Blind Man Suddenly Sees Again
by Katie Wiedemann, Reporter
By
Katie Wiedemann
Story Created:
Jan 11, 2008
Story Updated:
Jan 12, 2008
DUBUQUE - Doctors aren't quite sure how it happened, but a Dubuque man can see clearly after being blind in one eye for more than a decade.
It happened after a trip to the chiropractor.
Twelve years ago Doug Harkey's left eye suddenly stopped working. "I woke up one day and I didn't have vision in one eye."
And as quickly as he lost sight, he got it back.
Harkey said, "he just did his normal adjustment and, voila!
After a routine visit to Chiropractor Tim Stackis, Harkey says a miracle happened.
"My blind eye starting watering after I left there and it watered for 45 minutes straight. It started making my good eye water. I went to wipe my right eye and I could see out my left again."
Doctor Stackis said the bones in the Harkey's neck were out of alignment.
Stackis said, "That interferes with the messages and energy the brain sends down to the rest of the body."
Harkey now has the depth perception he'd been missing, just what he needs as he's about to walk down the aisle with his fiancée next month.
Harkey’s Fiancée, Gina Connolly said, "I'm not use to him not running into things or stepping on our feet."
Doctor Stackis and Harkey were both surprised by what happened.
Harkey said, "He has miracle hands, I guess."
Was it a miracle? Harkey’s not sure how to explain it, he’s just glad it happened.
Harkey says his eye doctor says with the help of corrective lenses he will be able to almost perfectly out of both eyes.
Sunday, Apr 27 at 12:56 AM Gary L. Green, D.C. wrote ...
I've adjusted a number of women who were only able to conceive after chiropractic treatment. There are children alive today that would have never been born if not for chiropractic. I see plenty of people who have been through the medical mill. At the end they are worse off than when they began. I've been able to help most of them get better. Always remember: CHIROPRACTIC FIRST!
Flag for moderationTuesday, Apr 8 at 9:58 AM Dr. Jerry M. Mendez wrote ...
A Dr. Q once told me while going through chiropractic school. He said, "Anything anywhere can cause anything so don't be surprised". He obviously was talking about the spine since and how a low back adjustment can help a headache or a neck adjustment helping lowback pain. Even though chiropractic is much bigger then LBP and HA this is a great example of how an adjustment can restore hearing, vision or any other function in the body that is controlled by the nervous system which is everything.
Flag for moderationMonday, Mar 17 at 2:40 PM Dr Wolverton, DC wrote ...
Danny, the man's dx was retinitis pigmentosa. I highly recommend you see a Chiropractor. It may not help in your case but it certainly won't hinder. God bless.
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 29 at 11:27 AM ChiroMan5000 wrote ...
What a great story! While we don't see "I can see!" miracles everyday, we do see alot of skeptical patients turn 180 degrees in their acceptance of chiropractic after seeing the results of care in their own lives. Some of my best patients were once skeptics. I relish with those that have found and accepted chiropractic and have had their lives improved. I feel sorry for those that refuse to try for no better reason than "I don't believe."
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 28 at 9:55 PM DR RUSS TANNENBAUM wrote ...
I HAVE BEEN A CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN FOR OVER TWENTY FIVE YEARS. THIS STORY IS ONE OF MANY WE WILL SEE AS THE GREATEST HEALING PROFESSION THE HUMAN RACE HAS EVER EXPERIENCED AND ENJOYED! DR. T
Flag for moderationSaturday, Jan 26 at 11:02 AM Danny wrote ...
What was the medical diagnosis for the blindness? I didn't fully appreciate the end result. Would the patient please respond? I'm anxious to receive; I have impaired vision in left eye. Thank you
Flag for moderationWednesday, Jan 23 at 2:22 PM James wrote ...
They have proven that 6% of the world's population can bring about change that will affect the rest of the world. For all of you who tried to write comments to the one or two negative people, please don't waste your time. Einstein said, "There are two ways of looking at life- One as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as if every thing is a miracle." Miracles happen every day by committed people to mankind. To the skeptics...nothing ever will be good enough.
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 22 at 7:40 PM sylvia wrote ...
GREAT
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 22 at 7:10 PM TM wrote ...
TS, while the cranial nerves are responsible for the sensation and motion of the eye it also has autonomic innervation responsible for regulating its blood supply (among other things) which comes from ganglion in the cervical region.
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 22 at 7:07 PM The Truth wrote ...
the body always heals it's self. anyone claiming to 'heal' anyone else is overgeneralizing the care. it's a simple matter of stress V.s. capasity. if yur system is burdened with physical mental chemicle or thermal stress, it cant effectivly heal it's self. thats where help comes in. thay may be a chiropractor, an herb, a good noght of sleep or Odin or any thing else you put your faith in. the guy got better, that's what matters. "a sceptic is rarely as sick of the world as the world is of them"
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 21 at 9:56 AM Jeremy Ste. Marie, DC wrote ...
