I moved to Florida from Ohio in 1995. Soon after arriving here, I developed what I thought was a cold, but the cough lingered on calling for a visit to my doctor. I was told I had allergies and was ordered Claritin with no success. I was then tested by an allergist and placed on Allegra still no success. I was then placed on Zyrtec. The cough continued in spite of clear, negative chest X-rays.

At work my co-workers kept saying that cough sound good, Respiratory Therapists said I sounded like I needed a breathing treatment, and my husband could not hear the TV because of my coughing.

I was desperate for relief of the cough. Then one day a friend told me she didn’t cough any more and referred me to Debra Gaffney.

I called Debra Gaffney and my first appointment was May 12, 2004 it is now June 29, 2004 my cough started decreasing from the first visit.

Today I played 18 holes of golf with not one coughing episode. The side benefits of acupuncture are also great.

My days of buying allergy medicines are gone-with acupuncture by Debra Gaffney I don’t need them.

Thanks Debra

L. P.

As you know my daughter and I haven’t been able to eat many, many foods, due to food allergies, for the past 5 years. We no longer ate out, as it was such a chore to find food we could eat. After going through your acupuncture process for food allergies, life is wonderful!
We can eat everything!
God Bless and Thank You
Sincerely,
E. M.
P. S. There is one drawback, we're gaining weight!

Like so many others who suffer from fibromyalgia, I have searched for help via every avenue offered throughout conventional Western medicine. Searching and researching, in hopes to obtaining relief from the chronic and oftentimes debilitating symptoms, I heard about the services provided by Debra Pardee Gaffney, whom her associates, friends, other clients and I refer to as Rusty. At that time I was dysfunctional, depressed and drugged.

At age 67, in March 2001, I had my first appointment with Rusty. After computerized diagnostic testing of things that my body (immune system) was allergic or sensitive to, she identified them and began allergy elimination treatments. Via acupuncture, my nervous system was reprogrammed to stop identifying (reacting to) certain substances as allergies. What an amazing experience!

Subsequently I became very confident in this “new” method of treatment. Pain began to subside. With relief of pain, and management of stress my muscles began to relax, I am remarkably improved. I might add that I know of one friend and three close relatives who have been treated by Rusty. I was referred the others. To my knowledge, we are all still receiving treatment from Rusty for our needs and each of us has our own story to tell.

Because of Rusty’s knowledge and her expertise in administering the treatments, I have regained a long-lost sense of well-being and hopefulness. My body (immune system) is becoming well balanced because of the complementary treatments I have tried to describe. Along with taking Chinese herbs and natural “Rescue” remedies, plus receiving lifestyle and nutritional counseling, my total health has changed dramatically.

Perhaps a description of fibromyalgia will help you understand my gratefulness to Rusty. The condition is a chronic disorder characterized by long-term and widespread achy pain, multiple tender points and stiffness in muscles, tendons and ligaments. Fatigue, headaches, numbness and an out-of-balance immune system are other common symptoms. Physical and mental stress, depression and inadequate sleep trigger the symptoms. The cause is unknown and there is no known cure.

Close to “no known cure”, however, is the relief of pain and anxiety, which accompanies my particular condition. It has been an unwelcome (and unwanted) part of my life for close to forty years. It is difficult to be on addictive drugs, and worse yet, to feel no different except for the side effects.

From experience I can tell you that this form of acupuncture works! Throughout my treatments I have been in a more relaxed state of mind, my pains have decreased, my energy level has increased and my over-all state of health and quality-of-life has greatly improved.

Lastly, I am totally convinced that you also could reap the benefits I have received. If you have an illness or ailment of any kind, at any age, I highly recommend that you travel this “age-old” road to brand new health.

Respectfully,
M. S.

I would like to thank you for all your time. You helped me a lot with my senior project. I’m glad to choose you to be my mentor because I do not think any other place would have been so fund and understanding. I also have to say you are one of the nicest people I know. So, I would like to thank you once more for all that you have done for me.

Thank You so much!
C. N.

