In the summer of 2006, Don was invited by his longtime friends and fellow sports therapists, Jim and Phil Wharton, to join them in Eugene Oregon. The purpose of the trip was to provide sports therapy for Jim & Phil’s client athletes competing in the Track and Field U.S. Olympic Trials.
Jim and Phil are two amazing athletes and gifted therapists. To learn more about their lives and business, please visit WhartonHealth.com.
In addition to his hands-on sports therapy skills, Don brought his knowledge of Herbal Salves, Microlief Microcurrent Therapy and Poultice Therapy to Eugene, OR.
One of the client athletes was the young and upcoming, Lopez Lomong.
Lopez’s goal was to qualify for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team competing in the 1500 meters event.
As one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Lopez had overcome huge challenges in his life to get into these Olympic Trials. To learn more about Lopez and his incredible life journey, please visit LopezLomong.com.
That week everything was going great. Lopez passed the first and second Qualifiers. Friday morning after the second Qualifier, Lopez received his post-event sports therapy treatment. As he was getting off the massage table, Lopez took a misstep and strained the muscles and tendons of his ankle!
To make the team, Lopez had to recover from this acute injury, and run, and place among the top three in the Finals on Sunday morning.
With the Finals less than 48 hours away, Lopez’s coaches could not give him any anti-inflammatory medication. They were at a loss on what to do for Lopez.
Jim Wharton stepped up and suggested that Don be allowed to treat Lopez with his salves, microcurrent and poultice. Initially, the coaches said “No, we don’t know what this stuff is”. Jim’s reply was, “if you do nothing, all is lost. Don knows what he is doing, let him try and give Lopez the chance to recover and compete”.
Friday morning Don, Lopez, Jim, and Phil went to work on Lopez’s recovery.
First, Jim and Phil did specific, Active Isolated Stretching Therapy with Lopez. Next, Don applied a combination of Muscle Salve, Microlief Microcurrent Therapy, and Poultice to the injured area. Lopez returned to his room with instructions to rest, stay off the ankle, and return in the early evening for additional treatments.
Friday evening, the injury was less acute. Jim and Phil performed more Active Isolated Stretching Therapy. Don reapplied the Muscle Salve, Microlief Microcurrent Therapy and Poultice. Lopez was instructed to continue resting and return Saturday morning for more therapy.
Saturday morning, Lopez reported that the injury was feeling better. Jim, Phil & Don repeated their work with Lopez. When Lopez returned on Saturday evening for treatment, the injury was significantly improved. Once again, Jim and Phil performed Active Isolated Stretching Therapy and Don applied Muscle Salve, Microlief Microcurrent Therapy and Poultice.
Sunday morning, Lopez declared that he felt sound enough to compete. And so, he did! Lopez finished third in the Finals and secured his spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team!
The coaches were ecstatic! Jim, Phil & Don were their new best friends!
Everyone felt privileged and blessed to be a part of Lopez’s victory. Lopez was the American flag bearer for the United States during the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Beijing, China.
Well done, Lopez!