Born and raised in Eunice, LA. We were a family of four. My parents (Ernie & Betty) and my younger brother (Andre). My dad was in the oil & gas industry, so outside of school, sports, or family obligations we often followed him to Houston or parts of east Texas while he was overseeing drilling and exploration operations. When visiting on drilling sites, we fished, shot BB guns, and played cards most of our days. Houston trips allowed for Oiler and Astros games, Houston Rodeo, bowling, family pool halls, museums, car shows, etc. Being from a small town was great, but experiencing some of Houston’s offerings always felt like a continuous vacation.
My mom said she introduced me to chiropractic as a baby while I was suffering with asthma. She said after two adjustments the asthma was gone. I obviously do not recall the visits, but my mom told everyone about it. My earliest memories of chiropractic were tagging along with my mom to her treatments. She suffered chronic headaches, and Dr. Carl Turk would adjust her and the headaches would be all better. My first personal experience that I do recall was in high school. While playing football, two of my teammates rolled over my ankle. Two months later it was still a problem even after rehabbing. My mom and head coach convinced me to go to see the family chiropractor (Dr. Joe Turk) and on one visit the pain was totally relieved. At that moment I was hooked on chiropractic care.
I moved to college to play football at the University of Southern Mississippi and initially was studying to be a physical therapist. Over the next two years, anytime I would be home I would swing by Dr. Turk to get my adjustment. He continuously recruited me to set my sights on being a chiropractor instead of a physical therapist. At first, I was flattered, but I had no intention of being a chiropractor. However, on one of my visits to his office in the spring of my second year of college I am waiting for my turn to be adjusted and I hear the same story that I had heard at least a dozen times from a dozen different patients. “I came to see Dr. Turk as my last resort, and he was the only doctor who made me better.” To this day I cannot tell you why on that particular visit that resonated with me differently, but IT DID! The following week I requested information from some chiropractic schools on requirements to get admitted. The path to becoming a chiropractor had begun.
At Southern Miss I made many lifelong friends. One of those friends is now my soulmate, Melyssa. We graduated together from Southern Miss and then embarked on a long-distance relationship. The beginning of which was me finishing my last year of football at Southern Miss while attending graduate school and she was attending graduate school at LSU. The following year I began my studies at Texas Chiropractic College while she finished her master’s at LSU. When we got married, we continued to live in separate states for over 3 months. It does not seem like much, but for newlyweds that is a looong time!
The time at TCC flew by between the curriculum and working nights. Before you know it, graduation is here. We already had a business loan approved and were waiting for construction to begin on the office. I continued to work for Dr. Ron Grabowski waiting for the construction to be completed. During the wait I attended a New Doc seminar in Dallas. That is where I received my initial introduction about what the Texas Chiropractic Association does for me and my future from Drs. Jeff Brown and Dale White. It was a very informative seminar, and it made an impression on me with becoming active with the TCA as Dr. White said something like "don't be a leach to the profession". It obviously made an impression because I attended a District 11 meeting the following spring and was voted as D-11 's Secretary. Who would have thought several years later I would be an executive officer fighting for my chiropractic family.
The next few years brings the addition of two new Vige's – my son, Maddox, and my daughter, Merryn. I enjoy spending time watching them grow and develop and attending school functions and sporting events. They even indulge me when I sit them down to give them tips on some of life's lessons I have learned along the way. I am truly blessed to have two GREAT kids. Currently, Maddox who is an Eagle Scout is attending college while playing basketball and majoring in mechanical engineering. Merryn will be a high school freshman in the fall and is thriving with throwing the discus and shot put. Seeing them and thinking of them always brings joy to my heart.
Now I would like to go back to my mom. She shared her thoughts
about a chiropractic experience many times with anyone who would listen. My mom and dad tried to have kids for about 9 years. They had started the process of adopting when my mom started experiencing morning sickness. She told everyone that while being treated by her chiropractor for some stomach issues and back pain her body healing allowed her to finally become pregnant with me. Just think ... l may not be here if not for the power of the chiropractic adjustment!
