The over-prescription of opioid drugs is resulting in enormous problems nationally and locally. In this blog, I will reference an article written by Dr. Joe Mercola (www.mercola.com), “How Pharma Sabotaged the Drug Enforcement Agency and Caused Hundreds of Thousands of Deaths” along with a few pieces local to Fayetteville and North Carolina overall.
Some highlights from the Mercola article:
*The Manchester, New Hampshire Fire Department responds to more calls for drug overdoses than fires these days. In 2015, 33,091 Americans died from an opioid-related overdose; 15,281 were by prescription.
*In a recent episode of 60 Minutes, DEA Whistleblower Joe Rannazzisi lays the blame for the opioid crisis squarely on the shoulders of the drug industry–especially the drug distributors and Congress.
*Rather than taking proactive steps to curtail the opioid epidemic, industry lobbyists and Congress made it virtually impossible for the DEA to take action against the top offenders and promoters of the epidemic by enacting the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016.
*President Trump has reconfirmed his intention to declare opioid addiction a national emergency, thereby securing much-needed funds and policy initiatives to address the burgeoning epidemic.
*As of February 1, 2018, CVS Pharmacy will limit opioid prescriptions to a seven-day supply for certain health conditions. By doing so, CVS becomes the first pharmacy chain to restrict doctors’ ability to overprescribe the drugs.
The article also details a list of non-drug solutions to pain relief. And it’s extremely important to be fully aware of the addictive potential of opioid drugs and to seriously weigh your need for them. There are many other ways to address pain. Clearly, there are times when pain is so severe that a narcotic pain reliever may be warranted. But even in those instances, there are options that allow you to at least reduce the amount you take or the frequency at which you need to take them.
These options include:
Chiropractic – Many studies have confirmed that chiropractic management is much safer and less expensive than allopathic medical treatments, especially for pain. This includes headaches, spinal pain, and extremity pain (shoulders, knees, hips, feet, TMJ etc).
Acupuncture – Research has discovered the positive effect of acupuncture in the treatment of back, neck and shoulder pain, osteoarthritis, and headaches.
Physical Therapy – Studies have shown it to be as good as surgery for painful conditions such as torn cartilage and arthritis.
Supplements – Astaxanthin, ginger, curcumin, boswellia, bromelain, evening primrose oil, black currant oil, and borage oil and cayenne cream are effective in reducing inflammation.
So how did we arrive the level of national crisis created by opioid addiction and overdose deaths?
An editorial appearing in The Asheville Citizen states Buncombe County has filed a federal lawsuit naming 23 firms, including five of the largest manufacturers of prescription opioids, the three largest wholesale drug distributors in the U.S., and their related companies. No specific amount of damages is asked. The lawsuit claims the distributors and manufacturers engaged in “false, deceptive and unfair marketing and/or unlawful diversion of prescription opioid.” Opioids have important legitimate uses as pain-killers, but they are being misused widely with catastrophic results. Opioids were responsible for 33,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2015 according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016 the number rose to 64,000. Buncombe County’s death toll in 2016 was 42. In 2017 there were 200 opioid overdoses in the first eight months. That is more than twice the number reported for the same period in 2016.
Why sue the manufacturers and distributors of opioids?
The industry is producing far more than possibly be used legally. We must hold responsible those physicians who prescribe too freely, pharmacists who fill questionable prescriptions, and those manufacturers who turn out far too many pills than are needed for legitimate pain control.
The Fayetteville Observer article of November 19, 2017 entitled “Oxycontin Maker Approaches States with Settlement Deal” states Purdue Pharma is proposing a global settlement in an attempt to end state investigations and lawsuits over the U.S. opioid epidemic. Opioid makers are accused of creating a public-health crisis through their marketing of the painkillers. More than a dozen states and 100 counties and cities already sued Purdue, and other opioid makers and drug distributors. A group of 41 state attorneys is also investigating how companies like Purdue and other opioid makers marketed and sold prescription opioids.
An editorial in The Fayetteville Observer entitled “Lawsuits May Aid Addiction Battle,” states New Hanover County has sued opioid manufacturers and distributors, attempting to recover some of the exorbitant costs that the opioid epidemic has imposed. According to one study, the county has what may be the worst opioid addiction problem in the country. The suit filed in U.S. District Court, asks that drug companies pay for past and future costs of dealing with the epidemic. The county wants the manufacturers and distributors to create an “Abatement Fund” to cover medical care, addiction treatment, law enforcement, and caring for children often left homeless by addicted parents. The suit states, “The distributors and manufacturers intentionally and/or unlawfully breached their legal duties under federal and state law to monitor, detect, investigate, refuse and report suspicious orders of prescriptions opiates.” The suit continues that drug makers, “aggressively pushed highly addictive opioids, falsely representing to doctors that patients would only rarely succumb to drug addiction.” Extensive marketing campaigns that downplayed the serious dangers of opioids have been widely documented in the past few years. We are seeing that stronger law enforcement is not the answer after a person becomes addicted. Treatment is absolutely necessary and must be expanded.
Accountability must be assigned to the drug manufacturers and distributors. The production of opioids far exceeds the needs for legitimate pain management. Reduce the supply of the drugs from the drug manufacturers and establish limits on the prescription of opioids by medical practitioners will help to prevent new incidents of addiction.
What are your thoughts? What do you think needs to be done to help in this crisis?
During this Christmas season and as we approach the passing of 2017, I think of gifts.
I am thankful, eternally grateful for the gift of life from my Lord, Jesus Christ. He continues to take me deeper into relationship with Him. I have learned to trust Him in every situation and challenge.
I am thankful for my wife, Donna. Her trust and confidence in me encourage me to accomplish more than I thought possible. Her steady, solid faith in God strengthens my faith.
I am thankful for my children.
My son, Chris, with his quiet, steady presence. My daughter-in-law, Anna, with her gift of creativity and excellence. My granddaughter, Gracen, and her gift of expression as Elvis or as an angel. My grandson, Aaron, and his gift of prayer and performance as Elmer in his Christmas play.
My daughter, Allison, and her gift of communication. Her words bring clarity as she edits my blogs and sharpens my thinking. My son-in-law, Scott, and his gift of duty and honor. His quiet confidence coupled with extensive military training mark him as a leader.
My son, Erich, and his gift of determination. His drive to achieve the goals he sets for himself. His focus and willingness to sacrifice. His girlfriend, Maddy, and her gift of love and support for Erich. Her gift of focus and determination to complete law school.
My daughter, Emily, and her gift of enthusiasm and excellence. In every task, challenge, or assignment Emily invests all of herself. My daughter-in-law, Megan, and her gift of joy and affirmation. She so willingly gives of herself and encourages everyone she knows.
I take great joy in these gifts. These gifts are exchanged each time we have a gathering. These gifts keep me balanced and moving forward in my life assignment.
Merry Christmas to all of you and blessings and peace into 2018 and beyond!!!
Why do people choose chiropractic care? And why do some people continue with chiropractic care when they have no pain symptoms? Motivations for care vary from patient to patient. And choices usually result from two motivators. The patient either seeks to reduce a symptom or the patient seeks to improve his or her health. In this month’s blog, Dr. Fonke discusses the answers to these questions and ideas.
Motivations to Begin Chiropractic Care
I have had patients seek chiropractic care for a wide variety of symptoms. Spinal pain, neck, mid-back, and lower-back are symptoms I see daily. In addition, I adjust for TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) feet, elbows, shoulders, wrists, sinuses, ears, headaches, dizziness, incontinence, bedwetting, constipation/diarrhea, menstrual problems, heartburn, etc. In some cases, the extremity is subluxated out of position or not moving properly. In other cases, the spinal vertebrae are subluxated resulting in dysfunction of the organ system.
The Wellness Concept
Many patients continue care because they discover they feel better and their body functions better with regular chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic care improves the function of the central nervous system. Subluxations interfere with the communication between the central nervous system and the body, and between the body and the central nervous system. Interference with this two-way communication system results in dysfunction. The brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) control every function of the body in both healing and regulation. Interference caused by subluxations in the central nervous system will affect healing and regulation. Chiropractic care optimizes healing and regulation by reducing the interference caused by subluxations. And regular chiropractic care minimizes reliance upon symptoms to seek care. This is the wellness concept. Choices are made that contribute to health. People choose to exercise, follow a nutritional protocol, receive regular chiropractic adjustments, and avoid toxins such as alcohol or tobacco, because these choices improve health.
The Schedule of Care
For new patients I usually recommend 2-3 adjustments/week for 4 weeks. Each adjustment builds on the one before. The patient’s body begins to retain the benefit of the adjustment for longer periods of time. The first adjustment will hold between 8 and 12 hours. I monitor objective criteria in determining when to reduce the frequency from 2-3 adjustments/week to 1-2 adjustments/week. One criterion is vertebra or extremities that do not require an adjustment during a subsequent visit. This indicates that the area is holding the adjustment for longer periods of time. The second criterion concerns the difference in leg length. When the patient is lying facedown on the table there will be a measurable difference in the length of the legs. During the first adjustment, I have seen a difference of as much as 2 inches. During the initial care plan, I look for that difference in length to decrease. Over time that difference will reduce to 1/2 inch or less. This shows a decrease in the tension of the body and an improvement in balance and functions of the body. The tension occurs in the central nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. This tension is the result of misalignments in the spinal column and pelvis. When the patient’s body begins to hold an adjustment I can decrease the frequency of the visits. I will reduce to 1 adjustment/week and monitor their response.
