"I first visited a chiropractor when I was 7 or 8 years old because I had back problems, so I have a history of malcontent with my spine. Later in life, I became a massage therapist. I practiced full time for three years, and I didn't take care of myself at all. I got a massage for about every 100 that I gave. Very unbalanced. I quit massage when I became pregnant with my first child, and the pregnancy only compounded the discomfort I was already experiencing.

Around 8 months into my pregnancy, I started to get terrible muscle spasms in my back that would last hours on end and were so uncomfortable that I would vomit. I was able to find relief sometimes from a chiropractor. I say sometimes because my chiropractor's adjustments didn't always help. I would get one of these spasms twice a week for over a year.  I tried everything I could think of myself to prevent them, and I ended up limiting myself from almost all activity. I stopped holding my son, doing housework, lifting anything, sitting or standing for any length of time, etc. Anytime something triggered a spasm, it was the last time I did that activity. I was a 26 year old invalid.  It was terrible.  I was a new mom and a newlywed, and I wasn't able to be the outgoing active person that my husband married and I knew myself to be.

When we moved to Georgia, my husband and I decided that enough was enough, and we had to actively improve my health. I called Lotus of Life one morning because I had seen their office space across from the high school where my husband worked. I made an appointment, and I really appreciated their energy when I met Jamie and Liliana in the office.  I was impressed by their knowledge of the body as a massage therapist who has had to educate medical students about their own bodies in the past (I'm not kidding!).

Shortly after starting treatment at Lotus of Life, I became pregnant with my second kiddo. I received chiropractic care regularly throughout the pregnancy, and I am amazed at the results. I have had only one spasm since I started working with Drs. Jamie and Liliana. When I had that spasm, I immediately sought care, and I left the office 20 minutes later pain free.  My pregnancy went so well that I remember feeling achy in my low back when I was two weeks from delivery. I remember thinking, "Hmm. That's odd. My back doesn't usually hurt there." Then I told myself, "You idiot! You're 9 months pregnant, and you think a low back ache is curious?!"

I also had a fantastic homebirth with a shockingly short recovery time.  Dr. Liliana attended my birth and adjusted me throughout and after my labor.  She even stopped by the day after to adjust me.  I can't stress how important it is to continue chiropractic care after the baby is born.  Your body obviously goes through major changes structurally with balance and organ placement, but it is a gradual process that you learn to adapt to slowly.  After you have the baby, everything tries to go back to its original place in record speed, and sometimes your body is changed permanently. My son is two weeks old now, and I feel absolutely fantastic, like I was never even pregnant.  On a scale of 1 to 10, I feel like an 11.  I know for certain that I feel so good because of the chiropractic care I received from Lotus of Life. - Michelle

"Before I started seeing Drs. Liliana and Jamie in early 2007 (at the age of 60), I had suffered with morning back pain for many years and had a herniated disk in my lower back.  I also had moderately severe scoliosis, my left hip and knee joints were hurting and my right hand would ache on and off.  Within a few sessions of seeing them I was feeling noticeably better, especially my back.  Unfortunately I had a kayaking accident in July 2007 where my left knee hit a rock and that affected my lower back again. Because I was already visiting Lotus of Life on a regular basis, the doctors were able to nip this injury in the bud and after a few visits I was back to my previous level of freedom from pain.  Due to my longstanding back issues, I still see Drs. Jamie and Liliana on an ongoing basis but visiting them in their cheerful, peaceful office is a treat! - a participant from Lotus of Life"

Coleen

The following is a testimonial from a fellow participant of Lotus of Life Chiropractic, Jennifer Greenquist. Jennifer is not the only parent that has had such an experience.

"Like all parents, when my son Zach was born we wanted the best for him. We wanted to do everything we could to make sure he was as healthy and intelligent as he could be. This included breastfeeding until he was 11 months and getting him the recommended vaccinations. When he was five or six months old he got an ear infection and his pediatrician prescribed antibiotics. The first round didn't work, so we tried another and then another. He basically had an ear infection for 12 weeks. My husband's brother was in chiropractic school, so we finally took Zach to their clinic for regular adjustments and a course of acidophilus and bifidus. This cleared his ear infection within a week. My son hasn't had any health issues since, and he's now 9 years old.

While my brother-in-law was in chiropractic school, we studied the research (or lack thereof) on the effectiveness of vaccinations. We were uncomfortable with the idea of injecting viruses into the undeveloped immune systems of our children, especially since immune system diseases run in my family. When my daughter Maya was born, we decided not to have her vaccinated. She was breastfed for 13 months, and hasn't had any ear infections or illnesses other than colds/flu and she's now 5. Even when she gets a cold or the flu, it doesn't seem to take as long for her to recover as it does for Zach. We have never regretted our decision and feel that she has a stronger, healthier immune system as a result."

Jennifer and both her children have been getting regular chiropractic care since that first episode with Zach. Now, Zach and Maya both ask to get adjusted when they aren't feeling their best. Maya's enthusiasm is best shared in her comment to her mother in a recent visit: "No, Mom, I don't WANT to be a chiropractor, I'm GOING to be a chiropractor!"  -Jennifer

"Just wanted to thank y'all for being so available for Madeleine. She walked out of the emergency room last night feeling only more trepidation about not competing this weekend. She left Lotus, however, mentally and physically much improved, not to mention empowerment engendered by your imparted understanding of what was wrong and what she could do to help herself." - Scott