Thanks, Great Workshop!!

Thanks to all who attended our wellness workshop. We had a great time with good food from Whole Foods. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

Our guest speakers, Lisa Helffrich, RD and Devra Lindsay from Transformation were well received and provided great information on weight loss/control, discovering your body type, the benefits of Body Composition Assessment and knowing your cellular age.

For those of you who couldn't attend because of the "aftermath of Hurricane Ike", don't worry. We are scheduling another workshop when Lisa returns from a talk in Russia. She is very special and providing this workshop free for my patients and friends. Don't miss the next one. We will keep you posted. Watch for the e-mail.

You can change your health by changing your physiology. Health is your choice. See you soon...

The Prayers Worked...

Alison had her surgery yesterday and it was a complete success. So thanks to you for prayers, thanks to God for answering them, thanks to the surgeons and of course, thanks to me for my great O negative blood!!!! You knew I would include myself--right? Seriously, we are all thankful. Thanks for always being there.

Patient Out For Doctor's Blood...

What could make a patient want a doctor's blood? They must really be angry right? No, it's not what you think. The patient isn't upset about a botched procedure, lack of caring, a medical mistake, or any number of other problems that sometime occur between a patient and their care giver. In fact, it's just the opposite.

This patient loves the doctor in question. It's her and her family's chiropractor for over 14 years--Me! Unfortunately, Alison needs a delicate surgery that requires enough of the right type of blood to be available for her. About 4:30 p.m on Wednesday afternoon, while treating patients, Mary rushed into my treatment room and shouted, "What blood type are you?" The response, "O negative, why?" "Alison's surgery is Friday and they can't do it unless she has more blood, your blood! Will you do it?"

Of course I said "yes" immediately. "Then you have to get to the blood bank by 6:00 p.m or it will be too late. I finished with a few more patients and rushed over to the blood bank. I did make it on time and successfully donated blood. I even have a blown out vein to prove it.

Alison is a precious, beautiful girl whose had health challenges since birth. She and her family are like family to me and staff members. Even my mom knows and love Alison and Sandy (her mom). In fact, the first thing my mother said was, "I wish I was there. I would give her my blood too!" She also has O negative blood.

The next day, I found out from Sandy that because of power problems at the hospital due to Hurricane Ike, Alison's surgery has been pushed to next week. So, I am once again soliciting all your prayers for Alison, the surgical team, and anyone involved in Alison's care and recovery.

Also, please remember blood is a precious commodity that is very much needed. Especially in times of crisis like Hurricane Ike. Please consider giving blood especially if you have precious blood like mine. O negative! Contact your local blood bank. They can use your help.

Ike Update

This is mainly for those of you outside the Houston area. The rest of us are on news overload with constant radio and television broadcasts. We are now at one week since Ike hit the Texas coast. Galveston was ground zero and it along with the Bolivar Peninsula is devastated. People are not allowed back on the island yet. The west side of the Houston area was hit the worst. But the effects are far reaching. About one million people are still without power and may not get it for several more weeks. Even though the power companies have about 8,000 people from all over the country and Canada working on it. Between floods, storm surges and wind, depending on the location, people either have minimal damage to complete devastation. Most in the Houston area have minimal damage--water in home, roof problems, power out, but houses and businesses still livable. If you can't reach someone you love, it may take awhile but I am confident they are physically okay with few exceptions. Our friends, Drake and Michele live in the Kemah area. Michele is a nurse and massage therapist that many of you will remember has been on medical missions with me. They had water in the house but are okay. My friend, Steve in Sugar Land, had part of his roof blown off and has wall, ceiling and sheet rock damage. Both houses are livable unlike most people in the Galveston area with total destruction. Ninety-percent of my patients are still without power but everyone is okay. This all will take months to years to repair and normalize depending on the area and severity of damage. Many people still have no phone or Internet. So try not to worry about friends and family.



You can check our local stations like _http://www.khou.com/weather/hurricanecentral/or http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/index for updates. PODS (points of distribution) have been set up throughout damaged areas. I've heard as many as fifty. These are manned by volunteers-military, TSA employees, etc. Ice, water and mre's (meals ready to eat) are distributed from these sites. Tuesday morning, I volunteered at one that Mary saw on the news. This particular POD was severely understaffed. I spent four hours schlepping ice from refrigerated trucks. Then treated patients at the office until 5:30 p.m. at which time I raced over to the blood bank and donated blood for a patient who is scheduled for a surgery. It was a busy day to say the least.

