I live in gratitude.
A bit about me
Throughout my life, I’ve been able to take advantage of many of the opportunities for adventure, which presented themselves fairly often. When I was 15, I toured Europe with a band. Now, don’t get excited. It wasn’t the Rolling Stones. It was the American Youth Symphony and Chorus Concert Band. We went to six countries, giving free concerts in many cities and smaller towns. When I was in college, I went on an internship to the (former) Soviet Union during the winter break. Our tour “guides” were obviously KGB. We drank a lot of vodka – best in the world – and traded oodles of makeup, magazines, and cigarettes. I came back to the states with a hockey stick, a flag, lacquer boxes, and even some Russian gold earrings. After I was married, my job sent me down to Antarctica for 5 months. Antarctica is the highest, driest, coldest, windiest, emptiest place on the planet. It was surreal. My office was at McMurdo Station, but I did go to the South Pole for 26 hours. After I returned, I got divorced. I went to Australia for 3 weeks of wine tours. and then rode my motorcycle all around the USofA for 4 months. I was at a small motorcycle rally in Green Bay Wisconsin, where I met a couple whose daughter needed a kidney transplant. It turned out that I was a perfect match – even better than family - so on September 8, 2008, after a week of testing, at 45 years old, I donated my left kidney to a nine year old girl. Since then, I have seen her graduate from high school and college. Oh! The stories I can tell about all of these adventures and more.
How it all started
Once I settled near Prescott, AZ, and close to my aging parents, I noticed that I was more tired than usual. I had whole body pain, and difficulty focusing. Then I started lysting and turning to the left. When I got lost on the one major road going through town, I decided to see my doctor. The testing began. Not MS, Lupus, Lyme, Myesthenia Gravis, etc. I was still working, and needed to go to Phoenix for two weeks of training. I was having terrible trouble breathing and walking. The pain was almost unbearable. To the emergency room I was taken. It turned out that I had Pneumonia, Pleurisy, Costochondritis, and an infection in my remaining kidney. I almost didn't make it. Yikes!
The consequences on my life
I went on Short Term Disability, then Long Term Disability, and now am on Social Security Disability. It doesn’t pay that well. The permanent diagnoses are Dercum’s Disease (rare and very painful), Osteoarthritis in all joints (painful), Fibromyalgia (painful), Myalgic Encephamyelitis, Bilateral Peripheral Neuropathy (painful), Bilateral Carpal Tunnel (painful), and Bilateral Tarsal Tunnel (like carpal tunnel, but in the feet). I still lyst and turn to the left when I walk, and when I lose focus on where I am going and what I am doing, I will walk right out into traffic.
Without the compassion and generosity of friends and family, I shudder to think of where I might be right now. I don't drive anymore, because of getting lost and possibly turning left into oncoming traffic. My friends still help with transportation, usually in my car, and visit frequently or call daily. My parents, now living in NC, and my sister and brother-in-law make sure I have everything I need to stay as comfortable as possible. I live in gratitude.
Why I dream about the Alinker
Over a ten year period, I had 20 ganglion cysts removed from both wrists. There is little left in those joints but scar tissue. Using my cane or walker is taking its toll, and I find that I am doing everything I can to avoid using them. I need something that will keep me mobile, but won’t stress my wrists or wreck my posture. To that end, The Alinker Walking Bike.
- With an Alinker Walking Bike, I won’t need to get a mobility/stability service dog (ongoing vet bills, crate, and short life expectancy). A balance/stability dog will not fit in my tiny car;
- An Alinker will give me more freedom of movement than I have had in almost ten years;
- With an Alinker, I will have an easier time balancing, walking, and will be able to have an easier time on errands, appointments, and socially; and
- An Alinker will fit in my tiny car.
Your contribution will not only help me immensely, it will also be greatly appreciated by me, my family and friends, and my doctor and specialists. Contributions are a way to ‘Pay it Forward’, and will, through me, add visibility for this extraordinary mobility aid so more people could benefit and become mobile again.