My personal care plan is one adjustment each week. That is what is usually recommend for someone with an active lifestyle involving regular exercise, recreational activities, and well-managed stress levels. Some people do well with one adjustment/month. It truly depends on the individual.
Stress: A Multi-faceted State
Stress is a huge factor in a care plan and causes subluxations. Stress occurs in three primary categories; physical, chemical, and emotional. Physical stress is simply how we adapt to gravity and the effect gravity has upon our body as we move. Emotional/psychological stress is created throughout our relationships at work, home, and within society. As we encounter stress, muscles contract asymmetrically unequally and cause vertebrae to move out of position. Stress chemicals such as cortisol are released. Chemical stress is caused by ingesting, breathing in or absorbing toxins. This includes drugs (prescription, over the counter, or illegal). Pollutants in our atmosphere result in toxic effects as well. These chemical irritants cause inflammation and nervous system irritation, which would improve with a chiropractic adjustment, because as we stated earlier the central nervous system is comprised of your brain and spinal cord. See how it’s all connected?
Everyone improves with regular chiropractic care. The level of improvement depends upon when the individual begins care. Isn’t it time for you to get used to feeling good instead of being used to feeling bad?
For more information about chiropractic adjustments check out our website. Or call us at (910) 436-3336. Like our Facebook page Chiropractic Wellness Clinic as well for daily updates and educational pieces. We CAN help you! Located at 1570 NC Highway 24/87 Cameron, North Carolina.
Why do people consult a chiropractor? Their reason(s) will correspond to levels of chiropractic care: relief, correction, maintenance, prevention, and wellness.
Pain Relief
Many people begin chiropractic care to relieve an ache, pain or other obvious symptoms. The symptom may be resulting from a recent injury or an exacerbation of a chronic condition. Injuries will range from automobile accidents, to athletic injuries, repetitive motion injuries, slips and falls, overwork, and poor body mechanics. Chiropractic adjustments have a great track record for reducing pain. This reduction in pain is accompanied by improved range of motion. Chiropractic adjustments provide the alignment necessary for injuries to heal correctly. It is true that injuries heal without chiropractic care. However, this results in restricted range of motion and increased amounts of scar tissue. Pain relief/reduction will occur long before injured tissue heals completely.
Corrective, Maintenance, and Preventative Care
Corrective care after pain relief allows the joints and their supporting tissues to strengthen and stabilize. This is particularly helpful in establishing balance and symmetry in the spine. Corrective care reduces the tilts and rotations resulting from subluxations (vertebra that are out of position or not moving properly). Maintenance care will preserve the progress made avoiding a relapse. Preventative care through periodic check-ups identifies new problems before they can become an issue. This will minimize flare ups.
Wellness Care
Wellness care incorporates chiropractic care as one of the primary strategies in optimizing health. The central nervous system is our master control system. It controls healing and regulation throughout our body. Subluxations reduce nerve signals through the spinal nerves affecting healing and regulation. Reducing subluxations through specific spinal adjustments improves nervous system function which improves healing and regulation. Wellness-based chiropractic care is not symptom-oriented. Rather, it is focused on optimal function. There are many anecdotal reports of improvement in function corresponding with chiropractic care. I have seen improved digestion, elimination, breathing, sinus conditions, hiatal hernia healing, and incontinence to name a few. These improvements are the direct result of correcting subluxations. Extremity adjustments are an area of chiropractic care most people are not aware of. Extremities refer to hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, feet, ankles, knees and hips; any area additional to the spine. Correcting subluxations of extremities definitely improves quality of life.
New Research: Chiropractic and Telomere Length
New research determined that chiropractic care increases telomere length. Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA. These protect our chromosomes (genes) like the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces. Without the coating, shoelaces become frayed until they can no longer do their job.
Without telomeres, our DNA strands become damaged and our cell can’t do their job. The study published July 8, 2017, in the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine reported that a female undergoing chiropractic care experienced an increase in her telomere length following 5 months of chiropractic care (36 visits). This is the first documented study showing increases in telomere length. Telomeres also have an effect on how our cells age. Our cells replenish by copying themselves and this happens constantly throughout our lives. Telomeres shorten each time a cell copies itself and eventually they get too short causing our cells to age. The patient in the study had complaints of chronic neck and mid back pain as well as nocturnal polyuria, waking up to urinate four times per night. The patient was examined and found to have vertebral subluxations. She had blood drawn and analyzed for telomere length. As mentioned above she was seen for 36 visits over 5 months. She maintained her regular life style throughout the chiropractic care. She later reported her pain resolved and her quality of life improved. She no longer had to urinate at night. The patient had blood drawn again to assess her telomere length which increased significantly.
This study shows the benefit of chiropractic care in reducing the aging of our cells. This brand new and exciting research! Chiropractic care can and WILL improve the function of the central nervous system and protect our genes. This is reason enough for chiropractic care to be included in everyone’s wellness plan.
For more information on chiropractic and how it can help or to schedule a free consult, call Chiropractic Wellness Clinic at (910) 436-3336 or learn more at our website.
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In this issue of the Chiropractic Wellness Clinic’s blog, Dr. Fonke discusses the importance of maintaining the correct temperature in the high heat of summer. Read on below for more information.
Here we are in the midst of the NC summer heat. The heat index combines humidity with temperature, and the resulting number is what it “feels like” in the shade. For example, if the present temperature is 92 with a relative humidity of 46%, the heat index is 98, meaning the temperature in the shade feels like 98. The heat index would increase with activity and decreased air flow. This is important to understand because the human body cools itself by perspiration. Heat is removed from the body as perspiration evaporates. So, high humidity reduces evaporation and a reduction of heat being removed from the body. This is because of reduced air flow with reduced evaporation. The heat index will be perceived differently by individuals based upon age, obesity, metabolic differences, pregnancy, chronic illness, and many other factors. Additional factors that will increase the heat index include increased physical activity, exposure to direct sunlight, reflected heat, radiant heat (surfaces that absorb heat and then radiate), reduced air flow, restrictive clothing, and lack of head covering.
Heat Index Ranges to Consider:
*80-90 degrees F Caution: fatigue is possible with prolonged exposure and activity. Continuing activity could result in heat cramps.
*90-105 degrees F Extreme Caution: heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible. Continuing activity could result in heat stroke.
*105-130 degrees F Danger: heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely; heat stroke is probable with continued activity.
*over 130 degrees F Extreme Danger: heat stroke is imminent.
Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion Include:
Confusion
Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration)
Dizziness
Fainting
Fatigue
Headache
Muscle or abdominal cramps
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Pale skin
Profuse sweating
Rapid heartbeat
These symptoms may occur in combination or individually. The first step in treatment is to move to a cooler environment. Loosen clothing to allow air circulation. Provide cool water or dilute a sports drink.
Heat Stroke is a medical emergency. The temperature regulating mechanism of the body fails and the internal temperature rises above 105 degrees F. The person no longer perspires as their temperature continues to rise. Without emergency treatment, they will lapse into a coma and die. Heat stroke begins as heat exhaustion showing the same symptoms. The progression to heat stroke occurs as perspiration stops and body temperature continues to rise. Anyone suffering heat exhaustion can develop heat stroke if untreated.
I have had one personal experience with heat exhaustion. I was helping my daughter move from ECU to New Bern. It was in July and it was hot and humid. We rented Penske’s biggest moving truck. We were loaded before noon and drove to New Bern. In the unloading process, I stayed in the moving truck and moved all items to the back of the truck for off-loading. As I remember it took about 3 hours to off-load. We had plenty of bottled water, and I drank frequently. When the van was empty, I stepped down and went inside. Then it hit me! Suddenly I was dizzy and very tired. I lay on the floor but the room continued to spin. I knew I w,as in a state of heat stress/exhaustion. I rested, drank cool water and made every effort to lower my body temperature with air flow and cool compresses. I was unable to walk without assistance. Someone had to support me as I walked. Twelve hours later I was recovering finally.
Interior car temperatures can be lethal. An outside temperature of 90 degrees can elevate to 109 degrees in ten minutes and 124 degrees in 30 minutes. Test show lowering the windows 1-2 inches makes no difference. Never leave your pet in a locked vehicle. It should go without saying to never leave a child in a car unattended, especially in the heat. People forget, become distracted, and leave children in the vehicle. In the US an average of 38 children die each year in this way.
I say all of this to help us to understand that we all are susceptible to heat injury and illness, and in the moments that you least expect it sometimes. Listen to your body, don’t discount how you feel or how you read other’s behaviors like your pets and children. Make good choices—one of them being to drink a lot of water. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. We are here for total body wellness and want to educate the public on the best of ways to stay healthy!
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Rachel, Kim, and I in front of the office. We are all here to help!
Dr. Fonke chronicles his journey in nutrition and how it contributes to wellness.
Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making changes toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth. Food and nutrition are both integral parts of health. The basic need for food is energy, meaning food is the fuel for our body. Food provides the energy necessary for the brain to function and muscles to move the body. Food provides energy for the body to grow, heal injuries, or fight infections. The energy component of food is simple: 4 calories/gram of carbohydrate, 4 calories/gram of protein, 7 calories/gram of alcohol (ethanol), 9 calories/gram of fat. Other components of food that have no calorie content include water, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients used in the chemical reactions of the body.