If you understand neurology, it's not that far of a stretch to see how the miracle could have happened. It's just that doctors sometimes compartmentalize patients, whereas the nerve pathways of the body affect every cell and tissue in it. My brother graduated from BU with Biology degree. He came home after reading about neurology and said, "Ah, I finally see what you do!" That's why our profession has received more respect from neurologists than orthopedists. It's a nerve thing,not bone.
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 20 at 9:46 PM Lydia wrote ...
Over 10 years of not being able to see. Over 10 years of searching for a solution. Over 10 years of visiting doctor after doctor. Over 10 years of running into things. Over 10 years of suffering. Over 10 years of wishing to be "normal." Over 10 years of hoping and not giving up that maybe, just maybe one day. Over 10 years of putting up with skeptics and critics. Over 10 years of being told...there is no hope of recovering sight in the eye. Can you see Harvey's joy as he shouts: I CAN SEE! I can
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 20 at 4:37 PM Peggy Daugherty ND CMT wrote ...
The body is a self healing--amazing bio-mechanism that responds to proper therapies/nutrition/stress management and all other factors needed for human life. I love to hear of reversal of a physical challenge. This reminds me of a saying from one of my great teachers, Dr.Bernard Jensen(Chiropractor and Naturopath) "There are no incurable disease, only incurable patients"
Flag for moderationSaturday, Jan 19 at 11:03 PM TS wrote ...
Actually D D Palmer's first adjustment got rid of deafness, not blindness. Either make no sense, since the cranial nerves for the eyes or the ears don't leave the head... Anyway, still great.
Flag for moderationSaturday, Jan 19 at 11:42 AM Dr. Cole wrote ...
Dr M...While I'm glad that you know something about the history of Chiropractic...It was actually Harvey Lillard's hearing that was restored in 1895 and not his vision.
Flag for moderationFriday, Jan 18 at 9:00 PM DrM wrote ...
Congrats to the man who got his vision! By the way chiropractic was discovered in 1895 when a blind man's vision was restored following chiropractic manipulation by D.D.Palmer, the founder of chiropractic medicine.
Flag for moderationFriday, Jan 18 at 8:25 AM Tom Lawlor wrote ...
Good medical doc's understand the value of chiropactic doc's. We can only pray that someday both could work together for the health of us all. I believe both professions are intent to help us be healthy. It appears for profit drug company's are the only real obstacle keeping these two fine profesions from working together. The good thing about capitalism however, for profit insurance company's will figure out the value of these two profesions working together. Good for everyone. Pray they hurry
Flag for moderationThursday, Jan 17 at 8:38 PM amazed wrote ...
That's just wonderful! It's great to hear nice stories like that.
Flag for moderationThursday, Jan 17 at 8:59 AM Dr John wrote ...
Hey Chiro-racket, why dont you wake up on the other side of the bed sometime. positive mental thinking? I bet you were the one who couldnt wait to tell their kids the tooth fairy and Santa Claus werent real either. Unlike those fairy tale characters, Chiropractic doctors are real and here to stay. So instead of trying to make everyone else have a "bad" day and be negative. Try waking up on the other side of the bed and tell yourself, its going to be a great day.
Flag for moderationWednesday, Jan 16 at 5:26 PM Dr. Martin wrote ...
This is a remarkable occurance only to the ignorant or un-informed. People tend to be down on what they are not "up" on. There is at least one nucleus in the brain stem that has connections to the eye and ear as well as to the upper cervical spine. It is very possible that an adjustment of the upper cervical spine could produce those results. The adjustment simply provides a means for normalization of the physiology. The Power that created us is the Power that heals us. It is what It is
Flag for moderationWednesday, Jan 16 at 2:40 PM KYChiro wrote ...
To chiro-racket-skeptic: Yes there are bad chiros; the "racket" is promising or advertising that you can make the blind see (or any other outrageous claim), not treating people with honesty and integrity and celebrating with the patient the occasional "miracle". I've seen several in my 36 years, but mostly we're good for bad backs and necks and headaches - actually, the research says we are the best for those problems, but that doesn't mean we are the 'only', and other doc's may be necessary.
Flag for moderationWednesday, Jan 16 at 9:49 AM wise one wrote ...
