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Show Chiropractic treatment successful Als op works magic on Tongan f amilv By MARK EDDINGTON Staff Writer BOUNTIFUL When the Rev. Sione Alo Fakahua complained complain-ed of experiencing dizziness and periodic blackouts to a friend at an interfaith ministerial last year, little did he know his physical ailment was treatable and would result in uniting four generations of his fami- But that's exactly what happened. happen-ed. Fakahua's friend was a fellov-Tongan fellov-Tongan and Mormon bishop who had received help from Bountiful chiropractor Dr. Rodney Alsop when he was experiencing difficulties using his left leg. Under Alsop's care, he had made marked improvement and he advised Fakahua he might also benefit from chiropractic treatment. An ordained minister, Fakahua and his wife 'Eveline came to Salt Lake City from Tonga nearly 10 years ago to minister to the Tongan United Methodist community. As minister of the newly-founded First Tongan Methodist Church, Fakahua's found his dizzy spells were interfering with his ability to serve his congregation. But that was before he began chiropractic chi-ropractic therapy. Alsop was able to trace the source of his patient's problem to the neck area. "He apparently had pressure on the nerves in his neck. He had several accidents when he was younger and it had hurt his neck," Alsop explained. "When you get that kind of twisting, it pinches the nerves that go up into the head and interferes with the blood circulation that's necessary to keep the inner ear and the equilibrium correct." In addition to adjusting the patient's neck and spine, AJsop's weekly regimen included a change in diet that both Sione and 'Eveline followed religiously. The results were impressive Sione lost 35 pounds and his wife lost 27 and so was the improvement in Sione's condition. Within two months, he was able to complete a 2,500 mile trip in his car, a feat he scarcely thought possible before. Now, seven months into his treatment, the lightheadedness light-headedness is gone and he is able to cackle his ministerial duties with renewed vigor. Chiropractic is not a household word in Tonga, but it definitely has become a family affair with the Fak 'huas. Sione's 82-year-old mother, Siu 'Ufi, was staying with tz) stives in Seattle when she heard or i'xt son's treatment and decided to come to Utah for a visit. And when Sione's son-in-law and daughter, United Church Revs. Stephen and Mele Koloa Ratcliffe, and their children, James and Jasmine, stopped by while on a around-the-world religious sabbatical sab-batical from Australia, a full-scale family reunion ensued, it was the first such reunion on American soil. With the exception of the children, Alsop treated all of them: 'Eveline for a sore back, Siu 'Ufi for stiffness and soreness, Stephen for back pain, and Mele for headaches. "Since I began treatment I have a new feeling about life. I don't have the words to express the gratitude my family has in their hearts for the work the doctor is doing for God's people," Sione told the Clipper in a recent letter. Alsop, a licensed chiropractor with 41 years' experience in Bountiful Boun-tiful and Salt Lake City, has seen a lot and helped ease the pain of many patients. But he never thought his practice would serve as an impetus to bring together family members living in so many disparate parts of the globe. Fakahua is going back to Tonga in April to report on his ministry. He and his wife are applying for American citizenship and are hoping hop-ing for reassignment here so that the treatments with Alsop can continue. ' ; 1 , - f I fc. ' -1 I 4 - - - I ' r r ; i f ft I it - ' i . , I - - . i A i Bountiful chiropractor Dr. Rodney Alsop make some spinal adjustments on Tc ,; . Methodist Church Rev. Sione Alo Fakahua. The ordained minister came to Alsop ne?- t -n months ago, suffering from dizziness that he said was interfering with his ability to se. v? nis congregation. congrega-tion. He credits Alsop for healing him and helping bring together four generations of his family on American soil. if ' -v ' i 1 " 1 "'sX ! .. r fla A f t ' . i i ' 3 Dr. Rodney Alsop poses with four generations of the Fakahua family. From left to right: Dr. Rodney Alsop, Rev. Sione Alo Fakahua and his wife, 'Eveline; Sione's mother, Siu 'Ufi, and son-in-law and daughter, Revs. Stephen and Mele Koloa Ratcliffe; and their two ;ldren, James ?nd Jas:ne. |