I was born in 1948. I have 4 brother and 3 sisters. My dad was an Air Force Officer, a pilot. My Mom was a stay at home Mom. Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s my nutrition choices were pretty minimal – which cereal to eat for breakfast and could I have seconds of something at dinner. Mom was a great cook, so there was always plenty of good food on the table at each meal.
During the school week, breakfast was simple: dry cereal with milk and maybe some fruit. With all that was necessary to get us all ready for school there was no time to cook. I liked cereal and we always had five or six different options. We went through a lot of cereal and milk. I think I was 13 or 14 years old when I became aware of physical stature. I was about 5′ 9″ and weighed about 120 pounds. Yep, a little on the skinny side! I talked Mom and Dad into buying a set of weights from Sears. 110 pounds of plates, a bar, and 2 dumbbells. Then I bought mail order courses on weight training. The courses advised eating more protein to help gain weight. I ate more with little effect. It was about this time that Adelle Davis’ book, Let’s Eat Right to Keep Fit, arrived in our home. I’m not sure who brought it home, but Mom liked it. Soon we were taking supplements. This included a multi vitamin, B-Complex, and vitamin C. I didn’t experience any dramatic changes and was still trying to gain weight. This was my introduction to nutritional supplementation. I took the supplements more as an insurance factor to be sure I was not deficient in those nutrients.
By the time I graduated from High School in 1967, I weighed 150 pounds. Cafeteria food provided my choices in college, and I began educating myself about nutritional supplements. I enlisted in the Air Force in 1971. I still weighed about 150 pounds.
Air Force bases had good recreational facilities, so I began working out regularly and gradually developed a routine that worked for me. I made gains in muscle mass and strength, and I also began to incorporate more nutritional supplements in my diet. I ate most of my meals in the dining hall making choices based on what I liked, not what would have been healthy. I ate to supply calories with some emphasis on protein intake. I also included as much bread, pasta, rice, and desserts as I wanted. I still did not recognize the importance of a nutritional plan.
My goal continued to be a change in my body through gains in muscle mass. I was single-minded, and by contrast, wellness is multidimensional. Nutritional choices consisted of eating extra protein along with everything else. I graduated from college in 1977 with a B.S. in Physical Education. Instead of teaching, I went into the commercial fitness business. Fitness centers were gaining in popularity, and I bought into a Nautilus fitness center along with another partner. In addition to workout advice, members asked about nutritional strategies to gain or lose weight, gain muscle mass, and decrease body fat. Our advice in the 1980’s was to add more protein in the diet. Eat more with each meal and also supplement with protein shakes. Protein supplements took the place of making good food choices. It was all about taking in enough protein to support muscle growth and prevent muscle loss when reducing body fat. More cardiovascular exercise was added to reduce body fat. That advice remained unchanged for years.
When I reached the age of 40 my metabolism changed. I found my body weight increasing. Read that as an increase in body fat percentage. In order to keep my body fat percentage down, I increased my workout levels. I added more cardio training and increased the number of workouts per week, and this worked for a few years. Eventually, I realized I could not exercise enough to offset too many calories. I also began to make changes in the percentage of calories from carbohydrate, protein and fat. Protein had been the highest percentage of my calories for years. Now I began to increase the amount of fat and decrease the amount of carbohydrate. The Atkin’s Diet received a great deal of publicity. It centered on low or zero carbohydrate intake. There were problems associated with the implementation of this diet. Too much, too soon resulted in cardiac problems in some people. I read the book but found the diet too restrictive. Fast forward to 2001. I was introduced to the book Life Without Bread, authored by Christian B. Allan, Ph.D and Wolfgang Lutz, M.D. Dr. Allan has a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of the Pacific. He has performed research on the chemistry of minerals, biochemistry and nutrition at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Lutz has studied low-carbohydrate nutrition on thousands of patients in his clinical practice. His first book was written and published in Germany in 1967. The German title Leben Ohne Brot, translates into Life Without Bread. The nutritional guidelines allow bread as one of the sources of carbohydrate. The primary constraint is to limit carbohydrate intake to a maximum of 72 grams/day. Life Without Bread, published in 2000 includes over 40 years of Dr. Lutz’ clinical experience with low carbohydrate nutrition and Dr. Allan’s research into the medical and biochemical relevance of low carbohydrate nutrition. The book clearly defines for the reader the difference between fact, theory, and opinion. Observations of the benefit of low carbohydrate nutrition are explored in chapter 2 of the book. Herodotus records a meeting in the 5th century B.C. between an Ethiopian king and Persian king. The Persians ate bread. The Ethiopians ate mostly boiled meat and drank milk. The Persians lived into their 80’s, the Ethiopians into their 120’s. There were references in the 1700’s and 1800’s to abstaining from starch and sugar as a means of reducing body weight. In the 1920’s and 1930’s Weston A. Price and his wife, Florence, traveled around the world to study primitive populations. Dr. Price, a dentist, was convinced that changing from what he termed “primitive foods”, foods to which humans had adapted to over thousands of years–to modern processed foods was a key to degenerative diseases of modern civilization.
Dr. Price was the first to make the observation that the reduction of animal based foods and fats while increasing processed foods (primarily sugars, pastries and breads) directly impacted human health and contributed to degenerative diseases. The 1967 publication of Leben Ohne Brot was the beginning of the modern era of low carbohydrate nutrition. In 1972 John Yudkin, MD. looked at the relationship between sugar intake and disease. Dr. Robert Atkins MD, published Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution in 1972. 1995 saw books by Barry Sears, Ph.D, Enter the Zone, Dr. Herman Tarnower, The Complete Scarsdale Diet, Steward, Bethea, Andrews and Balart collaborated on Sugar Busters, Drs. Michael and Mary Eades, Protein Power. Additionally, there is Eat Fat, Lose Weight, Your Fat Can Make You Thin, Optimal Nutrition, Eat Fat, Get Thin. These books and authors all stepped away from the prevailing theory of low-fat nutrition. These books are not research studies. Rather, they offer anecdotal evidence in abundance that low carbohydrate nutrition supports overall improved health.
However, they support the theory that saturated fat is unhealthy in large amounts. The truth is the exact opposite. Saturated animal fat and protein are the cure for much of the degenerative diseases rampant in our society. I remember being in a Physiology class in 1997. The professor made the statement that saturated fat was the preferred energy source for cardiac muscle. He was quoting from our text Guyton, Textbook of Medical Physiology. This contradicted the accepted theory that fat, and particularly saturated fat, was bad for the human heart. How could the heart muscle prefer saturated fat as the energy source without resulting in damage or disease? A physiology textbook presents facts not opinions. I knew I had to reexamine the basis of low-fat nutrition being healthy. This also included a reexamination of evidence linking cholesterol with heart disease. I found that the major studies were flawed. They were based upon a bias toward fat and cholesterol. The studies were conducted to support the low-fat theory not to discover the truth. Life Without Bread devotes chapter 6 to examining and evaluating the original studies designed to prove that animal fats in the diet are a promoting factor for heart disease.
Life Without Bread, Chapter 3, examines the direct effect carbohydrate consumption has on hormonal balance and the subsequent effect on overall health. Chapter 3 highlights the hormone, insulin. Too much insulin can disrupt hormone balance leading to glandular disorders, degenerative diseases: diabetes, obesity, sexual maturation disorders, hyperthyroidism, heart disease, and cancer. Hormones are molecules that perform major regulatory functions in the body. In scientific language, hormones are referred to as “signalers”. They are so important that all other signals within the cell are ignored when a hormone signal is sent. Insulin is responsible for many of the disturbances seen in high carbohydrate eaters. Insulin responds directly to carbohydrates in our diet. Our body’s primary response to carbohydrates is the release of insulin into the bloodstream.
When you eat carbohydrates – simple or complex- insulin is released into the bloodstream to perform 2 main functions:
1. Insulin’s primary responsibility is to transport glucose into the cells to be used for energy. Glucose is a simple sugar formed from the breakdown of all carbohydrates in the intestine and the stomach.
2. The second function of insulin is to help convert and store the sugar as glycogen in the liver and as fat in fat cells. The fat is stored in the form of triglycerides in adipose (fat) tissue.
Another hormone, glucagon, has the opposite effect of insulin. It is the body’s messenger to metabolize, or use, fat. When insulin levels are low for a long enough period of time, glucagon should be released to begin burning fat. There is a balance between insulin and glucagon. If your body begins to store fat, this means that glucagon is not being released. It can also mean that you are not using all the energy you are supplying. The process of making new cells and tissue and breaking them down is called metabolism. Everything that takes place to maintain life in your organs, tissue, cells and cellular organelles comes under the term metabolism. It is a general term to describe all the biochemical reactions that keep the body alive. The human body strives to maintain balance between making new tissue and breaking it down. I suggest you learn more about this process and understand it before you make major changes in your diet.
