Burlington’s “BEST” Chiropractor

Leave a comment February 3, 2015 drworobec

Monday, February 2nd, 2015. Groundhog Day. Ontario’s Wiarton Willie did not see his shadow; an early Spring, if you’re keeping track.

As I write this, Burlington is in the midst of a snow day. The City has essentially shut down, as all the schools and municipal buildings are closed and the plows are busy clearing the 35cm that fell quietly last night. We even declared a snow day at Burlington Sports & Spine Clinic, not something we take lightly; the parking lot hadn’t been cleared, roads were treacherous, and more snow was predicted to fall. Winter is here and making its presence known. Mother Nature, you continue to impress.

I’m sitting with a cup of coffee in front of the computer (flavoured with coconut cream and Stevia, as per the Whole Life Challenge guidelines that I’m following for eight weeks. Please, sob, can I just have a tiny bit of cream and sugar?) My six-year-old has the stomach flu, and my mama-senses are heightened and alert. This computer break is intermingled with forehead checks, cool, damp cloths, and worry. My two-year-old is content with making Valentines playing keep-up with a balloon. I am feeling blessed and grateful for this extra day.

But my reason for this post is to write about Burlington’s annual Reader’s Choice Awards. You all rallied around me in my bid to become the community torchbearer for the Pan Am Games, and I’m asking for your support again (as an aside, Pan Am makes their official torchbearer announcement on March 23rd). I have been nominated in the “Best Chiropractor” category. This is the first time in my nine year career that this has happened, and the nomination fills me with honour, flattery, and a whole lot of humility. You see, the word “Best” is a hard one to place upon yourself, isn’t it?

Then I watched the Always’ “Like a Girl” campaign commercial. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you can watch it here.

This is Always’ official statement:

Using #LikeAGirl as an insult is a hard knock against any adolescent girl. And since the rest of puberty’s really no picnic either, it’s easy to see what a huge impact it can have on a girl’s self-confidence. We’re kicking off an epic battle to make sure that girls everywhere keep their confidence throughout puberty and beyond, and making a start by showing them that doing it #LikeAGirl is an awesome thing.

So, with that, I shed the discomfort and lingering uneasiness of calling myself the best. I am the best that I can be.

I am the best wife I can be.

I am the best mother I can be.

I am the best friend I can be.

And, guess what, I am the best chiropractor I can be.

Please VOTE in the “Best Chiropractor” category under the “Best People” menu.

A Moving Story about Moving Bowels

Leave a comment December 23, 2014 drworobec

December 23rd.

You might be thinking that I’m going to post a blog about Christmas. And in years past, you’d be right (‘Merry Christmas‘, ‘I’ll be Home for Christmas‘). But I received some great news yesterday and I’m going to write about that. I’ll even call it a Christmas miracle, in keeping with the festive spirit.

constipation

This is a story about my newest 3-year-old patient, let’s call him M. M is a happy, feisty, curious little boy who brings a storm of energy with him wherever he goes. On his first visit, M’s mom explained to me that he had an anal fissure at 18 months of age, making subsequent bowel movements very painful. As is often the case with young children, M then became scared to move his bowels, and has suffered with extreme constipation ever since. M’s mother has tried everything; from medication to diet changes to supplements and more, with no success. Little M has been battling severe constipation, impacted stool, and obvious discomfort for nearly two years. She brought M to see me as a last resort.

A wonderful whirlwind of movement and inquisition, M built towers, rode on the hydraulic table, and played with the desk bell and the hand weights, all while being assessed and treated. Interesting, fun, and quick- that’s my m.o. when I work with children.

I saw M again yesterday, two visits later. Guess what? He had three large bowel movements over the weekend. Three! None in the more than 18 months prior, and he had three this weekend.

Now, if you’re a parent reading this, you will understand that talking about bowel movements is perfectly normal conversation. In fact, if you’re a parent of young children, I challenge you to not talk about bowel movements for the next 24 hours. Seemingly impossible. And for me, as a mother, a blogger, and a chiropractor who works with children, not talking about M’s bowel movements is most definitely impossible.

I’m an evidence-based practitioner. I love research, I love science, I love proof. But I love powerful outcomes like this the most.

PS- M’s mom admitted to me that her husband didn’t initially believe in taking M to a chiropractor. I’m so glad she convinced him.

One click. One vote. One torch.

Leave a comment December 19, 2014 drworobec

I usually publish my blog posts on Tuesdays. But, you see, this is not a usual week.

I was just notified that I’m one of twelve finalists nominated to carry the Pan Am torch as it makes its run through Burlington this Summer, en route to Toronto for the 2015 Pan Am Games. I can’t think of a cooler opportunity. My friend and neighbour, Marnie, sent in a nomination unbeknownst to me, and here I am, excited about the impossible becoming possible.

Pan Am news is everywhere in the GTA. Commercials abound, billboards are popping up, and the buzz is growing. This is kind of a big deal. Toronto 2015 is only the third time in 85 years that these International Games have been held on Canadian soil. Right in our own backyard.

And it’s exactly the type of thing I love. I’ve been to the World Track & Field Championships, three World Junior Hockey Championships, and a College Bowl game. I’ve cheered at more NHL, CFL, MLB, NBA, NLL, and MLS games than I can count. I plan family outings around sporting events, I time my holidays around races, and I nearly knocked over Mike Weir on the fairway of a PGA event (true story). I am a sports-based chiropractor, I married a Phys Ed teacher, and my kids know that fitness is a part of life. I believe that grassroots minor sports are windows of opportunity, growth, and dreams. I live and breathe this stuff, it’s what makes me tick, it’s what makes me me. Passion? Nope. It’s more than that.

Sport is community. Sport is health. Sport is important life lessons all rolled up and condensed onto a playing field.

I’m a fan. I’m an athlete. I’m a mom raising fans and athletes.

So I am turning to you, my community. I am hoping for your support, asking for your help, tugging at your heart strings, requesting your vote. One click. One vote. One torch.

Please VOTE here: http://cms.burlington.ca/Page14733.aspx#.VJN5nrgYU

With my humble thanks,

Ashley