COVER LEADERSHIP Above and beyond T Get to know some of Canada’s most inspiring chiropractors by mari -len de guzman Karting champ Jayden Elphage with Dr. Carole Smith MARI-LEN DE GUZMAN is the editor of Canadian Chiropractor magazine. She has worked in media for more than 15 years and has been editor of several business and professional publications. Contact her at [email protected]. 18 Canadian Chiropractor April 2016 www.canadianchiropractor.ca Photo credit: Mari-Len De Guzman he best way to explain how a bag-pipe-playing DC from Oakville, Ont., became one of Canada’s most inspir-ing chiropractors is to tell the story of 11-year-old Jayden Elphage. Jayden was born prematurely at 27 weeks weighing only two pounds. By the time he was four years old, Jayden had already been diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy and G6PDD, had undergone brain surgery for a coch-lear implant, and was wearing braces on both legs. Jayden’s parents met Dr. Carole Smith, chiroprac-tor and clinic director at Your Health Wellness Centre in Oakville, Ont., in 2014. Living with his conditions, Jayden was not able to engage in many activities or sports – until he INSPIRED BY discovered kart racing. His parents took him to the JAYDEN? track one day to try it out and they knew right away their son had finally found a place where he could Find out more fit in. They decided then they would do everything about Jayden in their power to support Jayden’s newfound pas-and his team of sion. Entering his first season, with no previous outstanding kart karting experience and going up against “regular racers through kids,” Jayden placed 27th out of 147 racers. In his his team website second season, he was second place in his series. fastmyles.com Last year, Jayden was the youth champion in the 2015 Canadian Rookie Karting Championship Series, ahead of at least 37 other kids. Karting is one of the rare moments when Jayden can be just another “regular kid” – albeit, with excellent driving skills. So his parents had naturally #1 wanted him to continue racing, but it comes with great expense. Smith, Jayden’s chiropractor, knew this and decided to do something about it. “It was something that Jayden could really shine in,” Smith notes. In October 2015, Smith and her colleagues at the clinic organized Jayden’s Joyride, a 5-km run fund-raising event to support Jayden’s karting dreams. With support from the Oakville community, Jayden’s Joyride raised $7,000. Smith says they plan to make this an annual event. With an undergraduate degree in psychology prior to attending CMCC, Smith has always had an interest in special needs children and women’s health. She is a trained doula, certified in Webster Technique, and has completed continuing educa-tion courses with the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. It is evident her passions have made an impact on her patients – particularly on Jayden’s quality of life. Jayden lives with pain every day, according to Rehana Elphage, Jayden’s mother. Although he does not allow his pain to overcome him, Jayden still gets frustrated at times. “Dr. Carole and Leah [massage therapist] are doing their best to help Jayden. I don’t think that he will ever be pain-free but at least now he has less pain.” Smith says there is a lot chiropractic can offer in caring for kids with autism. Toe walking, for in-stance, is common in children with autism. Chiro-practic can help with gait assessment and address joint restrictions and muscle tightness that can result from toe walking. They could also be experiencing neck and back
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