For me, I recently became reacquainted with Life Without Bread. I had gone through a period of time where I reduced my food intake to one meal/day, usually the evening meal. During the day I would snack on graham crackers, saltine crackers or have a cup of coffee with coconut oil mixed in. The evening meal would be whatever I wanted. I combined this with 4-5 strength training workouts each week and a daily run of 15-20 minutes. I began to experience stomach pain throughout the day. Sometimes it would occur in the morning and sometimes later in the afternoon. Usually, snacks would relieve the discomfort for a short while, but other times I would feel bloated. The bloat could occur with little food on my stomach. I gradually gained weight as I increased my carbohydrate snack, which was frustrating. I peaked at 175 lbs and decided to make the change back to low carbohydrate nutrition. My stomach pain vanished in less that 1 week. Within 3 weeks I lost 10 lbs, and most of that from my waistline. Low-carbohydrate nutrition works for me. If you have an interest, I urge you to read the book, Life Without Bread. As the book advises, if you are over 35 years old, inform your health care provided of your intentions. Have some blood work done to establish beginning levels. Start slow, implement slow, take your time. Keep in mind that some changes in body systems and symptoms may take six months or longer.
Once you look at low carbohydrate nutrition as a lifestyle instead of a diet, you will find success in a whole new way! Let me know how it works for you!
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Dr. Fonke and his daughter, Allison, at the completion of their grueling Spartan Beast experience.
Dr. Fonke took some time to write his thoughts and lessons learned the day after he completed the final leg of his Spartan Trifecta journey–the Carolina Beast, a grueling 14+mile obstacle course race. Read on below.
October 30, 2016, the day after The Beast. Once again Spartan changed the course from 2015. This also happened in Asheville. According to those who had completed The Beast in 2015 the course was much more difficult. So, there you go. As Forrest Gump says, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” My daughter Allison and I teamed up for this race as she wanted to complete one leg of the Spartan Trifecta with me. I remain in awe of her strength, endurance, determination, and resilience. She demonstrated these qualities in every step she took leading me through The Beast. As we progressed through the course, Allison would ask, “Dad, are you ok?” My answer was usually, “Steady as we go.” The question might come after a particularly long climb or a long trek downhill. I would tell Allison when I needed a short rest. She was always ready to move forward. Allison made sure I stayed hydrated during the event, and her pre-race advice about hydration, food intake, and electrolytes made a huge difference in energy level and endurance during the race and in my recovery after. We maintained an approximate 2.5 mph pace, and the course had much more elevation changes compared to last year. I frequently remarked that I was reminded of Asheville which was 90% elevation changes.
Trifecta Take Aways (Life Lessons)
I watched some of my family (Allison, Betsy, Emily, Megan) and the rest of their team achieve their Trifectas in 2015. Their achievement challenged me personally, and I registered for The Super, Sprint and Beast as soon as the races were scheduled. I asked my brother Steve, his wife Jolena and my brother Jerry to join me in completing the Trifecta series. Looking forward from January 2016 with the Super (8-10 miles) scheduled for August 6th, I felt comfortable and confident. Eight months to prepare… plenty of time.
First Life Lesson
Time accelerates as the date approaches! I dropped a 45 lb plate on my left foot, 4th and 5th toes in December of 2015. That healed quickly. So, I settled into my routine of running and strength training 5 days/week. In what seemed like a small time warp, it was March and I injured my left hip. I expected to recover quickly from the injury. However, instead of improving the injury seemed to worsen. I had to modify my workouts. I was getting chiropractic adjustments from my brother Jerry 3 times/week, and sadly it was not getting better. I added physical therapy and began to experience some gradual improvement. Now it’s May and June. I’m definitely wondering if I’ll be physically able to complete the Super in August. By July I’m seeing improvement in my hip. I blinked my eyes a couple of times, and it was August 6th, the Super!
2015 participants spoke of the beautiful scenery of the course in Asheville with some elevation changes. I heard it was a moderate difficulty level, and some said they would repeat that race. So, that is what we expected. Surprise! In addition to mud, we encountered a completely different course, which was much more difficult. They incorporated multiple elevation changes. One part was a 2 mile climb of 30+ degrees that took over 2 hours. They eliminated that part of the course later in the day, because Spartan was concerned people would not finish the course before dark(!). It was taking too long for people to complete. The downgrade took about 1 1/2 hours. I went into more detail in a previous blog about the Asheville Super if you’d like to check that out, click here.
Second Life Lesson
Success/Victory requires a team. (Life requires a team). This was an event far beyond what I envisioned. It has longer and more difficult than I imagined. Steve and Jolena stayed with me through 80% of the course. Their presence and conversation kept me focused and encouraged. My best effort was required to finish the race. I was able to reach deeper into my reserves. I was able to put forth a greater effort because I was with people who cared. That includes the OEW team. We all looked out for each other. Each team member contributed their best effort and the result was a victory greater than we could have achieved individually.
Dr. Fonke, his sister-in-law, Jolena, and his youngest brother, Steve, at the Spartan Super in Asheville, NC.
Third Life Lesson
When the test/challenge is huge, break it down into components: smaller/shorter components. My example is the 2-mile climb. When I began that climb I would walk as far as I could and then rest. I was looking ahead expecting that reach level ground after the next turn. That did not happen. Each turn revealed more elevation. I was becoming discouraged. That is when I decided to count how many steps I could take before needing a rest break. I could count 75 to 100 steps depending upon the degree of elevation. From that point on my goal was at least 75 steps and 100 if possible. I no longer looked for the summit. Each time I reached 75 to 100 steps achieved a goal. The summit was not the goal. The goal was the next 75-100 steps.
Before the Beast: HOPEFULAfter the Beast–WE DID IT!
The 2016 Spartan Trifecta has been an interesting journey/adventure. It was a physical challenge greater than I had ever attempted. The Super and The Beast were much more difficult than I expected. I had to reach down into my physical, emotional, and spiritual reserves to reach the finish line. I had to adapt to the terrain and the requirements of the course and keep putting one foot in front of the other. I was a member of a great team and I had a responsibility to the team to do my best. We gained the victory. We achieved the goal we set. My Dad would often talk about “self-discipline”. This was his personal philosophy of moderation and setting long-term goals. Dad was born in 1921, and he lived through an amazing Amerian century. I find myself in greater agreement with him as I have added birthdays. I believe Dad (my hero) would be proud of our achievement.
As I reflect, I know that these lessons will go forward with me through the rest of my life, along with the memories. I am proud of the accomplishment and being able to challenge myself in all the ways (expected and unexpected) that these races required, as well as the sense of community and teamwork that I found along the way. I would encourage anyone who is considering this challenge to do it! I can’t think of a better way to take on a year, than with goals like this to work towards. Let me know how it goes! I’ll be cheering for you all.
The last obstacle: fire jump. I was so happy to finish this one with my daughter, Allison.
Saturday, October 29th is the last leg of Dr. Fonke’s Spartan Trifecta which includes completing three Spartan Obstacle Course Races in one calendar year: A Spartan Sprint (3-5 miles), a Spartan Super (8-10 miles), and a Spartan Beast (10-13 miles) all with many obstacles between those miles. Read on below as he shares his thoughts leading up to this last and monumental challenge!
“The Spartan Super and the Spartan Sprint are now history. The medals are on display in my reception area at the office. The Beast awaits us October 29th, Winnsboro, SC with approximately 13 miles and 30+ obstacles. So, what have I changed in my training regimen? What worked for the Super and the Sprint? Leading up to the Super (which I ran in August) I was strength training five days/week and running five days/week. In retrospect, I did not allow enough recovery for my body. I forced my body to train and move while I was tired. My thought was to train before I was fully recovered resulting in more endurance for a long Spartan course. I achieved that goal. During the Super, I was pushing myself within the first mile. The elevations and hill climbs were exhausting. I had not trained over hills. However, by training while fatigued I was able to push through the fatigue during the Super. With the knowledge gained by experience, I would allow more recovery between training sessions. I would train longer during sessions and include hill climbs or the stair climber as an alternative. I would take in more calories in the week prior to the event. I would eat breakfast the day of the event. I did not eat breakfast the day of, which resulted in stomach cramps late in the day. The energy foods we carried with us did not offset the stomach cramps.
I also am hydrating more before and during the race for the Beast!
Recovery from the Super took me three weeks! It took a week just to get over feeling tired all day. I was back in the gym after the first week, but my strength and endurance were reduced. I cut back on the frequency of the workouts by combining two body parts per workout and cardio on alternate days. I would exercise legs and back, shoulders and chest, then arms. Each day I would do some abdominal work and towel pull-ups. That was a 5-6 day routine. This training was perfect for the Sprint (which I ran in September). I felt stronger and had more endurance for that race. The Super was slightly over 9 miles and took me 8 hours, 51 minutes to complete. I rested at intervals during the event (2-3 minutes) and occasionally 10+ minutes. The rest intervals were necessary for recovery to continue. The Sprint was approximately 4 miles. I reached the rope climb in about 2.5 hours and then waited 1.5 hours for the OEW team to arrive. I wanted to finish with the team. The Sprint did not require rest intervals during the event. However, my body still required 10 days of recovery before returning to the gym. The one concession to age that I am willing to make is my need for more recovery time. I require more time to heal and more time for muscle recovery.
When I started combining two body parts three times per week I anticipated losing strength. I found the opposite to be true. I am making strength gains and feeling more energetic. I am less fatigued during the day.
