Alicia Ebert-Wyatt hasn't added a story.
Hi, I'm Alicia and I am a mom! It's an amazing thing to be a mother. My first was an "opps", I was told i would never get pregnant without IVF. So clearly the best most welcomed "opps" in history. He is 10 now. Brilliant, funny, sweet inspiration and inspired himself to be an entrepreneur and a scientist. 5 years of fertility treatment later came my daughter. She is a ball of energy strong willed fierce little beast. She will one day rule the world. Hopefully it won't be post-apocalyptic but if it is be sure she'll save the cats! Like most women with MS who are also mothers with each of my my children came more symptoms. After my son was born the doctors were so surprised to see a case of pregnancy-related carpal tunnel after the baby was born. And the leg drop symptoms were attributed to my first epidural coming out of my back and the second one not working. Fast forward 2 years and moving across country with the 18 month old. I had a stress induced bout of optic neuritis. I was told that "losing my sight in my right eye was a great thing because it made it so much easier for them to diagnose my MS"! Luckily after my first round of steroid infusions my sight came back. I get to see my beautiful children and be reminded of what a blessing it is to have your sight. Now I'm not going to say I want to lose my hearing but some days I would be okay with that but my sight is so valuable to me even more so having had the experience of not known if I was going to keep it completely. (While trying to write this my kids have been arguing about how to break out of prison, they are playing video games together, the Miracle of summer break)!
Fast forward a few more years, a few more moves around the country (Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Massachusetts, Maryland). If you cant tell im from Massachusetts where all my family is. I reset for strength and the typical East Coast uptight boss b**** that i was born to be. Thanks to my grandmother who was a twin born on Halloween who later gave birth to 7 daughters who all run the show. I cant go back to live in Boston. My marriage has come to an end. I cant move out of state without risking loosing custody. Not being able to share a bed because if you accidentally touch someone's legs they cry and just not being the nurturing type takes it's toll. We may say "in sickness and in health" but no one really thinks of what that actually means. No one plans to be sick or have a partner who becomes sick. There is no what to expect when your wife has MS book. Hell there's no what to expect when I have MS book. You can't even get a doctor to answer a question half the time because of the answer is always "MS is different for everyone". Talk about infuriating! So now im a single mom living in Maryland below the Mason-Dixon line the HOT humid south.
Being a white woman over 35 getting divorced has its perks. Welcome to the crazy cat lady phase of life!! Before I could only have 2 cats. Right now in my house is 9! Like the number of lives they say cats have! I actually started a small cattery with my children Assassin Kitty Cattery, kittens so cute they kill. We are all about drop dead adorable cats. It has given me and the kids something to focus on other than divorce, we have a common goal and family focus. My son is Mr. Science so its been an awesome experiment for him as well. We breed Scotish Kilts a cross between munchkins and Scottish Folds. They track how many are folded, short, both or just cats. They have been a blessing to us during this transition. I even groom them myself, I've mastered the lion cut. I actually hope to get a license in pet grooming with the help of the Alinker.
Motherhood, multiple sclerosis, and divorce are all things that came at me out of left feild (although motherhood was always wanted). I've been doing my best to keep rolling with the punches and stay me and keep growing and evolving with and to my circumstances. Even started driving for Lyft and Uber to pay the bills. I was voted best driver in Baltimore in my first year! But that has taken a toll on me and I need to get back at my drawing board and roll on. I'm hoping to live my passion for food and healthy baking and create my own breed of cats and even start trying some open mic nights at some comedy spots. It's strange how the more that things get thrown at you, the more freedom you can feel. I fell so much gratitude for the things that I do have and appreciation for the good times. Im ready to get out and own my world and my life and make it the best it can possibly be. I look forward to my new partner in crime too, hello crazy yellow banana Alinker!
One of the most humbling things about having MS is having to ask for help. It gets easier and the gratitude grows too. Im thankful for what i can still do but im greatful for all who are willing to help take some of the load from time to time.
Thanks for taking the time to know me a little.
Alicia
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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