Stories by DrJoe (28 matches)

Double Donations :)

Received an email from the amazing folks at Greyhound Rescue in Australia that one of their partners is matching every donation until 2 November, so I jumped on the opportunity to make a donation and help out the hounds in need.

Winter is rapidly approaching in the Northern Hemisphere and I couldn't leave out Ukraine, so I also donated to the United24 initiative of President Zelenskyy to provide Ukrainians with much needed aid.

Sometimes People Just Need Someone To Vouch For Them.

Recently my wife and I were flying across the country and were about to board our flight when a woman sitting across from us at the gate had a medical episode. I came back from the restroom and sat down next to my wife who leaned in to me and whispered "something's wrong". The woman was slumping over more and more and quickly lost control of her body. I jumped up and crouched in front of her, asking if she was okay. I introduced myself as Dr. Joe and asked her name (let's call her Jackie to protect her identity). I told Miss Jackie that I'm a chiropractor, not a medical doctor, but I'm here for her to help in any way she needs. In one hand I held hers and with my other hand I supported her head, carefully asking what was happening. She revealed that she had a condition where, when ... Read Full Story >>

The Positive Effects Of Energy, An Embrace, And Silence

Recently a woman came in for treatment. She mentioned feeling more stressed lately because of being the parent of a teenager. After treating her I asked her if she would like for me to do some energy work on her, which she excitedly agreed to. I myself am not yet a parent, but as an empath I can feel her stress and frustration. During the energy work we did not speak. The silence was incredible as it allowed her to relax, and allowed me to focus on helping her become more grounded in that moment. She was teary-eyed when I finished the energy work and we embraced in a hug after I fetched her some tissues. She left feeling better and more relaxed than when she first arrived. She and her teenager will both be okay, I'm sure -- such is life and we must discover these things on our own. Without children of ... Read Full Story >>

Left A Review For A Restaurant

I was out of town last week for training and had a wonderful time learning and growing with many amazing doctors. One of those evenings I decided to treat myself and went to a pub nearby.

Ever since I was a wee lad I have loved pubs, and have fond memories of visits to pubs with my dad whenever we were out of town. This particular pub was everything I would expect, but my expectations were far surpassed. I told one of the managers that the food and drink was spectacular, the service was stellar, and I will definitely come back in the future. She beamed and was delighted to hear the kind words.

When I got back to my hotel room I left a 5-star review and many kind words about my experience :)

Purchased Calendars From My Favorite Charity

Today I purchased a few calendars as gifts for friends and family from my favorite charity, where every dollar goes towards rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming greyhounds in need. As the great Mahatma Gandhi said, "[The] greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". Greyhounds are incredible dogs, but they're horribly misunderstood. While yes, they are lightning fast, they are actually lazy, 40mph couch potatoes -- or 65kmh for our metric measuring friends :) They are loving, curious, intelligent, and just as deserving of warm, loving homes as the rest of the canine world. I was once told that greyhounds are proof that dragons once existed --they're still just as magical, they simply lost their wings. https://greyhoundrescue.com.au/ is the non-profit group that I frequently donate to, and all of their loving, altruistic work helps these amazing dogs transition from the tracks to people's couches. I'm ... Read Full Story >>

Received A Lovely Card

Received a lovely card in the mail from the International Medical Corps. I was not expecting this gesture, because I know the donations go to a good cause, but it was heart warming all the same. The reverse side says:

"Little girls play in an International Medical Corps supported mother-baby safe space in Odesa, Ukraine". I've donated to the IMC's Ukraine division several times and was very proud to do so. I'm constantly amazed by the courage and resolve of the Ukrainian people. Слава Україні! 🇺🇦🌻

Paying It Forward To A Stranger

I finished playing a game of ice hockey late the other night. I was craving a slurpee (like a frozen slushie kind of drink) from 7/11 so my wife and I made a detour to get me a drink of that delicious, frozen sugar water lol (I had burned over 1,000 calories and just wanted something cold and sweet).

As I got my slurpee and approached the counter to pay I noticed a young woman walk behind me to wait in line, with a candy bar and slurpee of her own in both hands. I told the cashier I wanted to pay for mine and her items. I just wanted to pay it forward to a stranger and I hope it made her day :)

Surprise Valentines For My Co-workers

My wife and I brought in a surprise basket full of Valentine's goodies for my co-workers today: some chocolates, a cold coffee, and a nice card. I appreciate them more than they know and my wife and I wanted to do something sweet for the two of them, one of whom was upset she would be without a Valentine this year as she and her significant other ended a long-standing relationship. They were over the moon and it made my day to spoil the two of them :)

'tis The Season :)

I sent another two packages to my friend in Ukraine. They have both arrived, including one that the USPS erroneously sent on a holiday across the UK (glad that one, which was classified as "missing" for several months, finally arrived!). The packages had more warm socks, sweets and treats, several other special requests that otherwise cannot be found in Ukraine, and a box of funfetti cake mix and a tub of sweet, sweet funfetti icing :) his daughter had a birthday recently and the cupcakes and special requests were most welcomed. United24, the official fundraising platform launched by President Zelenskyy, started a new fundraiser for Christmas: their goal of $1,000,000 USD is to purchase generators for schools so the children may study with light and heat (https://u24.gov.ua/bring-light-back). Happily donated, and sent the link on to many others, encouraging them to contribute as well. A non-profit is collecting funds to provide Christmas gifts to ... Read Full Story >>

Surprise Birthday Present For A Little Patient

I have a patient that just turned four, so I got him a balloon that says "Happy Birthday!" and a Spiderman birthday card (he loves Spiderman and baseball) for all of us in the clinic to sign for him.

