About us

Dr. Todd Defayette  co-founder of kirokidz     Dr. Todd Defayette first found his love for pediatric chiropractic because of the impact it made on him as a child. Growing up, he had suffered from several childhood illnesses, specifically asthma, allergies, and respiratory ailments, and he was prone to infections. When he was 12 years old, he had a football injury, and the x-rays required to treat that injury revealed that he had scoliosis. His parents were told that his only option was surgery; however, his mother, feeling uneasy about something so invasive that could result in paralysis or even death, looked further. Upon finding out that non-invasive pediatric chiropractic care could resolve the issue and persistent pain, she brought him for his first adjustment. Dr. D recalls that he immediately felt relief from his back pain but, surprisingly, he also felt his airways clear, and he was able to breathe with more ease than ever before. For a 12-year-old boy, this was nothing short of a miracle and with continued care, he no longer had asthma or allergies.  Knowing that he wanted to do for others what had been done for him, in 1995 he enrolled in New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) and became a Pediatric Chiropractor. He has since joined 3 mission trips to Haiti, where he adjusted over 700 children, as well as practicing in New York for over 16 years where he often adjusts over 50 children a day. He has conducted seminars at churches and schools in his area, and he shares his passion and knowledge with all of his patients and their families in his open and friendly office in Rotterdam, New York. Married for 21 years to his wife, Lauren, and raising their three children, Jake, Jackson and Mia, together in a loving, Christian home, Dr. D. has a vision to fill the world with happy, healthy Kiro Kidz. He feels blessed to have a message and a gift to restore health to our community.

Janaiah von Hassel   co-founder of kirokidz

When my youngest son was a year old, I became frustrated with mainstream health care, and I knew that I was on the wrong track. Having seen four different pediatricians in my first three years of motherhood, I hit a brick wall when I was told that our newest pediatrician would no longer see us if we did not agree to allow them to give my then one-year-old son the quad vaccines (Mumps, Measles, Rubella and Varicella.) At the time my, son was struggling with constipation and a yeast infection under his arms and behind his legs as well as thrush. He had experienced severe reactions to his past vaccinations, but the hours of screaming, the welts, the lethargy and unresponsive behavior was dismissed by his doctor. 

These were chronic ailments in his first year of life, and no matter how much I complained to doctors about him throwing up, sounding congested, being irregular, moody and colicky, I was told “It’s normal.” I remember saying “I don’t care if it’s normal...it’s not okay!” but I was just seen as a neurotic Mom and an irritant. One night at 2:00 AM, while my son screamed in pain, and I carried him around the house trying to calm him, I googled his symptoms and found a blog about a Mom who brought her child to a chiropractor for these very issues. WHAT? It seemed crazy! Chiropractors were for old men with back pain, not gassy babies, but I had tried EVERYTHING else, so the next day I found a chiropractor in my area, Dr. Todd Defayette.

In the months that followed, my youngest son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. There was a time when I felt I was losing my son. He was drifting further away, he was uncomfortable in his skin, and uncomfortable in our world, and so he tried to get out of both. Chiropractic care not only brought my son back to me, but it also gave me a community of people who believe that the “norm” isn't good enough. People that believe that 1 in 68 children diagnosed with autism is not an acceptable statistic. People that believe that childhood ailments, illnesses, allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disorders are not an acceptable trend. People who were willing to show me a path to changing my children’s future and giving them a better world. 

It was everything healthcare should be. I was given knowledge, resources, information and support. Through this support, I found a new pediatrician who offered the same. I wanted to be a part of offering this community to children and parents around the world. My dream is that no other mother leave her child’s pediatrician sobbing, without answers and feeling shamed. You are not alone, your situation is not hopeless. Wipe your tears because the answer is here.