The campaigns are about sharing. Most people have no idea what life is like when you live with MS or what happens after you have a stroke. Isolation is often a bigger problem than the symptoms of the disease itself. With the campaigns we can share and educate people, because it can happen to all of us. When we create a movement where people simply show up for each other, it might get a bit ‘safer’ and less ‘scary’ to engage with each other. Some people share their experiences on their campaign, others share their funds to support the campaigns. It is not about asking for money, it is creating an opportunity for people to learn and show up with #generosity. Being generous resonates with who we are as humans. We understand generosity deeply and when you practice it, you feel so much better
PLEASE NOTE
- The campaigns are in USD $, and since to the pandemic the price increased from September onwards $2950 USD. This includes the Alinker, shipping, process and campaign fees and our #AlinkerFamily support.
- The campaigns are all or nothing, no credit cards are charged unless the campaign reaches its goal.
- As soon as the campaign reaches its goal, we ship an Alinker (from direct stock or you'll be placed in line, delivery 6-8 weeks).
- Campaigners do not handle money. On disability or welfare, you cannot handle money without being penalized, but you can receive an Alinker !
- When the campaign raises more than the goal, the campaigner can chose another campaign which we then make the donation to, paying it forward, or the balance will be placed in our Collective Campaign to help future campaigners.
- If you want to start a campaign and are outside Canada or the USA, write an email to stephanie@thealinker.com. We can potentially get a shipping quote to where you live, and include that in the campaign goal, though we like to keep shipping at a minimum, so we will not ship anywhere beyond $250 shipping costs.
Together we build a movement of kindness and generosity, because we all need it
Why do we facilitate crowdfunding on our site?
We believe that the Alinkers should be available for everybody, regardless of income and people who start a crowdfunding campaign here, will have access to a life changing Alinker. These crowdfunding campaigns are the first step to make Alinkers available for everybody. BE and the Alinker company are now putting their energy together to build a generous community around all the campaigners! The campaigners are people who allow others to show up generously, give them love!
Here is the Alinker segment as was aired on CBS Innovation Nation October 2019 - https://youtu.be/pk96VDkJ9NU
Why an Alinker?
Generally, medical devices are a technical solution for a body with a
problem.
The Alinker is designed for who we are, a whole human
being, who wants to live an active and engaged life. We are a human,
we have a body. Whether we miss a leg of have MS, it does not change
who we are.
Yet the world we live in, treats us as a body with a problem, which creates a social divide between people based on their body, based on what we have, not on who we are. Isolation and loneliness are more devastating than the disease itself. So we need to show up for each other, acknowledge each other and be present to who we are.
These campaigns are here to bridge the gap between a high quality custom Alinker, and the people who live at the receiving end of a 'sickcare' system that drives people into poverty.
So, show up, be radically generous, it is something we humans really
understand.
When you read each story in each campaign, pause and
imagine who that person is, and why they started the campaign, reach
out to them, let them know they are surrounded and seen, heard and not
alone. When we do that, we feel better and create a safer community
where we know we can show up for each other. It connects us with our
essence, we are radically generous creatures, we just got a little
lost in systems that are not designed for our wellness.
Alinkers change lives, here are a few people
GO TO CROWDFUND, WHY, HOW, START
Who is the Alinker for?
The Alinker is for people who want to stay active, regardless of mobility challenges.
To operate and use the Alinker you must have the ability to:
- walk to some degree
- flex and extend your legs
- bear weight on one leg briefly while getting on and off the Alinker
- be consciously aware of your surroundings
- be aware of your ability and limitations
What is the Alinker?
The Alinker is an exceptionally cool, three-wheeled walking bike
for humans with mobility constraints. It’s not a medical device,
it’s a lifestyle tool, designed to enable users to lead active and
socially engaged lives — at eye level.
On the Alinker, users sit upright -- at eye level with standing
companions. Weight is supported by the seat with no stress on the
lower body, while handle bars provide additional support. Feet remain
on the ground, keeping users stable and safe.
GO TO CROWDFUND, WHY, HOW, START