Right now all of us have to chip in and help one another. Lend support wherever and however we can to the best of our abilities. Prayers and money are needed for the most devastated. Contact the Red Cross if you can help. http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?

Why Do You Crave Specific Foods?

We have put together an informative workshop to discuss what you can do to maintain optimal health throughout your lifetime. In our class you can expect to learn:

• The Importance of Digestive Enzymes


• Health Benefits of Enzyme Therapy


• Understanding Your Body Type


• Learn How to Balance Your Health Through Diet and Enzyme Therapy


• Body Composition Assessment (BCA)

Have you ever wondered why you gained weight on the same diet your friend lost weight on? Why you crave certain foods? Are you interested in knowing your "cellular age" and how to monitor your aging rate?

Then join us on Tuesday, September 23rd at 6:30 p.m. for our wellness workshop with guest speakers: Lisa Helffrich, RD and Devra Lindsay with Transformation Enzyme Corporation.

Give us a call at (281) 499-4810 to reserve your spot in our workshop. The workshop will be held at 2853 Dulles Avenue, Missouri City, TX.

Hurricane Ike and us...

My staff and I just finished treating some of the most dedicated patients in the World! With hurricane Ike looming in the Gulf and water lapping over the sea wall in Galveston, these people dedicated to their health came in for their life enhancing chiropractic adjustments! YES! It's clear that their first priority is their health. A few years ago during hurricane Rita, Evelyn, while millions of people were gridlocked on the freeways, took all the back roads to my office and got her chiropractic adjustment. That's dedication! Well, she was the only patient that day. She instantly became my patient of the century! I've talked about that day so much, I guess other patients wanted to join her elite ranking. After all, how many people can say they received chiropractic care during a hurricane? In fact, I dare you to find too many chiropractors who are open. I know this either makes me dedicated or crazy...maybe a little of both. But sincerely, I want to thank Mary and Krystal for coming to the office today to make it all work. I realize most people are either leaving town or making preparations to weather the storm that will hit in a few hours. So don't feel bad about not coming in. You can make it up later. But obviously some people truly believe Barrett Chiropractic Clinic is the cool place to be during a hurricane!



Thanks go out to all of you, Kevin, Brian, Trish, Marlene, Linda, Nailya, Jill, Sharon, Kathy, Maxine, Jerrie, Miriam, Ashley and Jesus. I salute you! We at Barrett Chiropractic Clinic are praying for all our patients and their families and friends. And for everyone in the path of the hurricane. May we all be safe as we ride out the storm.



P.S. New area maps have jut been delivered to my office. Please come pick up your free map. Of course, I have a business card size ad on the map and I'm listed under physicians and surgeons. So, if you need a surgically precise chiropractic treatment...give me a call!

Photo of My Great Nephew and His First....

Hunter Rittweger was born July 11, 2008 to my nephew Adam and his wife, Shannon. Hunter is the first Texan on my side of the family. Coming from New Jersey, it's a little strange having "kin folk" from the south. My nephew, Adam, was born in Louisiana (which I still hold against him). Though it's his mother's fault. haha Anyway, back to Hunter. He's a great kid, healthy and happy. His parents are very smart because they've already started Hunter on chiropractic care to ensure his health. For many of you, this only makes perfect sense, but I know some of you are struggling with the idea.

First of all, the baby is obviously a little version of an adult. With a brain and nervous system that must function to it's highest and best capacity to regulate and control everything in the entire body. Any small misalignment of the vertebrae can potentially interfere with the neurological transmition of vital life developing signals. So no, he doesn't complain of back pain, or headaches and he hasn't lifted anything the wrong way and herniated a disc. Adjusting and molding his spine now is all about proper alignment, enhanced development and allowing his body's health to express itself to its best potential. Improving all his systems and giving him the best chance to be strong with strenghtened immunity.

It's preventative health care and life enhancement at its best. Why wait until he's broken to attend to his needs? Let's keep him healthy from the beginning and continue to manage health. Rather than the opposite which is managing sickness!

So to Hunter, we wish you the best health and happiness for a lifetime and all the blessings that God bestows upon you.

P.S. Here's a picture of Hunter receiving his first chiropractic spinal adjustment. The pressure is very light but extremely effective. To understand more about the nervous system, health, nutrition and why we are able to help childhood ear infections, colic and more visit our website at http://www.barrettchiroclinic.com/