The card even came with a Spiderman bracelet, he was so excited when he came in yesterday for this little surprise! He gave us all a great big hug 

Purchased A Meal For A Stranger Today

I called the wifey on my way home from work and asked her if she would like a sweet treat. I was in the drive thru to get her a chic-fil-a chocolate milkshake when the driver of the car in front of me got out of her vehicle and approached mine. She had already been in-and-out of her car, looking for something, when she told me she had lost her wallet.

She was older and seemed panicked, and she told me she was hot and needed to take her medicine (the feels-like temperature here is 101F, or 38C). I got her a sandwich meal with a lemonade and slipped a smile card into the bag of food :)

Drove Almost 300 Miles

Drove almost 300 miles (a little under 500km) to have breakfast at Lviv Croissant's first location here in the States. The food was delicious and the staff was extremely kind and friendly.

I looked at the menu beforehand but completely forgot what I wanted to order because I was so excited to finally be there LOL so I asked the staff what was tasty and said "yes" to the first thing they said.

I brought some of Mindy's Peace Doves for the staff and a bouquet of sunflowers as a gift to the restaurant -- a Ukrainian establishment deserves to have sunflowers brightly shining like the indomitable and unwavering Ukrainian spirit!

The Ukrainian staff helped me practice some of the Ukrainian I have learned and were delighted to take a photo with me and the flag my friend in southern Ukraine sent me :)

Слава Україні!

Another Donation To Ukraine :)

Donated to Ukraine. They have launched another fundraiser to commemorate their (nearly) 124 million donations to their United24 platform.

Some of the many accomplishments completed, thanks to generous donors from all over the world, include 4 rebuilt schools equipped with bomb shelters, 18 apartment buildings currently under re-construction in the Kyiv region, 18 rebuilt bridges, and many, many more active projects.

More information on this current project can be found here: https://u24.gov.ua/124_millionth_donor

"Give for the sake of giving -- love for the sake of loving".

Слава Україні :)

Protected A Feathered Friend And Made A Donation

Went on a walk around the neighborhood yesterday before it got too warm for the dog and the baby. As we passed a small tree a Barn Swallow fledgling flew out from the grass and into the road. I walked out into the road to coax it back into the grass. After we circled back and passed that same spot it was still safely in the grass under the watchful eyes of its parents :) Many fledglings are right now figuring it out, and their parents are still watching and teaching their babies, this one just needed a little more encouragement.

Made a donation to Ukraine. Their official fundraising platform, United24, is still looking for their 124 millionth donation. More information about this specific fundraiser can be found here: (https://u24.gov.ua/124_millionth_donor)

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

― Mahatma Gandhi
 

Sponsored And Played In Golf Tournament

Sponsored and played in a golf tournament yesterday where the proceeds go to a local church in their mission to help needy students in the area, as well as their mission trip and partner village in Uganda, so those folks can continue to learn and thrive. Everyone had a blast, the weather was perfect, and I'm looking forward to the same event next year!

There's A Tradition Of Rubber Ducky

There's a tradition where Jeep owners leave a rubber ducky on each other's door handles to then display on their dashboard. I don't have a Jeep, but I have a lot of rubber duckies -- my graduating class in grad school got in trouble for leaving ducks all over our campus lol

I have a neighbor with a Jeep that is now all decked out in decorations for the holidays, so I left them a festive duck to add to their collection :)

Made Another Donation To Ukraine :)

Made another donation to Ukraine. This is a cause that has become very dear to me, and I will continue to support Ukraine through every phase of her ongoing efforts to defend her country and her people.

I am not Ukrainian, nor of that heritage, but had some friends and teammates in college that were Ukrainian. I've learned how kind, hardworking, and proud the people of Ukraine really are -- their strength and perseverance is truly inspirational.

Слава Україні! Героям слава!

Lego In Ukraine

I have been hyper-focused on Ukraine lately. Another project was recently started where United24 partnered with Lego, this time to raise more funds for the Velykokostromska School in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

With a donation of at least $24 USD folks can win a raffle of one of five unique, Ukrainian-inspired Lego sets. I happily donated and told my Ukrainian friend that if I am lucky enough to win then I will make sure the Lego set ends up in his hands. He and his wife love Lego, and I believe the set belongs in Ukraine :)

More information can be found here: https://u24.gov.ua/ukraineinlegobricks

"Love for the sake of loving -- give for the sake of giving".