So–the Beast is in days as of now. This was my evolving training protocol from September through the second to the last week of October: Strength train 3 days/week, 2 body parts/day, 3-4 exercises per body part, 2-4 sets each per exercise, 8-12 reps per set. Cardio 3 days/week, recumbent bike and stair climber. I have increased my daily caloric intake. I was eating one full meal/day usually in the evening. Snacks would include coconut oil in coffee or tea and graham crackers with coconut oil. I have now added an egg white protein drink, fruit during the day, food bars, and I am continuing with coconut oil. The additional calories have increased my energy level. I haven’t been able to run since the Super. The hip and leg pain I’ve dealt with are always worse in the early morning, and that’s when I have time to run. I have been receiving acupuncture for the hip and leg pain. Progress has been slow but steady. The acupuncture combined with chiropractic and physical therapy has been the turning point in the recovery. I noticed that I have lost some size in the left calf and quadriceps because of favoring the leg while walking. The pain causes a limp and I have been unable to push off with my toes during a stride. I have stopped barbell squats and have added leg machines. The leg press has been particularly effective in isolating the upper hip and gluteal area. Adding leg extensions, leg curls, and calf exercises have brought balance back to my legs.
All of my family who took on the Spartan Sprint. Memories and bonding that we will never forget!
All in all, I’m excited and ready to take this challenge on. I’ve enjoyed sharing this journey with all of you and eagerly anticipate sharing after our team completes this BEAST and I have a Trifecta to my name!”
All the best,
Dr. David Fonke, D.C.
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After a loss like the one our family just experienced, I decided I needed to write down as much of her story as I could. This is partly because I can hear the words in her voice and that brings me comfort, and it’s also because I want to document these stories for my children and grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. I present this here as well to share what I consider a life well-lived looks like. This, she would’ve been proud to hear. Because my mom had a penchant and drive for positivity. I hope to honor her memory by sharing a little more about her with all of you.
Mom passed on April 22, 2016. She lived 90 years, 3 months, 17 days on this earth. Now she lives forever. One bright spot is that Mom has reunited with Dad. Dad passed November 16, 2011. He lived 90 years, 2 months, 3 days. They were apart 4 years, 4 months, 6 days, which is in contrast to the 63 years, 11 months, 16 days that they were married when Dad passed. They had one of those bonds that just seemed mythical from the outside looking in.
Dad and Mom got so much joy from their children and grandchildren. Here they are pictured with my grandson Aaron, their second great-grandchild.
Mom was born Margaret Belle Laubner on January 5, 1926. She was the youngest child of George and Belle Laubner. Born in Elko, Nevada, the family moved to Breese, Illinois before Mom was a year old. Grandpa Laubner was a hardworking man who struggled to lift his family out of poverty, and times were tough in the late 1920s. The Great Depression was setting in. Mom would tell us of the small 3-room house: 2 rooms downstairs, and a bedroom upstairs. The house was beside a railroad track, and the bedroom was divided by a curtain. Mom and her sister Fay had one side of the curtain and their mom and dad had the other side. Their brother, Junior, slept on the couch downstairs. The kitchen had a wood/coal stove for cooking, and Grandpa always kept a crock of beer that he made next to the stove. This was during prohibition and the beer made a little extra money for the family. No big surprise, but Mom always disliked the smell of beer. And she never drank beer as an adult. She said she had been around enough beer to last her a lifetime. This house had an outhouse that was in the side yard. Mom always made sure to use it before dark. Bath time was once a week, and this consisted of a tub that was filled with water heated on the stove. Each family member took a turn. Now, the tub was only filled once, so being the youngest wasn’t in her favor for this weekly chore. Coal trains traveled the track beside their home. Mom would talk of walking the track to pick up coal that had fallen from the coal cars. Grandpa had a pickup truck at one point that he painted silver with a brush. Mom said they called it “The Silver Streak.” Grandpa put a seat in the bed of the truck, and that is where the kids sat. Mom didn’t particularly like riding in the truck.
Grandmother was an excellent seamstress, and people would pay her to make clothes. She had a sewing machine, but Mom remembered sewing button holes to help. Mom remembered Grandmother taking apart a wool coat and cutting each piece to make a coat for Mom. Grandpa raised rabbits, and he tanned a rabbit hide to make a fur collar for the coat. Mom loved that coat and spoke fondly of it for the rest of her life. I think it embodied to her how much her parents loved her, because of the joint effort that went into making that little coat her her. Mom enjoyed school and made friends quickly. She and Fay played the French Horn in the school band. Mom said she never got to play the melody. She played the rhythm, which consisted of a of “bump, bump, bump.”. Fay however, played the melody. In high school one year, Mom was elected “May Queen”, similar to Homecoming or Prom Queen by her fellow students. Though I’m sure she was quiet, Mom was obviously popular in school and valued attending, but at the time many students went to high school for 3 years.
As I recall Mom and Dad talking about high school, the local high school only went through the 3rd year. Dad finished his 4th year in Aviston, a town close to Breese. Mom had a goal to finish that 4th year of high school. In 1971 she completed her GED and graduated from high school after raising eight children. We were all proud of her accomplishment. Mom went to work with Dr. Emerson, the only dentist in Breese. Dr. Emerson and his wife developed a great affection for Mom. They had one son, and Mom became their daughter by friendship. Mrs. Emerson would have occasional social events, and she would ask Mom to help her with the preparation and then the serving during the party. Mom would always spend the night and she always smiled as she told that Mrs. Emerson would lay out a pretty night gown on the bed for her. Mom would also have the opportunity to take a nice bath in a bathtub, which was an appreciated perk as well. These were some of Mom’s favorite memories of that time in her life. Mom still lived with her family when she began working and contributed to the family expenses from her income. Once, Grandmother wanted to buy a watch for Junior. It may have been for his graduation. Mom made $8.00 a month as a dental assistant. Mom gave Grandmother $2.00 a month toward the watch and $1.00 for household expenses, kept $1.00 for herself and put $4.00 in savings.
Dr. Emerson recognized Mom’s desire to learn, so over time he taught her to be his Dental Assistant. Mom learned quickly through observation and personal instruction. One day Dr. Emerson was out of town attending a conference. Mom was working in the office catching up on paperwork, filing etc. and patient came to the door holding his jaw. He had a terrible toothache and begged Mom to pull his tooth. At first, Mom said she couldn’t do that. She was not a dentist. The patient knew she wasn’t the dentist, and he didn’t care–just pull the tooth! Finally, Mom agreed. She placed him in the dental chair and went to work, just as she remembered watching Dr. Emerson. A short time later the tooth was out and the patient was very grateful. When Dr. Emerson returned and heard the story he was extremely proud of Mom. He called her “Old Blood and Guts”. Mom was proud of her new nickname. In later years when she told the story it was always with great affection for Dr. Emerson. Mom’s friendship with Dr. and Mrs. Emerson remained close for years after Mom and Dad married. I remember visiting them in Breese after Joan and Janet were born. That was about 1956/57.
During Mom’s time with Dr. Emerson Dad entered her life. Dad had returned from WWII after being held as a POW for 9 months. Dad caught Mom’s eye, and she asked her good friend, Hilda Hussman, if he had a girlfriend. Hilda was dating Dad’s brother, Wally (they were later married). Wally and Mom were in the same grade during school, so they knew each other well. The word came back: no girlfriend. Dad was a patient of Dr. Emerson’s, and Mom would tell us how every time Dad came to the office she would find a reason to walk through the waiting room multiple times and make eye contact with him. Hilda and Wally arranged their first date: Bingo at a local social hall. When Wally asked Dad if he wanted to go out with him and Hilda to play Bingo, Dad said “Bingo!?!” as if that was the last thing he wanted to do. When Wally said Belle Laubner would be there, Dad changed his tune and immediately agreed. It seems as if he had noticed her, too. Mom had to work that evening so they saved her a seat with them. Dad won a pair of silk stockings (which were rationed at the time) that he promptly gave to Mom. When he drove her home that night, they talked in front of Mom’s house until 2am. Mom and Dad loved recalling their first date. They soon knew they were meant for each other and made wedding plans. Grandpa Laubner was in poor health when Dad and Mom told him of their plans. When Mom asked Grandpa to give her away, his response was, “I’ll walk you down the aisle, but I’ll never give you away.” Even in Mom’s later years, whenever she told that story her expression changed and her eyes would shine with love. Grandpa Laubner passed before the wedding date of November 27, 1947. Grandmother wanted Mom and Dad to wait another year to marry because of the loss of her husband and her feelings of grief. Grandpa Fonke spoke with her and said, “While always honoring those who have passed, the living must be allowed to move forward with their lives.” That occurred August 1947. The wedding went as planned, but Grandmother and Fay wore black to the wedding.
