Profile by kyra kliman

Overcoming Obstacles

BY Kyra Kliman

D

r. Chris Watson walks eagerly into the reception area, and notices a patient avoiding eye contact and tapping her foot nervously. Dr. Watson is immediately aware of her body language. Through a lifetime of Dyslexia and PTSD from the Vietnam war he has a deep personal understanding of the symptoms of stress and anxiety. Dr. Watson approaches her with a smile and

his outgoing personality lifts her mood as he gives her a pat on the back, reassuring her she is going to be okay.

As Dr. Watson begins to talk to her, color comes into her pale face and she smiles looking reassured. His bright eyes and great personality make his patients feel comfortable as he works with them to have better health. Sitting in the ofďŹ ce with Dr. Watson, people would never suspect him to have

overcome learning challenges and PTSD from his experiences in war. Dr. Watson’s challenges have shaped him into who he is today, making him a stronger person, a great husband and father, and a successful and compassionate Chiropractor.

Chris Watson was born in Eureka, California.

His parents were loving but had no idea what he was going through. He

“Over all my accomplishments nothing matters more than my family. They have been there since the beginning�.

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was Dyslexic and struggled through school, but he didn’t know why. No one at the time knew about Dyslexia. Dyslexic people were thought of as lazy or dumb. He behaved in class and was just pushed through the system. Georgia, Chris’ wife, states, “In eighth grade Chris had a teacher who said he would never amount to anything”. Chris was determined to prove him wrong. Chris describes what it was like going through school with Dyslexia, “I was skillful in sports and I could charm anybody. But that covered for the disability and I just pushed through”. His drive and determination got him where he is today.

Chris played minor league baseball right out of high school and was drafted into the Vietnam war in 1967. Always making the best of his situation, and overcoming his Dyslexia, he was determined to work hard and do his best. When Chris was in basic training he was put into leadership positions as squad leader and platoon leader. He was an expert

operations long range reconnaissance patrol called the Lerps. They were one hundred twenty five men that were Ranger-qualified. The soldiers fought together for a year, doing special operations like sniper patrol and rescue recovery. When a helicopter that went down the team would be the first ones to retrieve any survivors. Chris was awarded the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Vietnamese Commendation Medal, and Vietnamese Air Medal. After fighting for two years in Vietnam, it was time for Chris to go home. He was proud of fighting for his country but at the same time he was ready to get back to civilian life. on to Airborne training for As Chris’ plane was paratroopers. Following that, landing at the San Franhe attended a course at Fort cisco airport he felt the Benning, Georgia, for sniper excitement growing inside of school. After completion of him. Thoughts were swirling his trainings, he became an Airborne Ranger Sniper, and through his head in anticipation of returning home. He expectwas sent to Vietnam. ed people to be thanking him While in the hospital for his efforts in the war, but for a gunshot injury, Chris met a colonel who instead he got jeers from all the Vietnam protesters. Walkformed the 75th Rangers.

3 Together they formed a special ing through the crowd marksman before the war because he had hunted all his life.

Chris was the high shot of his platoon in Fort Lewis, Washington, with the most target hits in history at Fort Lewis.

The Sniper Team heard about Chris, and after interviewing him, he was accepted to Ranger school. Chris became an army Ranger, then went

was like being hit with a bomb.

Chris shares his experience of returning to civilian life: “I came back from war where I was carrying a gun every day. Within five days, I was a civilian at the San Francisco airport. People were yelling at us, calling us baby killers and throwing trash at us when we walked by”. Chris explains that today is a much different experience for the returning soldiers. “Back in 1969, people took out the fear of war on the soldiers instead of the politicians. That was hard to overcome because we felt that we were protecting our families and the right to live in a free world. As young men that was our thought process.

Otherwise why would you do it?” (Watson). The years of fighting in Vietnam took its toll on Chris. He was unaware

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he had developed PTSD, as it was undiscovered at that time. “In 1980, PTSD was recognized as a disorder with specific symptoms that can be reliably diagnosed and was added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Mental Disorders” (National Institute of Mental Health). Chris, after returning from the war, found he couldn’t control his thoughts and had nightmares about the horrors of the war.

It was difficult to focus and he had a hard time relating to people who had never experienced war.

Eventually, Chris suppressed the horrors of the war and was able to function and live a normal life. With the encouragement of his older sister, Sally, he went to college to study art at San Jose State.

