Epic Clinics literally changed my life. My journey began on the South side of Chicago in a single-family home. My mother, Annie Lanier, was an entrepreneur, who catered for weddings and high-end parties. At that time in my life, I didn’t realize two important factors: first, how her being an entrepreneur, working from home would prove to empower our family with a bounty of love and morality—despite our lack of economic fortitude; and secondly, how her example would shape my future choices in becoming an entrepreneur later in my own life. I also grew up sickly because no one, except maybe my estranged father (who would drop in from time to time to bring by the latest healthy supplement or gadget, which we all despised – except possibly mother), knew the impact processed foods and clustered- vaccinations would have on our lives during the 70s. I remember looking back astonished at an old report card that documented me as “missing” more than 55 days of school in a single term! It is a wonder how I matriculated through the education system on schedule. But, then again, you must be acquainted with the Chicago Public School System at that time, to understand why something like this never alarmed anyone.
Due to my frequent sicknesses, I grew up admiring doctors and nurses who always found ways of making me feel better (even if only by giving me a lollipop after a shot—ironically enough, considering how sugar attributed to my illnesses). So, when I received a chance to apply for the Chicago Public School of Nursing Program as a high school Sophomore, I jumped at this once in a lifetime opportunity. I attended Chicago Vocational High School – at that time, the 3rd largest in the nation, and out of the 500 applicants from my school, I was one of only 11 who were accepted. Only three of us graduated from the program. Though I was just happy to graduate and not made to repeat a grade, looking back now, I understand what a pivotal role of being an LPN at a young age played in who I would become today. If I was truly as smart as I appeared to others, I would have stayed the course in healthcare, but no. Instead, I ventured into the communications field when I went to college.
This essentially became an act of me just spreading my wings. By the end of that year, I found myself in a conversation with the President of the university, asking me to cease the “Norma Rae-like revolts” I started throughout the campus about the impacts of adding compensatory education programs, as well as their act of turning the school into a “dry-campus.” My youthful priorities and ambitions (arguably worth it) bought me a one-way ticket into the Navy. I’d always had a fascination with the military, ever since I took a couple of Junior Officer Training Corps (JROTC) classes in middle school. After four and a half years in the Intelligence corps and pioneering a change to the Navy’s “Hair” Regulation (allowing women to wear more than two braids— continuing in my Norma Rae spirit), I returned to school at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and graduated with straight A’s, achieving a Fine Arts bachelors, degree in three years. Again, missing an ample opportunity to pursue a healthcare education. However, I joined their Senior Officer Training Corps (SROTC) and worked part-time in the Illinois Army National Guard’s medical field. Upon graduation, I was accepted into the Army Reserve, but not in my requested field of healthcare; they placed me in Logistics, because
my bachelors degree was not in healthcare. It was too late to change this officer-trajectory, so I worked as a full-time nurse in the city of Hampton, VA, while serving part-time in the Army Reserve for a military police training school on (then) Fort Eustis, Virginia. This unit turned Soldiers into Drill Sergeants—a GREAT place for a young lieutenant to start. I would learn so much about the basics of Army Leadership, which became a wonderful foundation of entrepreneur-leadership. Some years later, the medical field shifted from patient-centered to administration centered and I knew it was time for me to shift along with it. I decided to join the Army’s full-time active duty ranks until I figured out my next healthcare venture. Twenty years and thirteen assignments later, I would find myself with a Doctor of Naturopathy degree, and moonlighting as an entrepreneur during my last three years in service.
Today, I am a retired 30-year Disabled Veteran, minority, woman-owned entrepreneur (like my mom),and the founder and owner of Trilera Holistic Care, LLC., where we offer an affordable, holistic approach to healing through a variety of simplistic strategies. I retired from the United States Army in 2020 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I am licensed by the Guardian Ecclesiastical Holistic Association, a Board-Certified Natural Wellness Practitioner, a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, Biblical Coach and a Digestive Health Professional, and a published author. I self-published “My Little Green Book,” in 2011, a guide on healthy grocery shopping. I serve my local community as the Hilton Head and Bluffton Holistic Chamber of Commerce Chapter President, and a mentor for the Don Ryan Center for Innovation, an Economic Development Department of the Town of Bluffton. My clinic is nestled inside of Bluffton Family Chiropractic (Bluffton, SC), alongside seven other chiropractors, one medical doctor who specializes in neurological acupuncture, and three massage technicians. Together we offer an integrative approach to wellness under one roof.
Dr. Jeff Aita, DC, who is the founder and owner of BFC clinic, introduced me to Life University Board of Trustees last month, and I was appointed as their newest committee member as a sort of quasi-military liaison. I asked to join their team for two reasons: (1) to influence military and veteran awareness, offering students an opportunity to learn on the largest single-campus chiropractic college in the world, and (2) to offer innovative Life Chiropractic Centers for patient care to veterans.
Dr. Aita, the Chairman of Life University’s Board of Affairs Committee, met Dr. Stan Pierce while serving, and introduced me to Epic Clinics last year. In December 2022, I had my initial appointment in New Jersey at Dr. Ernest Pecoraro’s clinic, at which time I was diagnosed with the largest axis misalignment they had yet witnessed. It was so interesting to learn this.
When I tell people I am a disabled veteran, they often look at me in disbelief because they expect some type of dismemberment to qualify. This was the first time anyone looked at me and wondered “How is she still standing?” My initial thought was probably equally astonishing:
I only jumped from one airplane and fell 20 feet from a tree in my 30 years of service. (Don’t ask. Another story for another time.) But what about those Service members who’ve had hundreds of jumps, multiple injuries, and countless years wearing 100s of pounds of body- armor and military gear? What must their backs look like?
Recently, I went to a follow-up visit in Pompano Beach, FL, with Dr. Dan Hulsey. He also discovered that our 12-year-old daughter has been suffering with an advance axis displacement, which could have only been attributed to a very traumatic birth; at her young age—not having experienced anything else traumatic in her lifetime. After her treatment, her axis was corrected to near perfection. Epic Clinics have changed our lives forever, and we are eternally grateful for being introduced to this technology.
I have become everything and more than that little girl from the Southside of Chicago could have ever dreamt of becoming. Today, one of my newest dreams is to see Epic’s innovative technology on every DOD installation throughout the world, for the many men and women who truly can benefit every day. Those who truly sit on the wall, offering freely their lives – their bodies – in service of our great and often fragile democracy. If America truly thanks every man and woman for “sitting on that wall,” protecting our democracy, shouldn’t we do everything in our power to see them whole again, after they’ve climbed down from it?
Trilera’s mission is to change the medicinal culture of the Western world by providing knowledge of self-healing through customized health assessments using proven therapeutic and holistic methods.
The inspiration for the naming of Trilera Holistic Care has Nigerian origins. “Ilera,” spoken in Dr. Mary’s husband’s native language, Yoruba, means “good health.” Dr. Mary added “Tri” on the front end to remind her clients to maintain good health of the three most principal elements of being: our minds, bodies and souls.
Trilera Holistic Care, LLC.
162 Bluffton Rd.
Bluffton, South Carolina
843-384-5913 – Trileraholisticcare.com
