article archive
March 2007
Popular Australian chiropractic supporter dies
Wife of WCA-Australia president held strong to principles
The Australian chiropractic community was dealt a
heavy blow last month when Susanne Snodgrass died from metastatic
liver disease. She was the childhood sweetheart-turned-wife
of Peter Snodgrass, DC, president of the World Chiropractic
Alliance-Australia and a well-known chiropractic leader and
researcher.
Susanne's own chiropractic story was well known
in Australia, where her presence at chiropractic events was
as certain as it was welcomed. As a teenager, she suffered
what Dr. Snodgrass described in an email to colleagues as "poor
health, with cystitis, headaches, back pain, knee problems
and a plethora of unexplained annoying symptoms. Painkillers,
antibiotics and other drugs were considered normal and necessary."
After Peter Snodgrass completed his education and became
a chiropractor, Susanne "immersed herself in a vision of
being healthy naturally and being drug free," he explained. "From
the beginning until just recently, we had no drugs ever in
our house and Susanne stayed committed to her vision of health
from the inside out."
Chiropractic adjustments helped Susanne
overcome many of her long-standing health problems and she
became an enthusiastic supporter of the profession and enjoyed
experiences adjustments from many of Dr. Snodgrass' colleagues.
Although
her first pregnancy was a difficult one (she suffered severe
pre-eclampsia which led to a four-week premature baby, Ella,
weighing just 2.01 kg [4.4 lbs] at birth) she rejected the
medical advice given to her for her second pregnancy.
Refusing
to be subjected to the full array of drugs and an induced labor
despite another bout with pre-eclampsia, she chose to rely
on chiropractic. We increased the TBM and gradually the pre-eclampsia
and swelling dropped," Dr. Snodgrass
recalls. "Susanne's blood pressure normalised and Susanne
decided on a home birth against all medical advice. Our beautiful
boy was born safely at home with no complications." Susanne
was equally committed to chiropractic for her children.
"Maybe Susanne's greatest demonstration of her chiropractic
intensity came when our baby boy had an inner ear infection
and was running such a high temperature that he was scarlet
in colour," said Dr. Snodgrass. "I had just arrived home
from work and Susanne gave me the 30-second rundown in 15
seconds. It went something like this: 'Casey has gotten worse
during the day, he won't take fluids, he is severely dehydrated
and he just lost consciousness. You need to adjust his Atlas
and get fluid in to him right now or we are going to the
hospital and you know we are not going to the hospital.'
"Casey's
Atlas was as hot as a poker and swollen under the occiput.
It was a huge adjustment and probably would have woken the
dead. Casey's eyes popped open (he screamed of course) and
was able to take fluid again. For those parents reading this
you would know it takes real faith to stay principled during
a crisis with your kids."
In September 2006, Susanne traveled
with her husband to the New Zealand College of Chiropractic,
where he made a presentation. It was during that trip that
Susanne began exhibiting severe symptoms such as fatigue and
loss of appetite. Upon their return to Australia, she underwent
blood tests that revealed metastatic liver disease occupying
over 50% of her liver and which had spread to the spine and
pelvis.
Despite the critical nature of the disease, Susanne
remained firm in her dedication to chiropractic principles. "Her
shock and tears soon turned to shear determination to beat
this disease naturally," Dr. Snodgrass explained. "Some
would argue that given that the oncologist gave her no hope
with chemotherapy or any other approach, her decision wasn't
that brave. I disagree. It takes courage to steer your own
destiny and not forfeit those powers to outside experts in
the hope that somehow they know better than you."
Although she
was told that chemotherapy would extend her life by six-to-twelve
months, Susanne rejected it.
"Given the process of chemotherapy," Dr. Snodgrass stated, "Susanne
made her predictable response of 'unless it's quality, it's
not worth having.' That was Susanne's philosophy. Maybe that
statement should be called the 'Tao of Susanne.'"
As the disease
progressed, Dr. Snodgrass sent an e-mail to his friends and
colleagues, explaining how he and his wife were coping with
the situation.
"In facing the impossible battle of beating an aggressive
cancer that is already advanced, we focused on many, many,
many things, but the most important being restoring 'the
arc of life' and building power back into the body," he told
them.
"Some of you know that Susanne did a 35-day fast of water,
herb teas and nothing else. It was the most impressive display
of pure mental grit I've ever witnessed. At the end of the
fast, her skin was beautiful, her eyes crystal clear and
strength excellent. We thought we had it beat into submission.
New blood tests showed that the cancer had stopped growing.
The specialist couldn't believe the tests and gave us full
support.
"Unfortunately, over Christmas, Susanne started a measurable
decline that gained momentum. Within a few weeks she was
in hospital draining severe ascites and needing medication
for the now unbearable bone pain and oedema that made breathing
so hard. Although Susanne has lost her battle with cancer,
she has won the battle of defining who she is and on what
terms she will or won't live her life.
"Some people's flame
of life just seems to burn brighter than others. Having less
time just makes you realise how strong and pure that light
is. Susanne's flame will fill my days always and she will always
be with me. Every adjustment I make, she is in my heart and
hands. In our last conversations that Susanne could converse
properly she held me close and said these words: 'Every family
needs purpose. Every community needs a direction. You and chiropractic
have always been my True North. Whatever happens to me, never
stop your mission and know I'm always there with you and will
see it through with you."
Susanne died on Feb. 4, 2007 and left
behind a legacy of love and dedication that will have an impact
on the chiropractic community in Australia and the world for
generations to come.