He was the first person in his family to get a college degree. Being dyslexic, he knew that college would be difficult.

However, he majored in art and excelled.

Following college, he

was working as an operations supervisor at Bullocks in Palo Alto, where he met his future wife, Georgia. He realized he wanted a profession, so he started exploring different options. He had been going to a Chiropractor following an accident a few years before and because he liked working with and helping people, he decided he wanted to become a Chiropractor. Six months after they were married, Chris and Georgia set off for Palmer College in Davenport, Iowa. During his first semester at Palmer he was struggling to understand all the medical and science classes. Luckily, Chris joined a study group, finding that he is an auditory learner. After he got through the science classes, Chris started to thrive in clinical internship because it was hands-on and his artistic abilities helped him understand the anatomy of the body. Also, he did well because of his ability to relate to people. After graduating, Chris and Georgia returned to California to open his practice and start their family.

Through the ups and downs Chris faced throughout his life, his family has always been by his side. Chris and Georgia have three children, Ashley, Heather, and Jennifer. They all played softball and competitive volleyball growing up and Chris coached them and

later supported them in their games. Chris has always been there for his daughters. “Chris is the best father any of the girls could ask for” (Georgia).

Focusing on his girl’s, family and work, Chris didn’t have the time to think about his PTSD. As the girls got older and went off to college, he a had more time to think about his life, and that was when his PTSD got worse. “There was a time where his PTSD got so bad he couldn’t sit in an assembly. He had to sit at the back of the room,” commented Georgia. Art is a way for Chris relieve his stress. He paints and has created soft sculpture Saint Nicholas figures. He feels accomplished when he creates a new piece of art. Playing sports is another aspect of his life where he excelled. Chris played in an adult softball league and still enjoys playing golf today.

Sports and art allow him to feel centered.

As a chiropractor, observing him in his office, he makes every patient feel like they are important, greeting each patient with a warm smile. Chris can feel the patient’s’ stress and anxiety about coming to a new chiropractor for the first time. This is when his personal skills kick in. He credits his life experiences for his ability to relate to others and put them at ease. When working with pa-

tients he knows they are hurting and might be scared, so he uses a lighthearted approach.

Often you can hear him joking and laughing with his patients.

All around his office, there are pictures of his family. Watching Chris in his office, it is evident that he has overcome the obstacles of Dyslexia and PTSD in his life. A question to consider is, has dyslexia and PTSD made Chris a stronger person who can relate to others? After interviewing Chris and others, and observing him with his patients, it is obvious he has overcome tremendous obstacles. Having faced challenges like these in his life, he stands out from the crowd because of his positive outlook on life and his ‘never give up’ attitude.

In general, having learning disabilities is challenging. Some people give up and others rise up and work through their challenges to reach their goals. The challenges Chris has endured have made him into a strong person, compassionate and professional. Chris didn’t let his dyslexia and experiences in Vietnam stop him from achieving his goals but rather helped him become successful in all areas of his life. In the following quote Scott Sonnon, martial arts champion, expresses his feelings on dyslexia,”I didn’t succeed despite my dyslexia, but because of it. It wasn’t

my deficit, but my advantage.

Although there are neurological trade-offs that require that I work creatively (and) smarter in reading, writing and speaking, I would never wish to be any other way than my awesome self. I love being me, regardless of the early challenges I had faced.” In the office Chris’ personal skills stand out, as seen in his ability to relate to people. He feels the love and support of his family has contributed to who he is today. He states,“Over all my accomplishments nothing matters more than my family. They have been there since the beginning”.

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Works Cited “Accomplishments” Interview by Chris Watson 1 October 2015.

Charmaine, Personal interview. 30 September 2015.

“Dyslexia/Reading Disorders.” Ethnomed (n.d.): n. pag. Dyslexia/Reading Disorder. 4 Mar. 2006.

Web. 28 Sept. 2015.

“Dyslexia.” Interview by Georgia Watson. n.d.: n. pag. Print.

Series), Hk J Paediatr (New. The Gifts of Dyslexia: Talents Among Dyslexics and Their Families (n.d.): n. pag. Web. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” NIMH RSS. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.

Watson, Chris. Personal interview. 1 October 2015.

Watson, Chris. Personal interview. 28 September 2015.

Watson, Georgia. Interview by Georgia Watson. 25 September 2015.

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