When I started going to Rusty I already had a herniated disc and a pinched sciatic nerve from an injury in 1990. I was able to get myself out of my pain & depression on my own by coming up with my own pain management routine. For several years it was necessary for me to be home caring for our youngest son Devon, who has special needs, but finally in September of 2002 I was able to go back to work part-time. I really enjoy my job, but after 8 months in May of 2003, I had an accident at work and I lost everything good I’d gained at my new job. After finally making new friends, getting back my self-esteem and a good attitude about life. It was gone.
I was dismissed by 2 doctors who said they could no longer help me for my injuries. Another doctor wanted to do facet injections followed by Radio Frequency Lesion (meaning cauterizing the nerve endings causing the pain). This procedure did not seem like the way I wanted my pain to be treated. Over the years I have built up a high tolerance to pain and I build up a tolerance to pain medication very quickly making them ineffective…even very strong ones.
Over the past 8 months the pain has escalated and so has my depression. They got so bad that I just wanted to go to sleep & never wake up. I would try to drown these thoughts out of my head by listening to music very loud & multi-tasking so that I would not focus on the pain or ill thoughts. I could not or would not go to sleep at night because it meant waking up to face another day of pain and depression…nor was I very pleasant to be around.
My pain has been so bad at times that I could not focus on doing simple tasks or even talking to people. I could not be father or Mr. Mom to my 13 yr old son or my 8 yr old special needs son.
Searching for some relief from the pain, I changed my diet, taught myself and my wife Myotherapy – a form of acupressure & I used my inversion table when I was able. I started taking herbal supplements & using breathing & visualization meditation. And still all of this was not enough to escape the pain that has manifested in my body for the past 8 months.
Just when I thought nobody could or was willing to help me in relieving my pain, I was let to Rusty by fate. She really listened to my concerns and complaints of the pain throughout my body. Finally, I found someone who is willing to go the extra mile to help me. I have not been to anyone who is so committed in helping others & healing them until I started acupuncture treatments with Rusty & her staff.
In the past, most doctors & office staff treated me like a number…or just another warm body. Hurry up & wait to get me in & wait to see the doctor who only spent 5 minutes with me anyway, barely focusing on what I tried to tell them. And then after all the stress of being made to wait ridiculous amounts of time while the pain builds up the doctor rushes you out before you even realize you’ve been seen.
I actually look forward to seeing Rusty & her staff her acupuncture. NO stress in the waiting room…no hurry up…hurry up.
My family & I are so grateful for the compassion & the pain relief. I’m still a work in progress…but at least I know have hope. In my eyes, Rusty & her staff are truly a ray of light that shines through my pain & suffering. She’s renewed my faith & given me hope.
Thank you,
J. V.

When I first walked in, I was a little scared. I started to relax as Mrs. Gaffney talked to me. Besides, I have seen this procedure done hundreds of times. I have heard from many that it was effective and felt no pain.
She sat me down and had me answer a whole bunch of questions. I was receiving acupuncture “for my migraine headaches. I get them everyday,” I told her. Some of the questions she asked me were, “what kinds of food do you eat?” How do you feel right now?” she added.
Then she had me take off my shoes and lay down on the bed. She said “Relax.” So, I laid there. She took twelve pulses in my wrist, she said,” Your stomach and liver pulse are very weak.” That means I do get headaches a lot. I also need to eat more often. She told me that since my liver pulse was weak I would have irregular periods. Everything she told me was true.
She started by placing the needle in the center of my forehead. She said, “it gets the qi flowing.” She placed two needles in my left ear, one in the left hand, one under my left knee, one in my left foot, then one in my right foot, the last one she put in was in my right hand. She placed the needles in me in this order from left to right side. I had a total of eight needles in my body.
Out of the eight needles, only one hurt me. It was the one in my left hand. She said, “You are probably trying to catch a cold, and that’s why it hurt.” She kindly took the needle out.
At the end of the twenty minutes, I was totally relaxed and could have fell asleep. She took out the needles and told me I was ready to go.
Just since my first treatment, I have not had one headache. I am going back for more.
C. N.

This letter is long overdue but better late than never. I would like to write our story so you can share it with others as a testimony of how much your methods work. Miguel who was 5 when we started had severe food allergies. He was born 5 weeks early. He had a lot of respiratory complications and had to spend 9 days in the NICU. Through his first year, he slept 18-20 hours a day. He just couldn’t get enough oxygen and was exhausted all the time. He had many colds, which would turn into Pneumonia, Bronchitis or Brinquialitis. We spent many days at the doctor’s office and in the hospital. This continued till he was about two and a half. I began researching and discovered that I could help my son (and myself because I too developed many health problems due to 4 pregnancies in 4 and half years) through nutrition. We slowly got rid of animal products and sugar out of our diet. We saw a tremendous change. Miguel has never had any respiratory problems other than normal colds again. However, on the spring of his fifth year he began a continuous runny nose. It lasted through the summer. I became concerned because these months were the healthiest months of the year for all of us. The drainage was clear but continuous until nighttime. When we checked him in the middle of the night his nose would be completely clear. After much research, we found out about Dr. Gaffney and her acupuncture methods to deal with allergies. Almost six months of a continuous runny nose and Rusty was able to find that he (and I) has severe food allergies. His digestive system became so sensitive that all foods seemed to trigger and allergic reaction. We began the treatments and in only three months I saw a big change in my health. Miguel took five months and I often got discouraged. I could go on with the details but the result has been wonderful. Miguel is now a vibrant, energetic child. He needs less sleep and best of all he has a clear nose. He finally looks healthy all the time. Dr. John Gaffney was able to help him and me with chiropractic work. When we weren’t sure what to do next, John could quickly show us on Miguel’s back that his problem was digestive. This helped me to hand on during the doubting times. My victory from the treatments includes no more yeast infections, frequent colds, headaches, severe PMS, eczema and a lot more energy. The lack of energy was my biggest complaint. I also have gained 7 pounds. When I started the treatments I had to stuff myself to weigh only 95 pounds. What can I say Dr's. Gaffney, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. May God bless you both.
Sincerely,
E. T.

