Like Father, Like Son: The Chiropractic Way Both Past and Present
Yesterday, I got to spend Father’s Day with two of the other three chiropractors in my family. It was awesome. I got to spend time with my dad playing tennis and barbecuing with the rest of our family. We had nice weather, and it was a great day. However, Father’s Day also got me thinking about the history of chiropractic. Chiropractic has very strong father-son roots.
Back in 1895, DD Palmer founded the profession of chiropractic. In the building in which DD Palmer worked, there was a janitor named Harvey Lillard. Lillard, 17 years previously, had lost his hearing. He said he lost it after hearing a pop in his spine while he had been working in a stooped position. DD Palmer examined Harvey Lillard’s spine, delivered the first chiropractic adjustment, and Lillard’s hearing was restored. Here is the testimony from Mr. Lillard:
“I was deaf 17 years and I expected to always remain so, for I had doctored a great deal without any benefit. I had long ago made up my mind to not take any more ear treatments, for it did me no good. Last January Dr. Palmer told me that my deafness came from an injury in my spine. This was new to me; but it is a fact that my back was injured at the time I went deaf. Dr. Palmer treated me on the spine; in two treatments I could hear quite well. That was eight months ago. My hearing remains good. HARVEY LILLARD, 320 W. Eleventh St., Davenport, Iowa.”
BJ Palmer, DD Palmer’s son, also became a chiropractor. He truly expanded and developed the profession. BJ was the head of Palmer College, the original chiropractic college, for many years. He dedicated his life to furthering the profession and advancing technologies and techniques while staying true to the original chiropractic philosophy. Fast forward over 120 years, chiropractic is now the largest, drugless healing profession in America.
Like the history of chiropractic, my personal chiropractic story also has strong father-son roots. My grandfather was the first chiropractor in our family. He has been in practice for over 60 years, and he still works for a couple of hours per week. It is amazing. He loves what he does, and everyone loves him! After my grandfather, my dad and uncle both became chiropractors. They have been in practice for over 30 years. I loved being around my dad’s practice growing up. I have been adjusted since birth, so I grew up thinking about health a little differently than a lot of my friends. After seeing all the people (athletes, kids, families) who my family has helped through great chiropractic care, I knew that chiropractic was what I was born to do. It was in the blood, so I did what BJ did and followed in my father’s footsteps. My family has created some big footprints, but I am happy to be a part of a great profession. Thank you Pop-Pop, Uncle Joe and Dad for paving the way for me! I am proud to be a third-generation chiropractor, and I look forward to serving my community just like the many father-son chiropractors before me.
If you are looking for a chiropractor in the Hatboro, Horsham, Warminster or Warrington area, then Radiant Life Chiropractic would be happy to help! Give us a call or click here to schedule a complimentary assessment. We will go over your health goals and determine how we can best help you on your journey to true health!