In 1994 I was involved in a bike accident, and I had difficulties walking. The Western physicians wanted to do surgery, but my mom was insistent that we seek alternative healthcare. She asked all her friends who to go to and Dr. Lum Mun was the one I was introduced to by Mrs. Lau (a family friend). So my mom took me to Scarborough to her clinic which was a small dank little room behind the bookstore. Nothing was clean and there were mice. She said that she can get me walking pain-free within six weeks. Within four weeks I was walking without pain. I was really impressed.

Around this point in time, mom was involved in a car accident, and was seeking help from dr lim. Dr lim asked me to treat mom “massage here everyday” so I did. When dr lam checked her over the week after, she was to her surprise a lot better. She asked me to demonstrate, so I did and she was so impressed that she took me in as her apprentice. Mom and dad thought it was a great opportunity, so that’s how I became apprentice 5 of 7 (fifth apprentice of seven). I followed her for 12 years. Every weekend. Some days it was like watching paint dry.

Dr. Lum Mun taught me how to diagnose pulse, perform acupuncture, and prescribe herbal medicine. It was difficult at first because my Chinese was not good enough. We both struggled to understand each other, and I suppose that is how I learned more Chinese. It was like a chicken talking to a duck (a Chinese proverb).

The most important things she taught me was to identify healthy tissue. Where it is stuck in the system, this needs to be to unbound. When this is achieved the rest of the systems will follow.

Whatever is stuck will be the problem. Whatever is stuck can exist on and in multiple levels, and we must be able to identify where and what level the problem exists. The Qi? The blood? External path? Internal path? Somatovisceral or viscerosomato?

Throw those 12 years she treated me like a son and I will forever be grateful to her.

As I have produced with her I went through massage therapy at the Canadian College of massage and Hydro therapy, acupuncture and Chinese medicine at the Michener Institute. When I went overseas for a few years doing my residency, that is when she retired and I recall meeting her briefly in China in Shenzhen on my way to Hong Kong.

When I came back to Toronto I started working as a TCM practitioner and massage therapist. Then I began my crazy journey studying osteopathy at the Canadian College of osteopathy. As I write this document I am preparing my thesis for submission which is due soon. Probably procrastinating and then I should get back to work.