Helping In Time Of Need: A Chiropractor’s Diary
By Gary A. Deutchman, D.C.

After the World Trade Center attack in New York City on September 11, I spent days at home glued to the TV. I felt an overwhelming urge to be involved in the relief effort. I didn’t know if I would be shoveling dirt or lifting buckets, or if my skills as a chiropractor were needed.

Although I was willing to help in any way, I decided that my best gift was to go with the intention of helping through chiropractic.

Friday, September 14

This afternoon, I first ventured down to the World Trade Center vicinity. I didn’t know where to go and how to have the greatest effect on the most people that needed my service. I roamed the streets carrying two portable tables, looking for a place I could stay and a place others could send people in need back to me.

I had many challenges, being that I was not officially recognized as a provider of service. Yet I knew what I had to offer was in great need. I found a place that suited me, but I knew there had to be a better one.

I was joined then by Dr. Richard Nunziata, my dear friend. We left the area after 2 a.m.

Saturday, September 15

As soon as I got into my car and headed into the city, I felt good knowing that I had a purpose. I was clear about my purpose. That clarity allowed me to travel in an area secured by soldiers and police officers, who were looking out for people who might try to violate their space.

I knew today that I would find the optimal location to provide care for a constant flow of people. Today, we joined forces with a group of chiropractors. Some of them had positioned themselves on the same corner where I was. What a coincidence that was! Another group positioned themselves in Stuyvesant High School.

Knowing where they were located allowed me to venture off to find the ideal place to set up camp. I encountered the policemen and National Guardsmen on many occasions and quickly had to think of the right responses to their questions. The wrong response would have gotten me an escort to a less desirable place. My venturing around led me to what was called Ground Zero, where thousands of uniformed firemen, policemen and tradesmen were all waiting to enter the destruction site.

At this spot, I was surrounded by equipment of all types, twisted metal and vehicles, and buildings I once admired now reduced to shattered metal and glass hanging overhead.

Yet my desire to share my gift told me this was the place to set up camp. I started adjusting many policemen, soldiers, firemen and tradesmen. They told their fellow officers and friends that chiropractic was available and more people came. Then more chiropractors joined us. By the end of the day, I received a pass from the Army that gave me the privilege to go anywhere I pleased.

As the crowd of policemen, soldiers, firemen and tradesmen came out of the destruction zone, after 8-1/2 hours of digging, passing buckets and performing many other technical jobs, I would shout out, "Chiropractic over here! Who’s next for chiropractic?"

Some would look at me like I had two heads, but others would come over and be so thankful that we were there. Usually they came to us in groups, especially the firefighters. They would always stick together. If one firefighter came over, he would tell the others about how great he felt, then most of the group would line up for their adjustments. If one guy felt like he would be put down for coming over, then the whole group would just pass me by.

The people who didn’t come over for their free adjustment may have done so because of their lack of experience with chiropractic or a fear of chiropractic that was not going to be handled at that time. They might have had a few things on their mind other than this free gift that a stranger was offering to them. They might have been thinking about friends who were buried under the rubble 50 yards in front of us.

We need to respect and not be so sensitive to rejection when people don’t see our gift like we do. Today, I spent 15 hours providing care for several hundred people who were in need of chiropractic care, and chiropractors collectively adjusted many thousands of people. Our patients are healthier and happier for it, and that is why we did it.

Monday, September 17

Today I headed into the city to help more people with chiropractic and to learn more about life.

After going through numerous checkpoints, I made it down to Ground Zero. They moved our location a bit, but I met up with three buddies who were still there from the night before.

The chiropractic area was pretty well covered, so I decided to venture into the highly secure, restricted area where the search and rescue operations were taking place. This area, on the Westside Highway, is where WTC’s Building 2 crashed down on the top of the people from all departments of disaster and rescue. This is the area where the ground was covered with debris and bent metal the size of small buildings, and workers were operating many cranes and heavy construction equipment.

Working on top of the pile of bent steel were men with torches and special saws, cutting away at the massive pile, piece by piece. Other men had shovels and picks and were loading buckets. The buckets were passed along a brigade of 500 men and women (mostly firemen and police officers) to piles that could be scooped up and put in dumpsters. There were multiple bucket brigades in different parts of the site. In this area there were also places where orange paint was sprayed onto big pieces of debris to mark locations where bodies were found. Big boom lights illuminated the entire area like a baseball stadium.

Finally, I figured out how to get past the security. I then proceeded to join a bucket brigade. After a while, I found a group that was working on digging a tunnel to get into the garage under the Westside Highway. First, I started using picks and shovels and was happy to help. Then, a backhoe driver asked that some steel be cut before he could dig some more. One of the metal workers grabbed a long cutting torch, and I grabbed the other. We both started cutting a spaghetti-like bar that was put into the concrete for strength. Sparks were flying and thick metal was dropping to the ground. Seven hours later, I emerged out of the zone of destruction to return to my chiropractic post.

I was covered with dirt and had a very sore back. We entered boxes constructed for us. I now felt complete that I experienced all of these things, so that when I return to the site, I will be able to know firsthand what my patients went through.

Later, I found a ship that was docked near where I have been posted. The ship is where the people went to rest and eat food provided by good restaurants. I figured this would be a great place to set up shop. I brought my portable table over to the ship and set it up in the middle of the busiest area. I went up to one really big fireman and asked him if he wanted to get adjusted. I told him once every sees him get adjusted there will be a line. He agreed, and soon the whole main deck crowd was watching this guy in a white lab coat adjust this big fireman. After I made my adjustment, the fireman got up, and said, "Wow! That was amazing!"

For the next few hours, I had a line of people from every type of law enforcement agency and fire department, from here to Canada, waiting on line. Many of the people had never had a chiropractic adjustment before.

Tuesday, September 18

Today, I was fortunate enough to be with two fellow chiropractors, Dr. Richard Nunziata and Dr. Art Paterson, amazing guys who came into the city and worked with me today. We provided care for many people. While walking down the media-lined street to get to the first checkpoint, I was approached first by a Japanese reporter, then a Brazilian reporter, and finally an Italian reporter. Each one had a microphone and a TV camera recording my answers to their questions.

When I went to the ship this morning, I found that my portable adjusting table had been broken, somehow, into two different pieces. I quickly found my other table and brought it to the ship and then found a screwdriver and screws to put the table back together. Now, I had two tables and a deck full of police and firemen.

I went to one of the waiters and asked him to be my first adjustment. I told him he would be doing me a big favor if he would be the first. I explained that the rest of the people would line up if they saw me adjust him first. I didn’t expect his reply, but was very pleased with it. He said, "I’ve been getting adjusted since I was 5 years old and would love an adjustment." I adjusted him and then, for the next four hours until the time I got some additional help from my buddies, I was busy non-stop. I must have adjusted over 100 people in that short time.

Lessons In Leadership

During this experience, I realized that leaders can gather together with a common goal. I believe we all have leadership abilities. I think most people know this and are waiting for the right opportunity to come along, so that they can make their mark.

But life can be short. You should not hold back, waiting to see if something is worth your leadership. If you wait to be a leader, then you will likely miss out on opportunities. When you see an opportunity, find the leadership abilities within yourself and let them shine to everyone you meet.

About the author: Gary A. Deutchman, D.C., a 1986 Life College graduate, manages a private practice in New York City. Inquiries should be address to him by E-mail at Scoldoc@aol.com.

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