working with our patients. I missed the personal contact and wonderful energy that comes for one on one care. Still, our dreams were coming true and our families were flourishing. We truly were blessed and had much to be thankful for.

Then on Labor Day 2010 my world fell apart when the worst possible thing that can happen to a parent happened. Our beloved eldest daughter Caitlyn was killed in an accident. She had just received her Second Lieutenant’s commission in the US Army and had begun service as an intelligence officer with the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade. Everything she touched turned to gold. She was just 21.

Frankly, I was unable to work for months after she was killed and the practice was handled by my very capable and skilled staff. While out of the office I began to re-evaluate things that were truly important to me and my family and that was to return to the one-on-one personalized care that I had found to be so fulfilling for so many years.

So, over the past couple of years I have returned to that focused personalized approach to our patient’s care. I am back to a one doctor office and am happier than ever being able to sit and visit with a patient about their needs and concerns without the limitations caused by a high volume, fast paced clinic. It is very comfortable and rewarding place to be and I love it.

I am privileged to serve.

Why I am a Doctor of Chiropractic?

Because I honor the inborn potential of everyone to be truly healthy.

Because I desire to help the newborn, the aged and those without hope.

Because I choose to care for the patient with the dis-ease, not the disease.

Because I wish to assist rather than intrude; to free rather than control.

Because I seek to correct the cause, not its effect.

Because I know doctors do not heal, only the body can heal itself.

Because I have been called to serve others.

Because I want to make a difference.

Because everyday I get to witness miracles..........

Because I know it is right!