My name is Barb Gehrkens and ten years ago I had a serious operation to remove a tumor next to the brain.  The nerve that controls all the muscles on the right side of my face was damaged.  I lost movement to this side of my face creating a “bells palsy” appearance.  The surgeon tried to correct this by transplanting a nerve from my tongue to the side of my neck.  It was only partially successful and allowed my mouth to no longer droop.  The surgeon also installed a spring into my eye to allow me to blink.  The balance of my face was still numb, and I could only smile on the left side of my face.

I started going to Cathy Franklin in March of 2007.  I went to her for work on my lungs because I had just had a bout of pneumonia.  Much to my surprise, on the third visit my check on the right side of my face began to move.  Over the next year, Cathy has brought movement to my mouth, so I have an almost equal smile.  People cannot even see the lack of facial movement unless I am laughing.  She has also helped to restore pain free movement to my right shoulder and assisted in my breathing.  In my youth, I had enjoyed playing the flute, but with my damaged mouth and lack of lung control it was impossible to play.  I am now starting to play again.

The operation also took on of my equilibrium organs.  The doctor told me that the one on the left side of my ears could control the balance of my entire body.  Although I could walk easily, I could not walk on rough surfaces, jump, bounce, or pass a sobriety test.  I am a fourth grade teacher and jumping comes up on the playground with children.  One day last March, I unthinkingly drop kicked a kickball.  It was then that I realized that the equilibrium organ on my left side was truly controlling my whole body.  Now I dance around the classroom without fear of falling!

Cathy’s successes with me prompted me to coax my husband into her treatments.  He is a disabled veteran and disability retired from the post office.  Gary’s disabilities are caused by problematic knees, which have gone into his lower back.  The first visit to Cathy, she asked about his foot.  Gary had been born with a clubbed foot, but it had been repaired years ago.  Cathy advised Gary to see a podiatrist  (she even when with him to the appointment).  The podiatrist used lifts in Gary’s shoes to correct his balance.  With corrected posture, and Cathy’s treatments, much of Gary’s pain has stopped.  He continues to see her weekly.  Gary is smiling all the time now.

This all started when my son Thomas, a veteran from the Gulf War, saw Cathy for PTS (post traumatic stress syndrome).  Cathy controlled my son’s night terrors and has relieved his stress.  She has also helped my daughter give up smoking without too much effort as well.

I recommend her treatments for all kinds of people who are in constant pain.  Why live with pain if you can find a way to stop it?  If you want further information, feel free to Email me (use Cathy Franklin’s name in the subject line so I won’t delete your letter).  Bg_gehrkens@sbcglobal.net

—Barb Gehrkens