The True Story of Winifred Gardella

Last week we checked in with Doug Harkey, an Iowa resident who had his vision restored in his eye through chiropractic care after 12 years of blindness. This week I would like to check in with a younger patient.

In the early 1950’s, Winifred Gardella was the poster child for the March of Dimes in San Francisco. An image of Winifred was used in a national campaign to raise money for the organization, drumming up millions of dollars in support. The image consisted of Winifred bracing herself on crutches with cumbersome leg braces supporting her fragile legs. She was suffering from the effects of polio and her story is one that is not only moving, but absolutely true.

While the image of Winifred Gardella opened up the pockets of donators, the very same doctors receiving the money tried for two and a half years to help Winifred with her ailments. The attempt was unsuccessful; prompting the doctor’s to tell the parents, “there is no hope.”

Despite the prediction of the medical doctors, Winifred’s grandparents were desperate to find a solution. They brought Winifred to Dr. Lewis Robertson, a chiropractor. After six months of chiropractic treatment for nervous system interference, Winifred was able to throw away her crutches and leg braces. In a defiant and well documented picture, Winifred Gardella, once hopeless, took a walk holding hands with Dr. Robertson.

This was nearly 60 years ago. Imagine if you will what the medical profession was doing 60 years ago and the advancements that have taken place since that time. The same can be said about our understanding of chiropractic care, its purpose and the proven results it delivers to millions of patients each year.

What hasn’t changed much is the philosophy of chiropractic. It is still, and forever will be, the restoration of the nervous system to restore optimal nervous system function within the body.

So what is nervous system function? The nervous system has three main parts. They are the brain, the spinal cord and the network of nerves that run to every portion of your body. The brain communicates with the body using the nervous system and allows you to function as a person. Without nervous system function, you could not continue to live.

Chiropractic focuses on the spine which is made up of 24 bones that house the spinal cord. The spinal cord is the super highway of the nervous system, directing messages from the brain to the proper cells, tissues and organs. This amazing feat is happening within us at every second of the day and much of it is far beyond our control.

Between each bone of the spine are small holes where the nerves exit and run to the rest of the body. When a bone is subluxated (shifted out of proper alignment), it places pressure on those nerves and reduces their ability to function. This causes important messages to never make it to their intended target and fulfill their all important function within the body.

A chiropractor analyzes and adjusts a subluxated bone in the spine, removing the pressure it creates on the fragile nerves and restores the optimal function of the nervous system. This allows your body to do what it does best, heal from the inside out!

In the case of Winifred Gardella, poster child for polio ailments, it allowed her to once again walk unassisted. This is not a medical miracle, but a firm understanding of the body’s function and a restoration of a system that works inside of every person on this planet.

While chiropractic is often thought of in relevance to pain in the neck and back, it is important to realize that it is not bound by pain alone. It is a philosophy of understanding nervous system function and a painless non-invasive way to make sure your body is operating at its full potential.