Achilles Healed

Do they know what they have done? A week has passed since they exposed and exploited America’s vulnerability—our Achilles heel—on September 11. The tragic events brought the nation and the world to a standstill. Did they not think we would recover and seek retribution? Instead of bringing us to our knees as they may have anticipated, the terrorists only succeeded in rallying Americans to fiercely protect what had been taken for granted—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They did not come close to delivering a fatal blow to the heart and spirit of Americans.

Yes, we know that we are not perfect. Our greed makes us forgot our humanity at times. Our fear and intolerance makes us single out others because of skin color, religious beliefs, and cultural differences. Our voyeurism makes us become engrossed in trivial popular culture. But did you notice how we united during this crisis to rise above our selfish pursuits to lend a helping hand to those in need? Stories of courage are coming to light in the aftermath—a woman in a wheelchair was carried 87 floors by two men; firemen, policemen, and rescue workers volunteered from across the nation working around the clock to find survivors; a teacher who stayed with her students until parents showed up; a man who protected a woman unknown to him from falling debris; and so many more. The stories that affected me most were the unsung chiropractic heroes.

I was concerned whether Stuart C. Marmorstein’s—the chiropractor featured on the cover of the recent September 2001 issue—office was located near the World Trade Center (WTC). He wrote, "I did survive my week in New York. While my office is uptown, I travel by train to Hoboken, NJ, and then take a ferry to the [WTC], where I catch a subway. At least, that’s how it used to be. I arrived in Hoboken just in time to watch from the platform as the second plane hit the WTC. I could hear the crash and see the flames. [I] was able to go into the city and spend the week helping people who were traumatized by the events. I am fortunate in that I only had one patient who was a direct casualty of the blast—whom I know of."

Foot Levelers Inc, Roanoke, Va, manufacturers of orthotics and an advertiser in Chiropractic Products, sent me this email: "More than any other health care professional, chiropractors have chosen this specific path in life because of life, because of wholeness, because of healing. Chiropractors care. The anguish we feel is doubly experienced—the terrible intentional infliction of pain and death goes against every moral fiber of our profession. We must reach out to those who are going through such dark hours. Foot Levelers is setting up a matching donation campaign to the Red Cross. Every dollar that you donate through Foot Levelers will be matched penny for penny (up to $200,000). Our goal is to raise $400,000 total."

On Monday, September 17, I was watching "Dateline," and they reported that chiropractors and physical therapists were volunteering their services to the rescue workers at Freedom Café.

And these are only a few of the many, many stories that have yet to be heard. These accounts of courage and strength bring tears to my eyes and a renewed confidence not only in the American people, but chiropractic care as well. Putting aside our differences has shown the world our true American spirit.

They do not know what they have done.

Miwon Seo
mseo@medpubs.com