Mihdi Joon Brock turned 14 a week ago, on Bermuda Day, May 24.Not a significant birthday for most people but for Mihdi Joon it was an impressive feat when he was six months old doctors predicted he had two weeks to live.At the time, specialists at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital were concerned about a damaged aorta.Mihdi survived that but disaster struck again when he was two-and-a-half. Doctors then determined that his spine was curving at a pace of two degrees a month.The diagnosis came with a prediction that Mihdi wouldn’t make it to age ten; that he would die from asphyxiation as his body curved onto his chest and lungs.Asian medicine has since kept him alive, his father Marvin Brock believes.“As the [Bermuda Day] holiday approached, my thoughts of gratitude cascaded through my mind as another year of life passed for my son,” said Mr Brock. “We consulted the best medical minds we could find Dartmouth’s Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital. [Several years ago] the top physician for his spinal condition gave us a prognosis that did not see our son living to see age ten, which was another huge shock.”Mr Brock had spent years training in martial arts and had been introduced to Chinese medicine as a result he thought the latter might be able to assist his son.The family travelled the US in search of expert doctors in Asian medicine.They planned to travel to Beijing in a last-ditch effort to save Mihdi but China wasn’t in the plans.“A friend in Canada recommended Baolin Wu, a former monk and physician [who] was practising in Santa Monica, California,” Mr Brock said. “Mihdi has been in his care since November 18, 2000.”The Mihdi Joon Fund was established in Bermuda to assist the Brock family with medical expenses. The fund was the brainchild of businessman Steve Thompson, and assisted by a charitable programme at Warwick Academy, Random Acts of Kindness.“(The public) that has made the impossible possible,” Mr Brock stated.“You, the people of Bermuda, picked up the baton and ran with it along with many in towns in New Hampshire to fund this effort.“Bermudians and businesses along with family continued to fund this lifesaving effort that has been successful so far in arresting the rapidly curving spine.”John Walsh of popular crime show ‘America’s Most Wanted’ served as an inspiration to Mr Brock the television host’s son was kidnapped and murdered.“To turn the tragedy of his son’s murder into a positive caused me to do the same,” he said. “Although the circumstances of Mihdi’s situation were different I wanted to also make sure that there was a positive from all of this.“Although our young Bermuda boy is not out of the woods he is now faced with brain abnormalities and significant learning challenges I hope all is not lost; that he shall defy the prognosis of staff at his elementary school and expert physicians at world renowned Mayo Clinic, that he shall overcome these challenges too.”Mr Brock said he continued to share his son’s story in hopes of educating more Bermudians on the benefits of Asian medicine.“It is my hope that Bermudians will add this knowledge to their lives: Oriental medicine is effective, especially for chronic conditions.“Further to that it’s my prayer, much like John Walsh, that no one else experiences what we have on this mission for Mihdi.”The majority of insurance plans don’t adequately cover Oriental medicine, Mr Brock said. Similarly, few charities offer assistance to people unable to pay for the “ancient, effective system of medical treatments” themselves.“Currently few insurance companies provide more than limited coverage for acupuncture and other Oriental medical procedures and even fewer charities exist to assist those without health insurance.“As governments in Bermuda and the US address the growing cost of healthcare, it would serve these countries to research the benefits of this modality both in terms of sickness care and prevention. The paradigm shift that is occurring from sickness care to illness prevention or wellness would do well to include Oriental medicine in their programmes.”It is his hope that his son’s success serves as evidence that such treatment is “effective and beneficial”, Mr Brock added.Support for the Mihdi Joon Fund can be made online: www.themihdijoonfund.org or www.thelotus.com. Cheques can be sent to The Mihdi Joon Fund, PO Box 1987, Hamilton, HM HX 441-292-3786.