Oklahaven began in response to the needs of chronically ill children in 1962, many of whom in the early 1960’s were paralyzed, braced, and wheelchair bound. The founders chose to provide chiropractic care through a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization. They relied on the generosity of the private sector who shared their vision of natural drug-free health care and of other colleagues to donate their services.
Oklahaven has continued to operate through private donations without federal, state or United Way funding for over 60 years. In 1979 Dr. Bobby Doscher, a Philadelphian and graduate of Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa, became the Chief Executive Officer assuming the Center’s daily operations. In addition to her treatment of the children through chiropractic adjustments, under her guidance, with the Board of Directors, the Center has focused on telling the children’s (chiropractic) story. This is accomplished by fundraising, working with the community, writing journal stories and lecturing on natural health care. Parents learn about the developmental sequence, the need for regular adjustments, fresh whole natural foods, fresh air and sunshine, all of which help their children’s bodies grow and maintain health.
In 1993, the Children’s Center moved from its 12th Street location that was bequeathed by a chiropractor to its current larger facility. The Center’s Oklahoma location makes it accessible to patients from the airport. Its influence is also international, with Dr. Doscher and staff flying to treat children in Jordan, Guatemala and Mexico. She and the staff have been invited to treat severely sick children in over 17 countries around the world; Jordan, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Germany, Ireland, England, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Estonia, Greece, New Zealand, Australia, and across the U.S.
The majority of children who come to the Children’s Center have run the gamut of traditional medicine. Their families are burdened with debts totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Parents have lost their jobs, and most have lost hope.
As the children improve with each adjustment, restoring their health through their own recuperative powers, parents see miracles happen that help their children reach meaningful lives.
Babies hold their heads up for the first time, sleep through the night, stop seizing, eat without pain, a child feeds himself, learns to move independently, speaks clearly without a stutter, runs and plays like a normal child without asthma or chronic ear infections.
The chiropractic premise is that sub-lux-ations are due to stress, trauma and poisons within the body causing function to diminish. Increasing numbers of young children are now showing more severe conditions and chronic degenerative diseases.
Consistent well-being helps children face the necessary challenges in their lives, through which they gain the wisdom to spiritually unfold and appreciate the love of life. A diminished life force sets up negative patterns of response. We see the life force return to the children’s eyes as their health is restored.
Since its beginning, Chiropractic has been based on the scientific fact that the nervous system controls the function of every cell, tissue, organ, and system of your body. While the brain is protected by the skull, the spinal cord is more vulnerable, covered by 24 moving vertebrae. When these bones lose their normal motion or position, they can irritate the nervous system. This disrupts the function of the tissues or organs these nerves control, and this is called Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
At the Children’s Chiropractic Center, hope has been restored with happier, healthier drug-free lifestyles.
Our stories show how successful teaching of the chiropractic premise develops a parent’s consciousness about natural health care and the body’s recuperative power. With each family and referral, since 1962 Oklahaven has quietly built a network of love and inspiration for severely hurt children. The Center is a mentor organization to chiropractors nationwide.
The staff, the Board of Directors and consulting chiropractors extend to the profession and other friends their gratitude for many years of support. We invite you to join our chiropractic family and help the children!
