From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Marley’s Journey with Nervous System Chiropractic Care

When Marley first arrived at Radiant Waves Chiropractic, she carried more than just the weight of a rare genetic disease. She carried years of medical trauma, emotional dysregulation, chronic vomiting, and developmental delays.

Diagnosed with a degenerative kidney condition that affects every cell in her body, Marley’s early years were filled with blood draws, hospitalizations, and countless doctor’s visits. It took a toll not only on her physically, but also emotionally and neurologically. Her family described daily life as “hitting a brick wall.” Emotional outbursts, meltdowns from gentle redirections, and chronic feeding issues left her parents exhausted and searching for something different.

The Turning Point: Nervous System-Based Chiropractic

Like many families who find their way to Radiant Waves, Marley’s family had tried it all: feeding therapy, OT, parenting techniques, sensory play, and more. They had even tried chiropractic before but it wasn’t until they found a neurologically focused chiropractor at Radiant Waves that everything changed.

On Marley’s neurological scans, it was clear: her nervous system was stuck in a state of sympathetic (fight-or-flight) overdrive, a pattern our doctors identify in children facing chronic stress, sensory dysregulation, or unresolved trauma. This stress response can block the brain-body communication necessary for healing, growth, and regulation.

And then… something incredible happened.

After just one adjustment, Marley asked for food. She asked to go to Starbucks because she felt hungry, something her parents hadn’t heard in years.

Her appetite slowly began to return. Her chronic vomiting episodes decreased. And her emotional outbursts? Night and day difference.

Marley loves her visits at RWC

Why Chiropractic Helped Where Nothing Else Had

The science behind Marley’s transformation lies in the neurological impact of chiropractic care. Children under chronic stress or trauma can get locked into what's known as dysautonomia, where the autonomic nervous system can't shift appropriately between “fight-or-flight” and “rest-and-digest.” This imbalance affects everything from digestion and sleep to mood, immune function, and even kidney function.

Gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments don't "treat" any disease directly. Instead, they restore adaptability to the nervous system. When interference is removed from the spinal cord and brainstem (often caused by early birth trauma, physical stress, or chronic inflammation), the body begins to self-regulate more effectively.

In Marley’s case, this meant:

• Improved appetite and reduced gag reflex

• Fewer meltdowns and clearer emotional expression

• Progress in occupational therapy that led to cutting sessions in half

• Better communication during stressful medical procedures

• And perhaps most astonishing of all significantly improved kidney labs, despite her condition being labeled “degenerative and incurable”

There are 2 labs that are monitored every 1-2 months on Marley to keep track of her kidney disease progression. There are slight fluctuations at times due to sicknesses but there have never been any significant changes and the understanding is that things will always be trending downhill. On her most recent set of labs, they both jumped towards the green. This is unheard of with Cystinosis.

"The only thing that's changed since her last blood draw is starting care with Radiant Waves! It's just crazy to me to see my kid with a progressive kidney disease moving closer to healing rather than transplant. It's blowing my mind and my husband's mind right now! We're so thankful"

Thriving Against All Odds

Now, instead of bottling up her emotions, Marley tells her mom exactly how she feels, even during challenging hospital visits. She’s able to advocate for her body, manage transitions with more ease, and experience joy in ways she never could before.

Her mom describes life now as peaceful and empowering, for Marley and the entire family.

“Preventative care always feels expensive upfront, but the payout is long lasting. What a blessing to send our children into adulthood as the healthiest version of themselves.” says Marley’s Mom

A Message to Other Parents

If your child is facing chronic health challenges, emotional overwhelm, or developmental delays, know this: There is hope. When we stop chasing symptoms and begin working with the nervous system, we unlock a level of healing that’s already within your child.

Just like Marley, your child’s story can be rewritten with calm, connection, and confidence leading the way.

Want to learn more about nervous system chiropractic? Visit PXDocs.com or schedule a scan at Radiant Waves Chiropractic today. Your child’s healing starts with hope.