Chiropractors Unite to Help One of Their Own

When Asheville Chiropractor Dr. Dru Aguilar suffered a serious injury to his right hand, chiropractors all across the region united to help him and his patients.

It is a chiropractors worst fear to lose the use of his or her hands. Last November,Dr. Dru Aguilar of Asheville was doing some work around the house when a stubborn board became caught in a table saw. When Dr. Dru attempted to nudge the board free, his hand landed on the spinning blade, severing tendons, nerves and amputating several fingers.

Many hours of painstaking surgery ensued in an attempt to save Dr. Dru's fingers and spare the use of his hand. Though parts of two fingers were lost, all the nerves and tendons were reattached and the difficult rehabilitation ensued.

Dr. Dru is known and respected by many local chiropractors. Those of us who don't know him personally, do know his reputation as a great doctor. Doctors often know each other through their patients. I have met many of Dr. Dru's patients during my years of practice in WNC and have come to respect his excellent reputation through their reports of his care.

As Dr. Dru convalesced, he and his wife thought first of the needs of his patients. Jasmine, Dr. Dru's wife began making arrangements for the patients to keep receiving their much needed care. Chiropractors all across the western part of the state closed their own offices for a day or shift at a time and volunteered to take up shifts at Dr. Dru's office ensuring that their care continued.

Dr. Dru is a fighter, and he is making a strong recovery. But can a chiropractor continue delivering quality care after such an injury? You might be surprised by my answer!

Many years ago, Dr. Clarence Selmer Gonstead was one of our professions most influential contributors. He was the founder of an adjusting technique as well as numerous X-Ray innovations still taught in every major chiropractic college. 40 years ago, Dr. Gonstead's practice was the largest chiropractic office in the world (see picture on the right). So large in fact that it required its own air strip and hotel for the patients who wished to be treated by him. They came from all over the world. But what many don't know is that Dr. Gonstead had long been afflicted by severe rheumatoid arthritis which some report had nearly crippled both of his hands. It was his effort to overcome this disability that led him to the discovery of the Gonstead technique and is ultimately the reason for his phenomenal professional success. Sometimes what man perceives as an obstacle is God's way of providing an opportunity.

My heart and my prayers go out to Dr. Dru and his family. I look forward to hearing of his continued successful recovery, and I am proud of my chiropractic colleagues who have given selflessly to come to the aid of Dr. Dru's patients and family.

Dr. Dru should be able to begin adjusting patients in February.

A benefit will be held for Dr. Dru on January 28th at the Grey Eagle tavern.
View Benefit Brochure
Learn more at: www.DrDruAguilar.blogspot.com
Dr. Dru's office website: www.visitdrdru.com