October 2005

DCs rush to join Katrina relief

When Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast last month, millions of people were affected, including those whose homes were destroyed and whose lives were severely disrupted in the wake of the worst natural disaster to ever hit the United States.

As always, humanitarian relief organizations followed soon after, providing housing, food and medical assistance to the victims and evacuees. And  ‑‑ as always ‑‑ doctors of chiropractic were among the first to rush to help.

As The Chiropractic Journal (TCJ) goes to press, the World Chiropractic Alliance is continuing to establish lines of communication with doctors in the area and it will be weeks or possibly months before we learn the true extent of the compassionate aid provided by DCs in the area.

But the story of David Espinoza, DC, a recent graduate of Life University, exemplifies the selfless impulse so prevalent among chiropractic healers.

As soon as Red Cross shelters were set up in Georgia to help evacuees, Dr. Espinoza and Nicole Benge, DC, mobilized a team of chiropractors and massage therapists from a local school and headed to the Lost Mountain Recreation Center in west Cobb, Georgia. They knew that storm victims as well as the relief workers would need chiropractic care to get them through the challenges that lay ahead of them.

The team arrived in the late morning of Monday, Sept. 3, one week after the storm caused extensive damage to the coastal regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.  At first, they were told that, due to liability issues, they were not allowed to set up chiropractic care stations anywhere in the property. That didn't discourage the determined doctors.

"As a team, we refused to leave, explaining that we were a completely independent mobilized unit and did not require anything except a place to set up," Espinoza told TCJ. "After waiting for almost two hours to get an okay from the person in charge of the Red Cross, I decided to just find an area outside and set up."

No doubt knowing how much the team could help, the Red Cross turned a blind eye to its activity. Only when the Regional Director of the Red Cross was due to stop by were the members warned to leave. They decided to comply and were packing up when the Red Cross officials come out to them and gave them approval to remain. "By this time we had adjusted more than 70 evacuees and volunteers," Espinoza noted. "By the end of the day we had an open invitation to be part of the volunteer effort in Cobb County."

It was to be the start of a long‑term relief effort that would not only bring vital care to hundreds of people, but would indelibly change the image of chiropractic in the minds of everyone who came into contact with the doctors involved.

"Day two at the shelter was awesome," Espinoza explained in his continuing reports to the Journal.  "We were treated like royalty. It is amazing how peoples' perception of our efforts there has changed in just a few days."

The chiropractic relief workers ‑‑ dubbed "Team Chiropractic" ‑‑ started attracting others who also wanted to lend a helping hand. Three days after they arrived, a call went out on Atlanta radio station 99X to all chiropractors in the area, asking them to call Dr. Benge if they could help as well. That same afternoon, Dr. John Downs of Life University placed similar contact information on the Life website.

"What makes Team Chiropractic a success is that we are a totally self‑sufficient, mobile chiropractic unit and we would like to continue doing this work for as long as there are evacuees here in Georgia," Espinoza explained. "I am so proud of the people I work with. This is not a chiropractic issue, this is a humanitarian issue. The doctors who are helping us are all starting out, have families, or may not necessarily have the cash to travel these long distances with the price of gas these days but after the experience that we have shared serving together, we all have realized the importance of the work we are doing. It truly has been an incredible experience and it truly has opened my eyes and my heart to the concept of giving, loving, and serving out of my abundance."

He added that, "The energy in the shelter was palpable, the energy around our adjusting tent outside was incredible. Once they got a taste of what we were doing outside, their attitude toward us changed to a very positive vibe. We were welcomed."

The shelter, which was due to stay open for approximately 16 weeks, was closed September 13. Espinoza, Benge and other chiropractic emergency relief workers set up a temporary relief station at Life University and were, at press time, waiting to find another evacuee relief shelter to work from.  Updated information on their work will be posted on the World Chiropractic Alliance website at www.worldchiropracticalliance.org.

For information about volunteering to serve at the shelter, donating portable tables or other equipment, or providing financial support, contact Dr. David J. Espinoza at 678‑231‑5626, espiadio@comcast.net or Dr. Nicole Benge at 678‑778‑6955, drbenge@hotmail.com.