Faces of Long Island celebrates the uniqueness of everyday Long Islanders. In their own words, they tell us about their life experiences, challenges and triumphs. Newsday launched this social media journey into the human experience to shine a light on the diverse people of this wonderful place we call home.

‘I have moments that are really challenging, but most of the time I’m like, “All right, today’s another day. Today is a new beginning. Today I’m alive and I’m just thankful.”’

Long Beach

“As a child, I had a lot of allergies and asthma. I didn’t know what going to the chiropractor really did, but I knew if I went, I was able to play outside. My dad was sick, and he started going to the chiropractor and he lived an extra two years. I saw a glimpse of what chiropractic could do for somebody and decided to become a chiropractor. I opened my practice in Bellmore in 2006.

“I believe that everybody’s chosen to do something in life, whatever is close to your heart. I love what I do, helping people and helping families. But I also realize that I have to take care of myself. When my wife and I lost a baby last year at 31½ weeks, it triggered an autoimmune response, and that’s what attacked my kidneys. In February, I went to the hospital, and they said that I would have died in two days from renal failure if I didn’t get there. I said, ‘This is your will, God, not my will,’ and I just surrendered. There are days and I have moments that are really challenging, but most of the time I’m like, all right, today’s another day. Today is a new beginning. Today I’m alive and I’m just thankful. My wife and I, our faith is very strong. It’s lifted me up when I felt like there was no hope.

Sometimes, when you’re in the storm, you can’t see the ‘why,’ or you may never know the ‘why.’

“I had been turned off by religion because my dad was sick and everybody said to pray for him, and he died anyway a week after my bar mitzvah. Then my sister, when she was 21 years old, was killed in a drunk driving wreck. She was in the back middle seat, and everyone else walked away from that same car wreck. Now, though, going through what I’ve been going through, without my faith in God, I wouldn’t be here.

“When I put out my letter on social media sharing everything, 55 people wanted to get evaluated for a kidney transplant. It’s amazing to see the love and support, even with the GoFundMe page that we have.

“Sometimes, when you’re in the storm, you can’t see the ‘why,’ or you may never know the ‘why.’ You’re getting up at 4:30 in the morning for dialysis three days a week, and it’s four hours a pop. But I don’t want to wait for the perfect situation. I want to live life fully now, even more so. I’m not going through this situation; I’m growing through it.”

Interviewed by Joe Rizza

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Faces of Long Island is produced by Newsday Consumer Marketing. This content does not involve the reporting and editing staff of Newsday’s Editorial Department.