Here is the personal story of one of SWOPT’s employees Dan. Dan is one of our valuable employees that works with patients to get them back to where they want to be. He is also working on getting into physical therapy school. His story can be an inspiration to many that are affected by personal obstacles that with hard work and perseverance they can be overcome.

“I have been blessed with allergies, asthma, and dyslexia. Throughout my life, I struggled with these challenges. If it weren’t for continuing advances in modern medicine, I may not be alive or who I am today. As a result, I am fascinated with the human body, and particularly intrigued by how physical therapy helps people bring their lives back into balance—just as I have done time and again in my life. A lot of this stress and frustration came from being too young to understand what was going on with my body. I built up a lot of anger and became what some would call a “problem child.” Yet, I’ve grown out of and through these challenges Now that I have a better understanding of my body and what I need to do to focus and remain healthy, I am able to overcome the obstacles that once held me back.

These experiences taught me how easy it is for the body to get off-balance. I have been working as a physical therapy tech for about four years now, and I have been blessed with an ability to reach out to people that are so caught up in their strife that they see no end to the pain and frustration. My motivation to become a PT comes from working through my own struggles and overcoming them. It comes from all the hugs of happiness and relief I get when patients are discharged and no longer need our help. I know this is what I want to do and what I am supposed to do, because I have experienced it every day working as a tech for the past four years.”