Five-year-old Walter Brinzey confidently entered the waiting room for his most recent appointment at the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, where he’s received monthly osteopathic manipulative medicine treatments for over a year.
Accompanied by his mother, Connie, who drove him from their home outside Charlotte, North Carolina, Walter showed off a Lego truck he had built, illustrating one of his favorite activities.
Walter’s father, John, describes his son as having an engineer’s mindset. He’s smart, full of life, and loves to play outside. A country boy at heart, he’s not afraid to get muddy and can name just about every type of tractor and truck.
Since birth, Walter has faced nystagmus, a condition that causes his eyes to make involuntary, repetitive movements back and forth. After consulting a few doctors, a surgeon told the family that Walter could be a candidate for a procedure that could realign his eye muscles, but a positive outcome wasn’t assured.
Not wanting to jump into surgery for their son, the family explored other options, ultimately receiving a referral to Victoria A. Troncoso, DO, chair of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) at PCOM Georgia and medical director for the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center.
The Brinzey family had not heard of OMM, but they had no skepticism about the treatment.
“I was definitely open to try whatever because I felt so strongly that God was leading us in this direction, and he clearly had a hand in getting us down the trail to where we are today,” Connie said. “It never occurred to me to do something else.”
Walter keeps improving, and it’s never more apparent than right after an appointment. Connie describes Walter’s eye movements as less bouncing back and forth now and more of a less noticeable vibration.
Troncoso treats Walter with cranial osteopathic manipulation that addresses muscle imbalances in the eye sockets. During his most recent appointment, Walter laid on the treatment table as Connie read books, like Attack of the 50-foot Fly Guy, to him.
“With children, we’re always working with the family and the family circle,” Troncoso said. “It’s important to have parents there and on board. To have parental support, love, and guidance is a huge part of how we treat.”
It’s also a huge part of how the Brinzey family approaches Walter’s care. John seeks to get various professional options, ask questions, and keep options open.
“The holistic approach for me is huge,” he said of osteopathic philosophy.
Connie agrees, emphasizing the body’s natural abilities to heal itself. She believes Walter’s nystagmus arose during a difficult birthing experience that could have strained his cranial nerves.
The Brinzeys were so happy with Walter’s progress that Connie recommended Troncoso to her cousin, Daphne, to treat her 3-year-old son Tristen, who has hearing loss. Like Walter, Tristen and his family see Troncoso just about every month.
“It’s heartwarming that the family is spreading their experience to each other and that they are putting the care of their family members in my hands,” Troncoso said. “When people send their family members, it’s probably the biggest compliment they could ever give you.”
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
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Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell: 717-371-0609
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