"I'm going to die," I thought as I lay on the hospital bed, my 12-year-old body wracked with pain. The ruptured appendix had turned into peritonitis, and complications kept piling up. I needed multiple surgeries and spent weeks in that hospital, not knowing if I would make it out alive.

This is a real-life story that happened to me back in 1978... But let me start at the beginning.

I was an active kid, always eager to participate in sports and competitions. That summer, I competed in the Jesse Owens Games, a national event set up by the legendary Olympic gold medalist. It was a thrilling experience, but little did I know that the following day would mark the start of a life-changing journey.

The day after the competition, I started feeling sick. By nightfall, I was in excruciating pain. It turned out to be a ruptured appendicitis, which quickly escalated into peritonitis. If anything could go wrong, it went wrong. I underwent multiple surgeries, as doctors fought to keep me alive.

Lying in that hospital bed, I felt hopeless and scared. The pain was unbearable, and I didn't know if I would ever make it out. But amidst the darkness, a light shone through – the compassionate care of my surgeon, Dr. Steven Minker.

His dedication and kindness left an indelible mark on my young mind. As I recovered, we would talk, and those conversations planted a seed that would later grow into a desire to help others the way he helped me.

Little did I know that this harrowing experience would set the stage for a journey that would lead me to my true calling – becoming a medical doctor and helping people break free from the limitations of chronic pain and illness.

But the road ahead was not without its challenges...

As I grew older, the memory of Dr. Minker's compassionate care never left me. It inspired me to pursue a career in medicine, with the dream of one day being able to help others the way he had helped me.

However, fate had a different plan in store. During college, I suffered a severe injury that would change the course of my life. I fell down a flight of stairs, badly hurting my lower back. The pain was excruciating, and I could barely walk.

In desperation, I turned to a chiropractor for help. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. After just one visit, my pain level dropped from a 10 to a 3. It was an instant, life-altering relief.

At that moment, I had an epiphany. If chiropractic care could have such a profound impact on my own life, imagine what it could do for others suffering from chronic pain and dysfunction.

I made the decision to pivot from my path towards becoming a medical doctor and instead pursue a career as a chiropractor. I wanted to dedicate my life to helping people experience the same transformative healing that I had.

As I began my practice, I poured my heart and soul into my work. I took countless postgraduate classes, learning everything I could about adjusting techniques, functional nutrition, and neurology. I was driven by an insatiable desire to help my patients on the deepest level possible.

But despite my best efforts, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still missing. I was helping people, but not to the extent I knew was achievable.

That's when I met Dr. Andy Barlow and was introduced to the world of functional neurology. As I delved deeper into this cutting-edge field, I discovered the incredible potential of integrating neurological work with nutrition and metabolic health.