Mom and Dad loved recalling their wedding day. They were married in St Dominic’s Catholic Church at 9am. After the wedding mass and pictures, Mom and Dad visited older relatives that were unable to attend. The reception was in the afternoon with plenty of dance music, food, and beverages. They stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Fonke that night. Their bedroom was occupied by Uncle Eddie who was married to Dad’s sister, Marie. They weren’t able to wake Eddie so they went to the upstairs bedroom. It was a large room divided in two by a wall and doorway without a door. Dad’s brothers were in the first bedroom, Dad and Mom in the second. Fortunately his brothers drank enough to put them soundly asleep. The next morning Mom came down stairs before Dad. As the door opened into the kitchen there sat Dad’s sisters and Grandpa and Grandma Fonke. Marie and Henrietta said they wanted to see Mom cook breakfast for Dad. (All of this with a big smile.) Grandma told them to be nice, and she helped Mom cook breakfast. Mom smiled when she told the story. It was all good-natured fun. They all loved Mom very much and were happy to have her join their “Vinny” in life. After the wedding they began their honeymoon trip through the southern states with a stop in Selma, Alabama to visit some of Dad’s friends. Dad had been stationed at Craig Field, Alabama, his first assignment as an Aircraft Mechanic. There he met Judge Walter B. Jones, a retired judge. Judge Jones was probably in his 60’s or early 70’s at the time. He had a large estate in Selma, named “Jonesboro”. Judge Jones would invite soldiers from Craig Field to his estate for barbeques. It was during one of these gatherings that Dad made his acquaintance and they became good friends. Judge Jones’ father, Thomas Good Jones was the Confederate Officer that carried the flag of truce for General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox. On they traveled to San Antonio, Texas. Ralph, Dad’s youngest brother was going through Air Force basic training. Lackland AFB, then back to Breese, Illinois. Mom and Dad moved into an upstairs apartment over the restaurant, that Dad, Wally and Grandpa Fonke co-owned.
Living above Fonke’s Highway Cafe had it’s advantages and disadvantages. Food was readily available prepared by Lizzie, the cook, and everything was delicious. There was a dumbwaiter they used to bring food upstairs without having to navigate the steep staircase carrying food, drinks, or dishes. Just place them in the dumbwaiter raise the items to the second floor or lower the dishes to the kitchen. Mom and Dad later gave me a game table that came from the restaurant. It seats 4 people and has a shelf under the table and at the top of each leg to place your drink. I was born while we lived over the restaurant. When Mom told Dad it was time to go to the hospital he ran downstairs to start the car. On his way back upstairs he tripped and crawled on hands and feet to the top. Once there he called for Mom, “Where are you?!? What are you doing?” He thought Mom would be in a hurry to go. Not so, Mom called back, “I’m brushing my teeth…I’ll be right there.” Everything went well and I was born November 12, 1948, 15 days before their first anniversary. Mom told us Dad thought something might be wrong because it took 3 months to become pregnant. (!). Don was born the following November 26, 1949. After a couple of years in the restaurant business Dad decided to sell life insurance instead. He sold his share in the restaurant to his brother Clarence. Later, Dad and Mom built their first home in 1950. My brother Dan was born on June 6, 1951.
Much to my parents’ shock, I contracted polio in the summer of 1950. I was immediately isolated in a hospital close to Breese dedicated to polio victims. After the initial diagnosis and treatment, I was taken to a rehabilitation facility and received intensive physical therapy for approximately 3 months. I did not have contact with my family during this entire time. Mom and Dad would tell me later how they would come to visit, but they were not allowed to talk to me or have any physical contact. The hospital policy prevented contact in order to reduce anxiety and emotional upset for their young patients. Mom and Dad said they would view me through a window as I went through my physical therapy exercises. This was a very frightening time for them, not knowing if I would recover my ability to walk and use of my hands. Thank God that after many months of therapy I fully recovered.
Soon after, one of Dad’s military friends asked Dad why he wasn’t flying AT-6s out of Scott Field, a nearby Air Force Base. Dad kept his reserve commission and was eligible to fly these single engine trainers. Soon Dad was back in the cockpit and enjoying the freedom of the sky again. It was about this time that the Korean War was building. The Squadron Commander of the reserve unit at Scott Field called a meeting and told all the reserve pilots that if they wanted to continue to fly they would be eligible for recall to active duty. Dad told the Commander to put his name at the top of the list. Dad was ready to resume his military career. This was a career/life decision that had not been discussed with Mom. When the letter came directing Dad to report for active duty is the day Mom discovered that she would be moving. Mom would recall later that she thought they would live in their new home for the rest of their lives. She never envisioned moving from Breese. I remember her saying that she would cry as she packed for the move. Mom soon realized that their life in the Air Force would provide many opportunities to develop her strengths. Our first assignment was Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington.
Thanksgiving in 1955. Dave, Don, Danny and Mom.
That was 2000 miles from Breese. Jerry was born October 6, 1954. Joan and Janet were born June 4, 1956. Mom did not know she was pregnant with twins, as this was before the days of ultrasound technology. Dad was TDY to Guam for 90 days when Mom delivered the twins. Joan was born first and the doctor remarked that Mom’s abdomen looked unusual. Mom promptly told him there was another baby. After examining Mom he was coming with an injection to help reduce pain. Mom said no need for that and began to push. Janet was born minutes later. Now there are six of us. While stationed at Fairchild, Mom was introduced to The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale. Every time Dad left on a TDY Mom would check the book out of the library. Finally she bought her own copy. That book reinforced her inherent positive nature. And because of that, there was always joy in our home. Mom maintained her positive outlook on life, and we learned how to live and grow in a home filled with love. Even in Mom’s later years she never complained. Mom lived her life with ready grace and consideration for others.
Mom with all the kids at this point: Dave, Don, Danny, Jerry, Joan and Janet.
In 1957 our new assignment was Pepperel AFB, St. Johns, Newfoundland. Dad traveled to Pepperel ahead of us. We followed a few weeks later and traveled by train to St. Louis which is 40 miles from Breese. We stayed in Breese for six weeks and then boarded another train for Westover AFB, Massachusetts. Dad met us there. We boarded a military aircraft to take us to Newfoundland. We lived in the city of St. Johns. I finished the second grade that first year after we arrived and a year later Dad was reassigned to Harmon AFB, Stephenville, Newfoundland located on the opposite side of the island. There Dad flew his favorite aircraft, the C-54: a military version of the DC-6. Dad flew into all the Northern tier bases in Greenland and as far north as Alert. These were resupply missions bringing in everything needed to operate an outpost in the frozen north country. Dad would say that this was the most enjoyable flying he experienced while in the Air Force. We left Newfoundland in 1960 assigned to Chanute AFB, Illinois. Dad attended a year long school there and that left us about 300 miles from Breese. We made that trip many times during the year we were there.
The next assignment was Pope AFB, Fayetteville, NC. We arrived May of 1961. We moved into a new house in Evergreen Estates. This was their first home that they had owned since leaving Breese. In 1963 Donna was born, and the following year Steve was born. Our family was complete. During the 1960s Vietnam was building and requiring more of our soldiers and supplies.
Dressed up and ready to go to one of their many military formals.
Dad went to Vietnam for 3 tours of duty. His last tour was 13 months: 1966-1967. That was my senior year in high school. I remember one time I slipped out of our home to visit some friends within walking distance. It was after midnight, and my brother Don was babysitting at a house across the street from ours. I walked over and told him what I was doing. Mom told me later she saw me walk across the street to talk with Don and then watched me walk away from the neighborhood. About 3 hours later I was walking back home and was about 1/2 mile away. It was quiet, and I heard our car start. It was our 1960 Ford Falcon and it had a very distinctive sound when being started. I immediately knew Mom was coming my way. I tossed the six pack of beer to the side and continued walking on the street toward home. Soon Mom was stopping the car in front of me and told me to “Get in this car”. When we got home Mom sat me down on the couch and proceeded to give me the tongue lashing I deserved. I told her I was sorry and would never do this again. I don’t know if she told Dad when he returned. I never heard any more about it. Maybe it was our secret.
Mom with DonnaThe whole family including Grandpa Fonke. The cowboy to the right is Steve.
One of the few times I saw Mom cry was the day Mom and Dad took Don and me to Western Carolina University. It was Don’s freshman year and my sophomore year. We were living in a small apartment close to campus. Mom and Dad were preparing to leave for the drive back to Fayetteville. Mom looked up at Dad with tears in her eyes as he gently said the following words to her: “Yes, Mom, this is the start of a new chapter in our lives. The boys are leaving home.” I didn’t understand her sadness then, but I do now. That was 1968. The next 13 years were filled with the activities of life in a large family.
College years! Mom with her oldest (me) and her youngest (Steve).
Don married his wife Linda in 1970. He graduated from college and joined the Air Force. He was commissioned in 1973 and began Navigator training in California. I enlisted in the Air Force in 1971. After basic training, I was assigned to Whiteman AFB, Missouri. I completed my enlistment in 1975, went back to college, and graduated in 1977. Don intended to make the Air Force his career. His first assignment after Navigator school was K. I . Sawyer AFB, Michigan. He was a Navigator on a KC-135 tanker, the military version of the Boeing 707. Their first child, Christopher was born on October 5, 1974. Their next assignment was Kadena, AB, Okinowa. They were there for 3 years. Their return to the United States took them to Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. Don was now assigned to the EC-135, called ARIA. ARIA stood for Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft. This aircraft provided communication link for the Space Shuttle and Houston. It was a very sophisticated aircraft and they were only located at Wright Patterson. They arrived at Wright Patterson in the Fall of 1980. March 27, 1981, their daughter Allison was born. They bought a house and settled in enjoying their new assignment. The Air Force initiated a program where active duty personnel could be accompanied by their spouse during an average work day. Since Don was a Navigator, Linda accompanied him, May 6, 1981 on a routine training flight. Additional spouses were also passengers on this particular flight. Something went terribly wrong on that flight and the EC-135 crashed over Walkersville, Maryland with no survivors.