I find it funny that people have such strong opinions about healed man. Opposing Chiropractic because you are ignorant solves nothing. I encourage those more experienced to share their stories because it is how we learn but to challenge a debate over a miracle, that will forever change this man's life, seems distasteful. This story is wonderful because it shows we have a huge strength to heal. I believe the chiropractor would agree that his patient did the healing, he just opened the road to it
Flag for moderationWednesday, Jan 16 at 8:35 AM Eemah68 wrote ...
There are no medications or herbal remedies that heal the body. The only known source to heal the body is the body itself. There might be remedies to aide the nutrition of the body. Nothing that heals it. Chiropractic, used properly, deals with the "nervous system function" of the human body. I would take a stronger communication line from my brain over some potion to make me "feel better". It is the brain that coordinates how those nutrients are broken down and utilized, isn't it??
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 15 at 10:05 PM William wrote ...
Hey Chiro-racket-skeptic... You are lacking a brain. You better go to your Medical Doctor and have him put one in for you. If you were smart, you may actually give your body the opportunity to benefit from Chiropractic.
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 15 at 6:36 PM in support of wrote ...
better tell the "you will always have to go back" people to never go to their dentist for regular check ups, go in for regular physicals, or even take their cars in for service because you'll have to always go back! It is all about maintaining a healthy system and keeping your body working for itself. I think it is great that the chiropracitc profession is finally getting some good press!
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 15 at 5:49 PM I love my chiropractor! wrote ...
I go to a chiropractor when I need to. The one I go to does NOT keep you coming back. He does his job and if he doesn't think he can do it, he tells you. I also highly recommend acupuncture.....tried it, love it!
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 15 at 3:58 PM WORRIED wrote ...
I've heard that you shouldnt go to a chiropractor unless ABLSOLUTLEY need or your going to end up having to go a lot. So im a little skeptical on these, people have told me some doctors know just the right place to twist to make it so you'll have to come back in for another adjustment in a month....so i dont know, i mean it sounds like it would make you feel better but i dont want to HAVE to go...
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 15 at 8:15 AM NAD wrote ...
To the anonymous who said he was faking. NOT TRUE, been family friends for 30 yrs. he isnt the only one in the family afflicted with this condition. Has afflicted 3 out of the 5 males of the family, the dad was totally blind. Keep your ignorant comments to yourself.
Flag for moderationTuesday, Jan 15 at 6:42 AM Garry Dykstra wrote ...
Good story.My Doctor told me there is good practice for both.He is M.D.
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 9:51 PM believer wrote ...
I had a twisted vertebra, a doctor said I would need surgery, I was in a lot of pain so I decided to go to a "back" doctor, I was in and out withing about 20 min, pop it back in place, I got a massage and have been fine since. Chiropractors are real doctors with extensive medical knowledge on the entire body and how to fix all ailments with out drugs. If you don't believe go see a chiro, at the very least it feels great.
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 8:30 PM Steven D. Erde, DC wrote ...
Between May, 2003 and August, 2003 I had the good fortune of adjusting a three year old boy whose hearing was severly impaired in my Brooklyn chiropractic office. His hearing became normal during his course of care. One of his pediatricians was surprised, the other not. I've seen a lot of great things happen in my 25 years of practice.
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 7:32 PM Jim wrote ...
Chiro-skeptic: I'm curious why you have such disdain for chiropractors? Do you have a bad experience? Are you a disgruntled PT/DO/MD? Or are you just your everyday common ignorant idiot? Let the "non-believers" think what they want. Those who know and have seen the wonders of chiropractic will keep on reaping the benefits, while folks like you can continue to chime in with your nonsense.
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 6:29 PM Kelli wrote ...
Chiropractors are doctors who specialize in the nervous system.Your nervous system controls every function in your body.Nobody can argue with that.If you have a bone pressing a nerve, how do you think that nerve will function?Just like if you stepped on a hose less water would come out, if a bone is pressing on a nerve won't work properly.The reason why chiropractic helps with so many different ailments is because chiros remove nerve interference to allow for the nerve to function properly.
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 4:55 PM MY Life Saver MY CHIROPRACTOR wrote ...
Thank the lord for Chiropratic! My alergies are gone after 20 years of no help from other doctors. My headaches are gone and I've never been healther. If you all do your reseach you will find that Chiropractors have more schooling then MD's. They are really the answer to health care. Your spine is your life line to your life. You can live with out your teeth, you can live without your eyes you can't live without your SPINE or your CHIROPRACTOR!
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 4:24 PM Edwardian wrote ...
To claim that a chiropractor is any less a doctor than a dentist or podiatrist is a display of the height of ignorance. Obviously, there are some things for which I would not go to my dentist or chiropractor (childbirth, for instance), and some things I reserve solely for my MD (prostate exams and the like). To call Harkey's returned sight miraculous is a little fanciful: is a healed cut or a mended bone a miracle?
