A DIFFERENT KIND OF DOCTOR

A local doctor provides truly compassionate care and solutions for chronic pain and complicated conditions.

Do you ever wonder what it is that makes some doctors so incredibly compassionate while others have a bedside manner better suited for the DMV?

In the case of Dr Rebecca Gibbons, RN, DOM, AP of AAIM | Achieve Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine it is a case of true empathy “I worked in hospitals as an RN for over 15 years and saw how patients suffered from pain and other chronic conditions Some people were able to find relief with medications, injections or surgeries but many times we would see them come back within days, weeks or months. I saw their lives were not only filled with discomfort but their days were filled with doctors appointments, hospital stays, ER visits, prescription refills and physical therapy. That is no way to live. Not only does it take a toll on the person but it also takes a toll on their family members as well.”

Dr Gibbons also had a personal experience with pain “I had suffered from severe back pain and did not feel comfortable taking medications because of the way they made me feel. A friend recommended I see an acupuncturist. After a series of treatments I was able to get relief from the pain. I was able to sleep again and the anxiety that I was feeling had also subsided.”

After her incredible experience with the healing arts she made the life changing decision to become an Acupuncture Physician, “Acupuncture quite literally changed my life and I want to share that with as many people as I can,” she proclaims

I know the frustration of feeling hopeless and frustrated. This is why I practice the brand of medicine I do and why I've made it my life's mission to treat the 'untreatable'.

As an RN, I saw so many people who had been given a disheartening prognosis, prescribed medications and told ‘this is just something you're going to have to learn to live with.

" But now as an Acupuncture Physician, I am able to integrate both eastern and western medicine to treat those who have chronic pain, neuropathy and other chronic conditions ”

Understanding that Eastern Medicine excels where Western Medicine fails, Dr. Gibbons set forth to develop treatment protocols for all variations of peripheral neuropathy (including diabetic and chemotherapy-induced) and back pain and now has an 80% success rate in treating this once difficult to manage condition.

Furthermore, Dr. Gibbons has surrounded herself with staff that embraces the same approach to patient care. "I have fabulous staff who share the same vision as I do when it comes helping our patients get relief and to help them to be able to live life to its fullest."

Dr Rebecca Gibbons has a long history of treating complicated, difficult to understand conditions She understands how tragic it can be if left untreated.

Dr. Gibbons and her staff specialize in treating chronic pain, complicated neurological conditions and autoimmune diseases.

For more information about Dr. Gibbons and what she treats, visit

Hagood, who shepherds the election every year.

Gulfport Historical Society treasurer Nicole Spence told The Gabber Arabella raised more than $2,200, while Bigsbee raised just shy of $2,000. Pickle placed third with $390.

Meet Arabella (and Her Human)

Arabella may serve as Gulfport’s first Dalmatian mayor, but she’s not the first Dalmatian in her family. Her human companion, Nanci Hayes, grew up with Dals.

“I’ve always had Dalmatians in my family, starting with my grandfather,” Hayes told The Gabber.

While not serving as mayor, Arabella works as a therapy dog, certified by Therapy Dogs International. Unlike service dogs, who work with one person (such as a seeing eye dog), therapy dogs can work many different people. Arabella visits with nursing home residents and hospital patients.

The best part for Hayes?

“Just the smiles,” Hayes says, “to see the people who come over and just want to pet her, the joy.”

Arabella has also visited schools, where kids read to her (children who struggle with reading out loud will more readily read to a dog than a classroom of their peers).

Arabella lives in the Jamison building of Town Shores, which is a nonpet building, but Arabella enjoys a special status: In addition to working as a therapy dog, she’s an emotional support dog for Hayes.

One glitch in her role as mayor:

She lives in Maine for part of the year. While she’s gone, who will preside over important matters, like best sniff spots in Gulfport and ensuring the availability of dog drinking fountains throughout Gulfport?

This spotted servant has it covered: She has asked Vice Mayor Bigsbee Wells Reese to step up into the role while she helps Hayes from mid-May through the end of October. Vice Mayor Reese agreed, and Arabella told The Gabber she could do a Zoom call from Maine if needed.

“We are a team,” she said.

Arabella’s Platform

“She is for kindness to all, twolegged as well as four-legged. She is an advocate for clean air and water. Arabella will be an ambassador for all animals in Gulfport,” Arabella relayed to The Gabber through Hayes.

Here’s Arabella’s official statement from her campaign:

“This beautiful Dalmatian stays healthy in body and spirit. She loves to run, do agility shows in obedience and rally, and recently started scent work, but she’s also a loving therapy and emotional support dog. There’s nothing she likes better than the warmth of the sun and the chance to see her two-legged and four-legged friends.”

Any final words from the new mayor?

“Life is good in Gulfport,” Arabella barked.