Mom with her first of many grandchildren: Don and Linda’s son, Christopher.
That day in Fayetteville began as any normal day began for our family. I was part owner of a Nautilus Fitness Center. I remember trying to install a new radio in our 1979 Ford Van. I received a phone call that Mom wasn’t feeling good, so I drove over to Mom and Dad’s to check on her. There I discovered Mom had a severe headache that came on about 10:00 am. It was now about 12:30. A news alert was being broadcast on the television about a plane crash in Maryland around 10am… As information came available we learned the plane was an EC-135 based at Wright Patterson, AFB. This was a horror developing before our eyes.
We remained fixed upon the news coming from the television. It was determined there were no survivors. By early afternoon calls came from Pope AFB officials that Don was the navigator on the doomed aircraft. I spoke with Linda’s mother who was convinced that Linda was also on the aircraft. At this point no one had advised us that Linda was a passenger. I remember telling Evelyn that there was no way Linda could be a passenger. I had no knowledge of the recent policy allowing spouses to accompany. Evelyn was convinced, and I could not dissuade or comfort her. Denise, Linda’s younger sister, lived with Don and Linda. She knew Linda went on the flight. She called her Mom with the information. We still had no official word concerning Linda. Air Force officers visited our home later that day and brought the official notification of Don and Linda’s death. Dad, Mom and I left that evening for Dayton, Ohio.
It was a long 10 hour drive, and I remember very little about the trip to Dayton. Linda’s parents, Julian and Evelyn arrived before us. Our two families were united in grief. We remained in Don and Linda’s home for 3 or 4 days trying to bring order to the chaos. Plans were made to return to Fayetteville and make preparations for Chris (age six) and his six week old sister, Allison’s move to their new home. Don and Linda had named me the executor of their will and guardian of their children. Don and I had discussed this provision of their will.
After some time, the two children moved with us to Fayetteville. Mom and Dad took delight in helping to raise Chris and Allison. Betsy and I formally and legally adopted Chris and Allison. Erich was born in 1983 and Emily in 1987. Chris and Allison had a brother and sister. Mom and Dad were the rock we anchored to during this time of change.
Life in our families, immediate and extended found the balance that comes with love and time. Marriages and divorces, births and deaths, were experienced over the next 30 years. Mom and Dad’s love remained our constant. Saturday, November 12, 2011 our family changed forever. It was my birthday. We were preparing a pig picking to be held at Allison’s farm in Sanford. I was driving back to Fayetteville at about 8:00 that morning from helping cook the pig when I received a call from Jerry. Dad wasn’t feeling well and Mom had called Joan and Jerry to come over. Joan lived next door and Jerry lived about 5 minutes away. Mom, Joan and Jerry were in the bedroom when Dad lapsed into unconsciousness. He stopped breathing and Joan began CPR. Jerry called 911 and me. I arrived, and EMS was there attempting to revive Dad. They were able to reestablish breathing and then transported Dad to the ER. Mom was calm. I remember her saying to us, “This doesn’t look good.” We prayed together and followed behind the ambulance to the hospital. Dad was moved to the critical care unit later that day and attached to a respirator. A family member was always in his room. Mom was seated at the side of his bed holding his hand continuously. Mom would go home to sleep and refresh herself and then back to Dad’s bedside. An MRI was performed on Monday and they learned that a pulmonary embolism had deprived Dad’s brain of oxygen and that there would be no recovery. We now knew it would be necessary to removed the respirator and allow Dad to pass. We agreed to do that on Wednesday to allow as many family members as possible to see Dad before he passed. The hospital staff had us leave the room while they removed the respirator and brought fresh linens. We gathered in the room said our last goodbyes. We saw Dad take his last breath. I moved in to Mom and Dad’s house that night. I had divorced and was renting a room from my sister, Janet. We had determined among my siblings that Mom would not be alone in her home. I was the best choice to live with Mom.
Over the next 4+ years we all took care of Mom. It was our goal to keep Mom out of a nursing home and in her own home until it was time for her to join Dad. Joan, Janet, Jerry and I took on the primary caregiver roles. Mom cooked as long as she could do so safely. When the time came Joan and Janet prepared her evening meal and ate with her. Eventually we hired a caregiver for the day time hours. Andi would come by 9 am and leave when Joan got home about 4 pm. Donna and I married October 30, 2014, and she moved into Mom’s house with me. Mom had developed COPD that gradually worsened. She used a nebulizer and had a rescue inhaler to use if she woke up at night short of breath. Her doctor put her on oxygen 6 months before she passed. When the weather permitted, Mom enjoyed sitting on the front porch. She would wave to the neighbors as they passed by. Many times they would stop and visit. We had to make a rule that Mom could only sit on the front porch if she had changed out of her pajamas. These guidelines were of course, meant to keep her safe. Mom kept her independent spirit and sometimes would bend the guidelines just because she could. Mom’s physical strength was surprising even as she aged. Every night I would follow Mom up the steps to her bedroom. She would be trailing the oxygen tube as she climbed those 12 steps. We had talked about a lift for the steps, but she did not want to do that. Mom always said it was good exercise to climb the steps. We talked about moving her bed downstairs, but it was more important to her to continue to sleep in the same bedroom she and Dad shared. Mom always seemed to find extra energy for a birthday party or a social event, and there are many of them in a family of our size. She would be tired the day after but never during the event.
Mom’s 90th birthday was a huge event. We invited friends and neighbors and held it in the back yard. Mom was the center of attention and enjoyed every minute of her day. A couple of months before Mom’s passing we rediscovered some CDs of Dad singing and playing his guitar. Mom listened to those CDs repeatedly throughout the day. She said she liked to pretend he was just in the other room singing when she heard them.
A memorable milestone: Mom’s 9th birthday
On April 14th I flew to Denver to visit with my son Erich and attend a seminar there. When I left, Mom had developed a cough. I was not alarmed. Mom had overcome an upper respiratory infection numerous times over the preceding 4 years. I returned on the 18th and was surprised by what I thought was fatigue. I had work to do so I went to my office. When Joan got home about 4:00 she found Mom to be unresponsive to conversation. Joan called me and I said to call EMS. I left work after our conversation and called Joan on the way home. Mom was the same. I got home shortly before EMS arrived. They determined Mom had pneumonia and a UTI.
She was admitted to the hospital for the first time since 1964. Tuesday came and Mom looked, sounded, and responded like herself. The medications and respiratory therapy seemed to be working very well. Even her appetite was excellent. The doctor thought she would go home Friday. Wednesday was a good day. Mom was alert and conversational. Things were looking good for Friday. Wednesday night about midnight Mom had a setback. She stopped breathing and lost consciousness. When I got to Mom’s room they were helping her breathe by squeezing a bag to force air into her lungs. We asked them to stop. We had decided that If Mom could not breathe on her own we would not have her placed on a respirator. When they stopped bagging Mom, she was able to breathe on her own. We knew at this point that it was only a matter of time.
Mom passed Friday afternoon about 1:30 pm. I left her room about 1:15. Before I left I leaned close to her right ear and said, “If you need anything, call me”. This was something she said to me every night when I tucked her into bed. Although she knew she was the one being taken care of, she was always hoping to be of service to others. This is because Mom was always appreciative and gracious as well as a giver. Sometimes we had to be firm with her in order to keep her safe. She always responded in a generous, loving manner. Our goal to keep Mom in her home, surrounded by her memories, cared for with love and always maintaining her dignity was achieved. Mom had planted seeds of love, generosity and selflessness in us from the day of our birth. It was my privilege and honor to help Mom live her final days in safety and peace. Though she will be forever missed, we will always have her example and all of the memories. In our loss it gives me great peace to reflect on all she did and know that she loved and had a life well-lived.
Two Belles Meet! Mom with a replica of the Memphis Belle, the same plane that Dad flew in WWII. She got her first ride in one on that day in 2014. I’ll never forget it.
Most of the people that follow this blog know that I write it to share about my journey–both as a chiropractor and a person. When you’re committed to never-ending self improvement, you find yourself out of your comfort zone rather regularly. This post is about me and my personal development in the area of….you got it–running. Can anyone relate?
You know how some people say, “I just felt like running..” Yeah, that’s never happened for me.
Running has always been challenging for me. As far back as high school (and that is reaching pretty far in the past as I graduated in 1967), I avoided running distances. I was on the track team for a couple of years and ran some sprints, nothing beyond 1/4 mile. Later in college I was on the wrestling team and soccer team. Any running associated with those sports was short distances–sprints or at most a lap around the football field.
The Air Force forced me to extend the running distances. We had a physical fitness test twice a year that included a 2 mile run for time. No choice this time. I began to extend my distance in preparation for the PT test. Eventually I was running about 5 days/week for 2+ miles. I recall friends talking about how they enjoyed running distances. They spoke of the “runner’s high”, the endorphin release after running for an hour. So, I thought, “I’ll try it. Maybe I’ll eventually enjoy the runs.” Two years later, the answer was still a resounding no. I did not enjoy long runs. In the least. Ever. And, I never experienced that “runner’s high”. I left the Air Force in 1975 to finish my degree in Physical Education. I enjoyed sports but was more interested in physical fitness and body building. So again, thankfully no running was in my life!
