Patient testimonial: Orlando T.

"When I first came to UBC, I wasn’t expecting help from this clinic. I didn’t think my body could handle this. I was in so much pain. I wasn’t seeing clearly. Without knowledge and understanding, we don’t know what we can accomplish. At UBC we learn what we need to do for ourselves. There’s a very disciplined system here. I congratulate everyone for that. They do something unique here. It was better than I imagined.

This is a very good program. If you let the clinicians treat you and you don’t let your fears overshadow you, you can put forth the effort and continue living. It’s up to the patient – the person who wants to be treated – to open up his feelings. UBC has a physician and psychologist and you need to express your problems and hurt feelings to them. In addition, you need to listen to the other instructors so that you can let go of your fears. The clinicians don’t force you to do things, they teach you how to be careful. UBC is where you can learn to do this.

My personal fear was so big, and my pain wouldn’t let me think ahead. Sometimes it’s your own personality which doesn’t let you embrace the teachings. Sometimes you tell your mind you can’t do it. You put up barriers for yourself. But if you’re willing, you can obtain your goals. It was hard for me before, not knowing what inner peace felt like. Since being in this program, I’ve enjoyed a lot of strength from others, especially the other clients. I saw that I wasn’t the only one. Even though I saw that the other clients had pain, they were putting forth the effort. I thought, “They can work through their pain, and so can I.”

Take what you like from each class and practice it. Don’t stop practicing. You need to tell yourself you can accomplish things. Don’t let the pain overcome you. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. You need to be strong. Tell yourself you can do it. That mindset, along with UBC’s teachings, gives you more knowledge. Although, sometimes the pain resurfaces. Here at UBC they help you achieve your goals. But you need to believe in what they’re teaching. You must be firm and decide that you can accomplish your goals. Don’t be a loser; you can’t let the pain overcome your mind. It’s like a program to teach your mind positive things. If you see positive things, you can achieve your goals.

When the clinicians asked me to set a goal for the week, I didn’t see the value in it at first. They encouraged me to write down my goals, which became like a verbal contract with myself. But day by day I can see how to apply what I want to achieve, like when I lift something that I thought I couldn’t lift. When I’d work out in the gym the muscles did hurt, but I could do the exercises because of my written contract. Although I felt extra pain, I pretended I didn’t feel it because I didn’t want the pain to be bigger than it was. It makes sense to write down my goals; it does work. It’s true, the pain can hold you back. However, you can achieve what you want to achieve. You can’t give up. You need to have goals.

Before I entered the UBC program, I would stand in front of the bathroom mirror but the pain wouldn’t let me see myself. The image would said, “You’re a loser.” I’m 29 years old, but I felt like I was dead in life. There was no sense in living. It felt like I was offending that person in the mirror. The pain wouldn’t let me be the person I was. Before the injury I would never get depressed. I used to feel like a bird – free; there weren’t obstacles in my life. But after the injury, everything crumbled into thousands of little pieces.

I’d practice at home in the mirror: with happy music playing I’d visualize UBC and I’d feel strong and energized. Looking at myself in the mirror I’d smile, even though I was still painful, and I’d say, “You’re so handsome, you look a lot better. You look happy.” That made me receive positive feelings and recover.

The clinicians don’t feel sorry for your pain, instead they show you how to treat yourself. And that’s very good. When they ask how you’re feeling, they’re reminding you that you can tell your pain, “Leave me alone so that I can do my movements.” After my injury, it was hard for me to smile. I felt crushed inside. I felt anger when someone smiled. But at UBC day by day, I was synthesizing all I was being taught. They gave me my own space so now when I am painful, there’s the hot/cold packs treatment. So, look for what helps you so you can help yourself. That’s when you start recovering.

My desire is for all future clients to realize that they will find something great here. It’s very important for you to get what is trying to be taught to you. This is a program you will benefit from. The doctors and everyone on staff will teach you how to take care of yourself. We can all benefit from what’s being taught here. Learn how to love yourself, how to take care of yourself, and how not to take value from yourself or belittle yourself. You transform a small problem into a bigger one this way. UBC is a benefit to you if you want to receive it.

When I got here I was closed-up. But when I started to open those doors a little at a time, the light came in. Anyone who’s willing, open the doors, love yourself first, and ask for God’s help. He gives us the way and we need to take in those methods. Your life has more value; there is something beautiful ahead of you. Now, I have the motivation to keep going. I think I’ve really made it my own from the teachings. I have been applying everything I have understood and learned. I’ve gained flexibility. I’ve learned self-care. All this has helped me greatly, including the classes and physical therapy. It has benefited me. I take what I learned at UBC home, which has resulted in something good. UBC is something very special. I’ve made a real life change being here. If I can do it, others can do it too.

This program has helped me to cope. I’m full of gratitude for all the attention the clinicians showed us. I’m proud of UBC for making all this possible. We worked together as a team, the clients and the clinicians, and everyone showed patience and knowledge. I would like to personally thank Jean, Maggie, Amber, Linda, Carol, Mary, Summer, Nancy, Dr. Harris, Suzanne, and Dr. Sinclair. Everyone is united at United Backcare."