If you have ever been fortunate enough to share a moment with Clinton, Iowa’s Judy May, you would understand the distress she was in.
Few can keep pace with the 77-year-old dog-training dynamo, who is in better shape – on all of life’s fronts – than most 50 years her junior.
Seriously, there is occasion when 24 is not enough hours in the day for her to do the things she does.
May mows her own grass, shovels her own snow, is a world-class trainer of dogs – sometimes seven at a time – is beyond gracious with her time as a volunteer and – well – is flat-out the kind of person we all aspire to be. Oh by the way, May also trains Therapy Dogs that play huge with the residents of Clinton’s Bickford Cottage Assisted Living facility.
So when severe neck pain kept her from simply reaching her hands to her face that morning three months ago, May knew she needed help.
Big time help.
“I was having issues,’’ said May, who by her own admission is “frequent flier’’ when it comes to chiropractic care. “This time, nothing was working and my doctor suggested physical therapy.’’
So May sought Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Jordan DeNeve, PT, DPT, OCS, Regional Manager, who is a 24-karat gem on all fronts and a dedicated bundle of talent, compassion and care.
DeNeve, who also brings a great sense of humor to the dance, earned her undergraduate degree from Wartburg College in Biology and received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Iowa. She and her amazing staff lead Rock Valley’s Clinton, Iowa (13th Ave.) clinic.
“I saw Judy for a sudden bout of neck pain/stiffness,” said DeNeve. “She had not had physical therapy before and was fearful as it had started quickly and was very limiting. She also has a passion for training dogs and had a competition coming up shortly in Florida and was not sure she would be able to participate and travel there.’’
But…
Thanks to DeNeve’s expertise and May’s desire to be better, she kept her appointed Florida rounds, making her way – with dogs in tow – to the American Kennel Club’s Fast CAT Invitational at Orlando, Florida. There, her dogs went paw-to-paw against more than 380 others from across America to see who was the fastest.
May says the top five fastest representatives of 177 different breeds, both pure and mixed, were invited to participate in the competition, including her 8-year-old Pekengese, Leila, and her 8-year-old Toy Fox Terrier, Joey. Both reached the final with Leila finishing second. Joey, also is ranked sixth nationally.
Both are in line to again compete nationally this December.
The trip, though, would not have come to life, had it not been for May trusting DeNeve to get her in position for a grueling drive and several days of competition.
“First day was amazing,’’ May said of DeNeve and her initial treatment. “Who knew with just her thumbs – on two spots on my neck – and lots of other work – she could provide relief that others could not. I struggled a little before my next visit, but came back before Florida and I was even better after that.
“We were going to try another (therapy session) before we left, but a storm stopped all that. If not for Jordan, there was no way I could have gone. I was struggling before to keep up with the dogs I train and overall life. I couldn’t reach up to touch my face that’s how much pain I was in.’’
These days, back on her home turf, May says therapy with DeNeve continues to play big in her life. There is the work DeNeve does in the affected area, but just as important is the bond the two have formed and post-therapy work May must do.
“I’m doing my dog-training, doing therapy dog work at local nursing homes, and helping others learn how best to interact with their four-legged friends,’’ May said, noting her sunrise to way past sunset schedule is back in bloom thanks to DeNeve and Rock Valley.
“You will not see a picture of me through all these years, that a dog isn’t present,’’ added May, who boasts a sister in her 80s who is just as fit as she is and an 87-year-old brother who just completed the building of a new home for himself. “Thanks to Jordan, I’m able to do the things I love to do. From that first day, Jordan said she wanted to take away the pain and emphasized that one of her other goals was to return me to enjoying the things I love to do. I’m doing that, but it wouldn’t be that way if not for Jordan. I don’t know where I would be.’’
DeNeve, forever upbeat, grows a wide grin when May’s name is mentioned.
“She engaged immediately (with therapy), asked great questions, did her home program, and asked thoughtful questions about her activities and ways to modify temporarily to allow herself to heal,’’ DeNeve said of May. “She was able to travel and complete her competition without issue and has regularly expressed extreme gratitude.
“Judy is really fun to treat,’’ added DeNeve. “She is an active, independent woman who has a huge passion for what she does. It is always so rewarding to help someone do the things that are meaningful to them. I am thankful she responded so quickly to treatment and has had such a great outcome.’’
Therapist and patient are also working a wonderful “side’’ deal. One of May’s goals is to find the perfect dog for Jordan’s two young sons, ages 3 and 5.
“The least I can do,’’ May said. “I’m able to be me because of Jordan.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Storyteller