Bre Philley hasn't added a story.
Hey friends! Okay, so...
I'm Bre. I'm 28 years old. I'm a lover of the
creative process and its many forms. I love trying new things
because I'm always up for a good challenge. However, I'm facing a
pretty big challenge of a different sort currently and would really
appreciate your help.
I've lived with mobility issues since the age of
nine, because of multiple spinal issues, but mostly due to multiple
arachnoid cysts filled with fluid at the base of my spine which are
compressing my nerves. I've had surgery to drain it in 2001, and it
was stable for many years but recent MRIs have shown that it's
become filled with fluid once again. Medically, I'm figuring out
what my options are at the moment.
In October of 2015, I woke up to feeling like there was a
piece of tape stuck to the bottom of my right foot. Since then I've
had multiple EMGs and MRIs done and am still left with not a lot of
answers or solutions. Due to a combination of my complicated case
and the scar tissue from my previous surgery, multiple neurosurgeons
have told me they're not comfortable attempting another... so I'm
left with a situation I need to find my own solution for.
To get an idea of what I'm working with here, here's a picture
of a "healthy" spine vs my spine:
If you feel like deciphering doctor language, here's my most
recent MRI report:
(Right-click on the pic >
Open image in new tab to see it at full resolution)
In summation: YIKES.
What does this mean for me currently?
- Chronic Pain
- Numbness in my right foot makes it so I can't feel the floor when I go to take a step, therefore, balance issues
- I haven't been able to walk without a cane since 2016
- I'm not able to walk very far, even with a cane, so I've been essentially housebound for these last few years, and boy, would I love not to be!
-
I'm reliant on my brother and sister-in-law
for anything that requires me to leave the house. (They are the
best and don't mind, but I'd rather not have to!)
So...
What would the Alinker do for me?
- I'd be able to leave the house by myself(!!!)
- I could go get the mail!
- Grocery stores would once again be within my reach
- Unlike a wheelchair, I'd be able to rebuild and maintain muscle tone in my legs
- Be able to have a conversation while walking again instead of using all my energy focusing on trying not to fall
-
I could enjoy my time at events, festivals,
family trips, etc. without feeling like I'm slowing everyone down
- Having a seat with me at all times would be a dream come true
- I could explore the neighborhood and all its cool historic sites
- I could take my nieces to the park
-
I could walk the family dog
- I would be closer to being as cool as Selma Blair
- It really would give me so much freedom back, open up my world again, and change my life.
Thank you for your consideration and support ♥
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 Canadian $ (back end requirement on our side), the $2800 CAD includes the Alinker, shipping, process and campaign fees and our 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.
- 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 where we then make the donation to, paying it forward, or get the balanced paid out, the choice is the campaigner's.
- If you want to start a campaign and are outside Canada or the USA, write an email to molly@thealinker.com. We can get a shipping quote to where you live, and include that in the campaign goal.
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. Did you see how happy Selma Blair is using her Alinker? Her anxiety dropped from level 10 to 2 after she got back on her new Alinker. She is so happy and so on with this new invention, that she wants to create a fund to get people access to Alinkers. These crowdfunding campaigns are the first step to make Alinkers available for everybody. Selma and BE 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!
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
us as a person.
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.
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.
Together we'll make this work, in kindness and from the heart
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