Fast way forward to 2014. My daughter Allison had registered for the Spartan Sprint, held in Concord, NC. This was my first exposure to obstacle course racing. I was amazed at the number of people in attendance, both as participants and spectators – thousands! More amazing to me was the atmosphere of teamwork that enveloped the participants. Everyone helped everyone. I had never witnessed such a demonstration of teamwork and selfless energy. I decided then that I wanted to participate in a Spartan event. To do so I realized I needed to be able to run/walk 5-13 miles. The lengths of the Spartan Sprint, Super and Beast vary between 5 and 13 miles.
So, I began to run. I started by running from my driveway to the stop sign, about 2/10 of a mile. I was huffing and puffing as I walked back home. That was the start and gradually over months I extended my distance to 1/2 mile and eventually 3 miles. In May of 2015, I entered my first obstacle course race as part of the veteran nonprofit Operation Enduring Warrior’s Community Ambassador team. This was for the Special Operators Challenge, a 10K obstacle course race held in Raeford, NC. We completed that as a team event. September 2015 was my first Spartan event, the Spartan Sprint held at Ft Bragg. It was slightly over 5 miles. I was entered with the OEW team and ran the race with my brothers Jerry and Steve, Steve’s wife, Jolena and my son-in-law, Garry. I was proud to finish my first Spartan. I loved the experience and especially completing it with my family and the OEW group. It was a powerful moment in time for me!
That brings me to the Green Beret Jingle Jog in December 2015.
My daughters Emily and Allison along with me and Betsy.
It was a 5K or 10K “fun” run. OEW was there represented by OCA’s from the Fayetteville area. I registered for the 5K. My thoughts were, “I have run a 5K previously but not a 10K. Stay within my perceived limits and run the 5K.” Well, low and behold we gather at the race start and I find that everyone else is running the 10K! Allison says something to the effect of, “Come on Dad, and run the 10K with us. We’ll walk part of the time anyway.”
Not wanting to appear reluctant I said sure and off we went. I’m running with Allison’s mom, Betsy, and we are slightly behind Allison and fellow OCA and her friend, Rebecca. Betsy and I maintain about the same pace which at that point early on in the run, I was quite thankful for. On we went, and as we ran, we passed mile markers. There are hills on this course. I had not included hills in my training runs. On we went.
Still running….even at the end!
We came to the first of a number of water stations where we paused long enough to drink a small cup of water as we walked two steps. Then back to that running pace. We passed the 5K marker and I’m thinking about walking, but Betsy is in the groove and I keep pace. As the distance accumulated so did my thoughts of walking a short distance. I voiced that at about the 7K mark. I said, “Let’s walk for a bit…” Not surprising was Betsy’s response of, “Oh, let’s keep going. We have a good pace set, we can do this.” So–on we went, and to my great relief we finished the 10K without walking and just behind Allison and Rebecca. Betsy received a medal for finishing 2nd in her age group of 60+.
This brings me to these thoughts: We (I) can always do more than we (I) think we (I) can. I had limited myself to a maximum of a 5K run. I was ready to settle for less. I did not realize what I had in reserve. I needed a reason to push myself, and the result was 2nd place for Betsy. My new life philosophy is “Don’t Quit!! Push through, go the distance. If I’m not injured and just tired, push through, get one more rep, one more lap, one more mile!” That call to “Don’t Quit!” was confirmed for me about 2 weeks later. Our Senior Pastor, Lt Col (Ret) Robert Cody preached the message, “Don’t Quit”. His emphasis was on prayer, but the concept is the same. Don’t quit, don’t give up. Whatever you do, complete the race, assignment, or calling upon your life. Don’t settle for almost or the defeated “I tried…” attitude. There is more in you than you realize. Reach out and extend yourself. Don’t settle for almost. Surround yourself with like-minded people–people that will extend themselves is a selfless effort to accomplish a worthy goal.
Remember, you don’t do this by yourself. You can’t get through this life by yourself. You need a team you can count on to be with you in whatever and wherever you find yourself. And you can do so much more than you give yourself credit for! I am humbled to have seen this for myself. So now I pose the question: Where do you need to apply this “Don’t Quit” mentality in your life?
As always, I welcome your comments, feedback and questions. Until next time, keep it up and DON’T QUIT!
The whole Operation Enduring Warrior group of Community Ambassadors with Santa before the race.
An editorial appearing in The Asheville Citizen states Buncombe County has filed a federal lawsuit naming 23 firms, including five of the largest manufacturers of prescription opioids, the three largest wholesale drug distributors in the U.S., and their related companies. No specific amount of damages is asked. The lawsuit claims the distributors and manufacturers engaged in “false, deceptive and unfair marketing and/or unlawful diversion of prescription opioid.” Opioids have important legitimate uses as pain-killers, but they are being misused widely with catastrophic results. Opioids were responsible for 33,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2015 according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016 the number rose to 64,000. Buncombe County’s death toll in 2016 was 42. In 2017 there were 200 opioid overdoses in the first eight months. That is more than twice the number reported for the same period in 2016.
The industry is producing far more than possibly be used legally. We must hold responsible those physicians who prescribe too freely, pharmacists who fill questionable prescriptions, and those manufacturers who turn out far too many pills than are needed for legitimate pain control.
Interference with this two-way communication system results in dysfunction. The brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) control every function of the body in both healing and regulation. Interference caused by subluxations in the central nervous system will affect healing and regulation. Chiropractic care optimizes healing and regulation by reducing the interference caused by subluxations. And regular chiropractic care minimizes reliance upon symptoms to seek care. This is the wellness concept. Choices are made that contribute to health. People choose to exercise, follow a nutritional protocol, receive regular chiropractic adjustments, and avoid toxins such as alcohol or tobacco, because these choices improve health.
During the first adjustment, I have seen a difference of as much as 2 inches. During the initial care plan, I look for that difference in length to decrease. Over time that difference will reduce to 1/2 inch or less. This shows a decrease in the tension of the body and an improvement in balance and functions of the body. The tension occurs in the central nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. This tension is the result of misalignments in the spinal column and pelvis. When the patient’s body begins to hold an adjustment I can decrease the frequency of the visits. I will reduce to 1 adjustment/week and monitor their response.
Corrective care after pain relief allows the joints and their supporting tissues to strengthen and stabilize. This is particularly helpful in establishing balance and symmetry in the spine. Corrective care reduces the tilts and rotations resulting from subluxations (vertebra that are out of position or not moving properly). Maintenance care will preserve the progress made avoiding a relapse. Preventative care through periodic check-ups identifies new problems before they can become an issue. This will minimize flare ups.
Heat Stroke is a medical emergency. The temperature regulating mechanism of the body fails and the internal temperature rises above 105 degrees F. The person no longer perspires as their temperature continues to rise. Without emergency treatment, they will lapse into a coma and die. Heat stroke begins as heat exhaustion showing the same symptoms. The progression to heat stroke occurs as perspiration stops and body temperature continues to rise. Anyone suffering heat exhaustion can develop heat stroke if untreated.
Dr. Allan has a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of the Pacific. He has performed research on the chemistry of minerals, biochemistry and nutrition at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Lutz has studied low-carbohydrate nutrition on thousands of patients in his clinical practice. His first book was written and published in Germany in 1967. The German title Leben Ohne Brot, translates into Life Without Bread. The nutritional guidelines allow bread as one of the sources of carbohydrate. The primary constraint is to limit carbohydrate intake to a maximum of 72 grams/day. Life Without Bread, published in 2000 includes over 40 years of Dr. Lutz’ clinical experience with low carbohydrate nutrition and Dr. Allan’s research into the medical and biochemical relevance of low carbohydrate nutrition. The book clearly defines for the reader the difference between fact, theory, and opinion. Observations of the benefit of low carbohydrate nutrition are explored in chapter 2 of the book. Herodotus records a meeting in the 5th century B.C. between an Ethiopian king and Persian king. The Persians ate bread. The Ethiopians ate mostly boiled meat and drank milk. The Persians lived into their 80’s, the Ethiopians into their 120’s. There were references in the 1700’s and 1800’s to abstaining from starch and sugar as a means of reducing body weight. In the 1920’s and 1930’s Weston A. Price and his wife, Florence, traveled around the world to study primitive populations. Dr. Price, a dentist, was convinced that changing from what he termed “primitive foods”, foods to which humans had adapted to over thousands of years–to modern processed foods was a key to degenerative diseases of modern civilization.
However, they support the theory that saturated fat is unhealthy in large amounts. The truth is the exact opposite. Saturated animal fat and protein are the cure for much of the degenerative diseases rampant in our society. I remember being in a Physiology class in 1997. The professor made the statement that saturated fat was the preferred energy source for cardiac muscle. He was quoting from our text Guyton, Textbook of Medical Physiology. This contradicted the accepted theory that fat, and particularly saturated fat, was bad for the human heart. How could the heart muscle prefer saturated fat as the energy source without resulting in damage or disease? A physiology textbook presents facts not opinions. I knew I had to reexamine the basis of low-fat nutrition being healthy. This also included a reexamination of evidence linking cholesterol with heart disease. I found that the major studies were flawed. They were based upon a bias toward fat and cholesterol. The studies were conducted to support the low-fat theory not to discover the truth. Life Without Bread devotes chapter 6 to examining and evaluating the original studies designed to prove that animal fats in the diet are a promoting factor for heart disease.
Chiropractic Wellness Clinic 