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 2:00 PM I See Results wrote ...
My 12 yr old has gallstones. ER dr said cut it out, so did family physican & UIHC ped specialists that saw her. Went to a Wellness Physician/Chiro here in CR. My daughter has not had a gallbladder attack in 4 months. It took us 5 months before we started seeing results, but it's working. I can't wait to have a repeat ultrasound on her gallbladder to see if there are still stone there!
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 12:46 PM Colby wrote ...
Wow, thats crazy. I'm happy to hear that someone with blindness in one eye can finally have their vision back...Thats wonderful...
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 12:45 PM Chiro-skeptic wrote ...
Ah, a fellow Odin worshipper. Yes, praise be to Odin!! It was not a great and scholarly chiropractor, or a mysterious herbal remedy, but Odin himself, who bestowed this healing upon this fine felon.
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 12:07 PM tammy wrote ...
My son at one time almost lost his life. Nobody could figure out why he was so sick. After 2 chiro visits my son who was sick for two years was a normal child again. I will never know what he had done to help my son but I am grateful. We spent thousand of dollars and 60 dollars cured him. AMAZING!!
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 11:08 AM Rick wrote ...
Praise be to Odin
Flag for moderationMonday, Jan 14 at 8:54 AM Chiro-skeptic wrote ...
Why did all the good comments get deleted from this article?
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 11:26 PM Anyone Else Irritated? wrote ...
Sensationalist journalism.Good grief.Yeah,it's great he can see out of that eye again--but a BLIND MAN? How about a visually impaired man,like thousands of us all over Cedar Rapids!
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 10:24 PM Bonnie wrote ...
That is wonderful about the DR. who helped the man see, by his works. My baby had many ear infections, but after adjustmentss by my Chriropractor, he is doing well. My peciatrician highly recommends this dear Chiropractor. Some people should keep thier bad remarks to themselves, if they have not ever used a Dr.of Chiropractry. Thank you.
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 10:08 PM Valorie Dees wrote ...
Chropractors are absolutley " real" doctors. Why would someone, in their ignorance say they aren't? They help a person avoid surgery, when aligenment works. My brother went to school just as long as a medical doctor. I think some doctors are saying bad things about chiropractors, simply because they are jealous of them.
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 9:46 PM Anonymous wrote ...
IT IS BETTER TO BE A "RELIGIOUS FREAK" THAN NOT BELIEVE AT ALL. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHY HIS SIGHT CAME BACK, BUT DOES IT REALLY MATTER? HE CAN SEE. DON'T WASTE TIME PUTTING DOCTORS DOWN, DON'T WASTE TIME PUTTING ANYONE DOWN. LIVE YOUR LIFE AND BE HAPPY FOR THE MAN.
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 8:16 PM Pick up a book "real doc" wrote ...
Just because you had a bad experience with 1 chiropractor does mean that they all are bad. There are good ones and ones that need a little more training, just like any other person in life doctors, lawyers, mechanics, and the everyday person. I see a chiropractor and if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be able to do half of the things that I can now. As for real doc if you knew more about chiropractors you would also know that every part of your spine effects another part of your body.
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 6:16 PM Dr. Laudig wrote ...
The Cervical Spine maintains the delicate spinal cord and the Veins, Arteries and Nerves related to respiration and cardiac function. So, when the alignment is normalized so will the pressure into the brain, often correcting visual imbalance, easing HA's. Vision returned with renewed circulation.
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 4:37 PM ginger wrote ...
I think it is a wonderful thing. Not everyone may not believe in chiropractic care but it is a miracle what happened and I wish him best. No one is saying that medical doctors are not good but in this case The chirprctor was the one that restored his sight by adjusting the spine and removing any pressure on the nerve that was be pinched. Dr. Tim Stackis is a wonderful chiropractor and I believe that regular adjustments may help others by understanding the spine and the nerve system.
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 2:29 PM excellent wrote ...
I am happy for you!!!! Glad you got your sight back. I can't imagine what it must have been like with sight in only one eye. Thank You God!
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 12:50 PM Dr. J wrote ...
The mantra: chiropractic first, drugs second, surgery last. The chiropractic profession produces miracles every day, but also has its failures every day. No different from going the medical route. Pick your chiropractor carefully and choose someone highly reccomended by more than one person. Yes, god works wonders in concert with all healing professions. Sometimes its the seventh day!
Flag for moderationSunday, Jan 13 at 9:33 AM Chiro-racket-skeptic wrote ...
Related story!! This just in - a patient in need of heart transplant competely cured by a chiropractic adjustment of his lower back! Or maybe it was the herbal remedies.
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