I came to see Rusty if acupuncture could help me overcome my symptoms of post polio syndrome. My biggest complains were overwhelming fatigue and stress as well as loss of muscle strength. Generally, I just did not have a sense of well-being. After a couple treatments there was a big improvement in the fatigue and soon improvement with the stress also. I started doing motion exercises and was surprised to see the return of enough muscle strength that I can now transfer from my wheelchair into bed and back into my wheelchair by myself, which I hadn’t been able to do for the last 7 years.

During this last year, I had started wearing a back support because there were days when I could hardly sit up. My worst fear were that I would have to have surgery to implant a steel rod in my back to enable me to sit up, but I have been able to get enough muscle strength back that I don’t even need to wear the back support now.

Rusty suggested that I take the sensitivity computer test, which showed sensitive to my number of substances. She is treating those sensitivities to complete her concern for my total health.

While I still have an occasional problem with stress, Rusty has started me on supplements that I believe will be of further help. I am grateful for holistic approach Rusty takes to the physical and emotional health of her patients. I look forward to seeing even more positive results from the use of the supplements she prescribed and continued exercise.

LK

I am a survivor of a 103 SURGICAL PROCEEDURES, many of them due to a rare, neurological and very painful disease. The most success I have had trying to reduce the level of pain to a bearable amount has been with acupuncture. I am mow able to sleep more hours per night and am thankful to Dr. Debra Gaffney and her expertise. For me, acupuncture works.

Rusty,
You helped me so, so much! And it is holding!! The largest improvement is regarding the fatigue and hurt all over all the time. My energy is back, now that everything I was eating and touching is no longer adversely effecting me. This is huge! I will be coming to see you very soon for ‘upkeep’ and we can catch up on person then. I recommend you all the time (lead a horse to water…You know!!) and am still planning on a special meeting. Part of my healing time, was to actually take time, for myself for a while. So aside from caring for family members and the occasional Reiki attunement, work a Life Basics, for the first time ever.. I have been doing that! Time for me has helped too! Soon though, I feel my core has been nurtured and replenished and I will be ready to do an easy extra or two.. and we will get the word out to others.
Grandpa has had several surgeries and Grandma a heart attack, but they are through this at home and doing well for 85! I do what I can, my favorite thing is to make them dinner and let them tell those stories and listen like I have not heard them 300 times already!! It is the little things, it really is! Love It!
Hmm, Rusty, they say there are Earth Angles among us, if this is true, then I would say, I’ve meet the real thing in You! See you in a week or so! Look very forward to it!

Shelly

S.M.B.

Dear Dr. Rusty,

Having Rheumatoid Arthritis for ten years, with frequent flair-ups that ended up with severe pain and swelling, multiple medicines along with steroids I had felt that there was no hope to lead a normal life.

Within two hours of my first session of acupuncture the pain throughout my body had subsided. For the first time in a few years I had hope to lead a normal and healthy life. With every treatment for my food allergies I see a considerable difference in the way I feel. Life is great!!

Thank you for caring.
Sincerely, J. P.

I am grateful for Dr. Rusty's insight, understanding and compassion.

I cherish the rapport and unwavering committment to me in my quest for alternative treatments.

Multiple Sclorosis creates many mental and physical challenges in my life. The relationship Dr. Rusty fosters heals more than the disease; it heals my soul.

I. D.

Dear Dr. Rusty,

Thank you so much for the excellent care you've taken of Steven. Your kindness and gentleness are unmatched! It's been amazing to see that frightened boy who first came to you change to a more relaxed and confident young man.

I definitely have seen an improvement in Steven's immune system. By this time of year he's usually had at least two major colds/infections which only went away with antibiotics. I am happy to report that he has not even had one cold or even needed his Zyrtec since his first treatment. What an accomplishment!

I look forward to more improvements in the future as well. Thank you, thank you!

Sincerely, S.S.

Dr. Rusty,

Thank you so much for everything you've done, I was afraid at first but you helped me not to be so afraid. Thank you! I hope you enjoy the gift. It could go with all the other decorations in your office.

Sincerely, Steve