Слава Україні назавжди <3

Once A Lifeguard, Always A Lifeguard. Saved A Life Yesterday!

Saved a life yesterday :)

I was relaxing at the apartment complex's pool yesterday evening when I saw something small swimming across the water. I got up and walked to the edge of the pool and noticed it was a chipmunk. I'm not sure how it got in the pool, but with no easy way out it surely would've drowned. With no basket nearby to fish it out I simply reached after it, gently grabbed it around the waist, and set it on the pool deck. The little thing was soaked, but scurried off away from the pool.

I was a lifeguard for quite a few years in high school and college, and now I can add 'chipmunk' to my list of beings I've pulled out of the water :)

Appreciation With Flowers And Notes:)

Sent old notes and study sets to a colleague's daughter who is about to start the same program I went through. In four years she will be an incredible doctor and help many souls.

Called a classmate whom I had not heard from in a while and had a great conversation, we're now all caught up from the past few months.

Sent flowers to a patient in the hospital that had an emergency surgery following complications to a routine procedure last week.

Encouraged others on a forum to donate to Ukrainian efforts to de-mine their beautiful country <3

Coffee, Tea, And A Generous Tip

Got coffees and a tea for my coworkers today. I didn't have any smaller bills to leave as a tip for the baristas, so I left a larger bill. My coworkers and baristas in the coffee shop all work hard and they are all very much appreciated. :)

Received A Lovely Package

Received a lovely package full of peace doves from Mindy! :D

They're beautiful and I'm beyond excited to share them with any and all, especially my new Ukrainian friend Igor. The sunflower print doves are my favorite.

I'm honored to be a part of Mindy's hundreds of thousands of peace doves, each one delicately crafted with love :)

Donating For The Children's Hospital In Ukraine

Two days ago, Monday 8 July, Russia bombed the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine. Suffering a direct hit, the surgery and oncology departments were completely destroyed. Four children and two adults, including a 30 year old pediatric nephrologist, were killed in the attack.

Within hours United24, the official fundraising platform for the government of Ukraine, started a new fundraiser for the hospital. With an initial goal of $250,000 USD the campaign has far surpassed its own goals, and has now raised over $500,000 USD.

Right after receiving the email about the fundraiser I made a donation. More information can be found here: https://donorbox.org/okhmatdyt

Any donation helps and makes a tremendous impact towards the care of these children. Even sharing the story and creating awareness makes a huge difference.

Разом ми сильні <3

Friday Morning Hot Chocolate For Co-workers

Brought a cup of hot chocolate for my coworkers this morning. It wasn't as cold outside this morning as it has been, but it warmed up everybody and they loved it! The woman in the drive-thru wondered why I was ordering six hot chocolates, but thought the gesture was lovely :)

Donating to Greyhound Rescue On My Dog's 2nd Birthday

Today is my dog's 2nd birthday, so I donated to my favorite charity (as per her request). Molly is a greyhound and while she was fortunate to never have been forced to race, the overwhelming majority of dogs of her breed are not as lucky.

Greyhound Rescue in Australia has rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed greyhounds, so they can live the life they deserve, as the world's fastest couch potatoes. Here is their website for anyone interested in learning more about the amazing work these people do: https://greyhoundrescue.com.au/

As per the photo tax, here's a picture of the birthday girl doing what she does best :)

Sent Another Care Package To My Friend In Ukraine :)

Sent another care package to my friend in Ukraine. I heard from him this morning that he finally received it -- the package was held up in customs, probably because of the 1.5 kilos of chocolate I included lol

There are candies and snacks, another Lego set, some CD's of his favorite genre of music, and some other goodies, none of which he and his family can easily acquire in Ukraine. I cannot think of a better way to start my weekend than reading he finally received it and reading about the delight of he and his family with the package's contents :)

Brought Fresh Cookies To My Barber

Got my hair cut today and took some fresh baked, homemade chocolate chips cookies for the woman that I go to. She was quite surprised but over the moon. As usual we had a blast and the conversation was riveting. I joked at the end that she missed a spot so we could keep chatting :)

A Weekend Full Of Kindness

A member of a greyound group I'm a part of posted that she unexpectedly lost her hound during a routine dental procedure last week. I'm shocked and gutted to say the least, and that's nothing compared to what she is experiencing. To honor her pup I made a donation to the amazing folks at Greyhound Rescue Australia -- they're wonderful people that do incredible work with rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing greyhounds from the race tracks, so they may live the couch-potato lives they deserve. Got another package in the mail to Ukraine for my friend 'i'. Packed with special gifts I got for her and his family while I was in Hawaii earlier this month. Unfortunately the box was not large enough, but that means I can get another one in the mail soon with more goodies and special requests :) Sent words of encouragement, affirmation, and love to a family member ... Read Full Story >>

❤️ Kindness Serendipity…..