Jeffrey E. Ptak, DC, shares his experiences on his second mission trip to Cuba to spread the chiropractic philosophy

It was Friday morning, February 28, 2004, and I felt my excitement build. I had 204 people scheduled for adjustments. But more than that I was beginning to visualize a successful mission trip to Cuba. This would be my second trip in 2 years with CREW (Chiropractors Restoring Energy Worldwide). My purpose was to continue to create trust and affinity for principled chiropractic care.

Through my contacts in Los Angeles I created an invitation to speak and share chiropractic with as many people as was possible for me to reach in 1 week. 

During the first trip at the global conference for special needs children, I met E. Montoya, MD, who was the head of physical medicine and rehabilitation in Cuba and the director of the Julio Diaz Hospital in Havana. I was scheduled to leave Saturday afternoon at 3 pm, but he requested that I come to his hospital for a tour to see what rehab is like in Cuba.

Montoya took me to a conference room filled with more than 50 staff doctors from Havana-area hospitals, an extraordinary feat, especially in Cuba. To be able to set up this meeting in less than 24 hours is fairly unheard of in Cuba because of transportation and permission issues.

Expecting an 1-hour tour, I was blessed with the opportunity to speak about principled chiropractic for 4 hours and explain why it is imperative that chiropractic be made available to every man, woman, and child. Montoya urged me to return soon to discuss creating a chiropractic school in Cuba. He offered to be my first student.

For my second trip, my organizer and translator, Cookie Fischer (a former patient of mine), had already been in Havana 3 weeks prior to my arrival so she could set up all my meetings and locations and arrange for transportation.  

As soon as I landed in Cuba at 10 am, Cookie took me to the homes of families and neighbors of the staff and teachers from the special needs schools I had visited before.

Then, I went to the oldest music recording studio in Cuba where the top composer was commissioned to record a tribute to the past 50 years of Cuban music. I adjusted the 22 band members, who were all stressed out and stuck in a creative block. I went back each day and to many of their homes to take care of their families and friends.  

The entire weekend was much the same. On Monday, I spoke for 2 hours to 800 medical practitioners at a rehabilitation conference sponsored by the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Organization. When I arrived, I was told the attendees were excited about the 12-hour course I was about to give. Twelve hours giving 100 medics relicensing credit? I came here to share a vision and adjust—not speak to all these people for 12 hours! So, I decided since they already have all the science, it was time to share the chiropractic philosophy. I spoke for 8 hours on Monday and 5 hours on Tuesday. I have no doubt we will see enrollment in our chiropractic colleges from some of the medics in attendance. Many have already contacted me since I have returned.    

After both talks, I adjusted in both special needs and regular hospitals and schools. I met with leading child psychologists and adjusted ministers of health and medicine and education for both special needs and regular schools. I also adjusted one of the top people in Cuban TV and print media. I adjusted world-renowned musicians. I had some interesting discussions about how to create a principled chiropractic school in Cuba. I was able to adjust influential business people. This second trip was truly remarkable. Time stood still, the hours never mattered.

It is always difficult to leave after such an intense and overwhelming experience. By the time the 5 days were over, I’d had the opportunity to check and adjust thousands of people. I was at schools, offices, and one natural health clinic that uses herbs, homeopathy and the laying on of hands.

For me, the importance of education became crystal clear. Teach the world about chiropractic, do it with love, conviction, and absolute certainty. There was one memorable 70-year-old woman, stricken with diabetes, edema, and arthritis, who could not walk when we first met and was absolutely certain that I was the devil himself. And yet, she surrendered her fears as I checked and adjusted her atlas. She screamed like no other I had ever heard before, but the swelling in her feet, legs, and ankles decreased, her shiny skin disappeared, and she not only walked, but danced out of the clinic.  

Sharing chiropractic with all you meet and greet is our greatest gift to humankind. It is our mission. CP