10/15/2025
2.5 years.
That’s how long HTM has been in business — but it feels like 10.
Every person I’ve worked with carries years of pain in their body. With each session, I’ve gained not just experience, but deeper understanding. These past two years have flown by because I’ve been fully immersed—not only at HTM, but also working in chiropractic offices, clinics, and research settings.
From auto injuries and chronic pain in underserved communities, to survivors of trauma, abuse, and war from all over the world… I’ve witnessed pain that has broken my heart. Yet, I keep showing up despite how overwhelming it is.
Today, I was reminded why. Why do I keep showing up?
During a mid-session check-in at the clinic I work at, a patient and I discovered her pain likely began after a car accident. This led to a deeper conversation about options for care, coverage, and resources. I helped her explore paths to continued treatment—because she deserves wellness, not a lifetime of pain.
I shared how my immigrant parents also struggled to access care, find interpreters, and simply be seen. I felt her anxiety and overwhelm as she absorbed this new information—options she had, but no clear way to start. In that moment, something shifted. She had been in pain for so long, yet no one had ever taken the time to explain what was possible for her healing. I caught her looking away, blinking profusely to dry her tears.
Our hands-on session felt way different than our previous sessions. I knew her deep breath at the end felt way more connected than she'd ever been on my table. Afterwards, she told me she knew the chronic pain would return in about a week and that she’d miss me — but at least for tonight, she knew she'd sleep well.
Her "Ta-blurrk" ("Thank you" in Karen) sounded much different today as I saw her fight her tears.
It’s moments like these that remind me, again and again:
This work is more than a job. It’s a calling. Sometimes going beyond your job description and being human to someone makes all the difference.
Often do I get overwhelmed by the pain of others, but my prayer remains:
“God, if this is where You want me to serve, give me the strength to keep going.”
