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Hello! I’m Shannon Flowers from Seattle Washington. Some of you know my predicament but maybe you don’t.
In 2012, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. I spent that year going through radiation and chemotherapy. As of 2013 I was cancer free.
As time went on I developed neuropathy (numbness) in my feet and fingers from the chemo I had. I drop a TON of things and I wobble while walking. I’ve developed chronic 24/7 pain in both feet. I tried to go back to my pre-cancer job but with my fingers being numb I became a liability.
Another side effect started in 2016 in late Fall. I felt lethargic. I was sick all the time. I felt like I had the flu for weeks. After 5 months of intense tests and soooo much blood drawn we figured out what it was. I had SLE, or to non-medical folks, systemic lupus.
Lupus is a disease of the immune system. Normally your immune system protects the body from infection. With lupus, however, the immune system attacks tissues in various parts of the body. I have joint pain, we’ve determined that my lupus is starting to affect my kidneys and some muscles. I also have extreme fatigue. This paired with chronic pain is devastating.
I learned of the Alinker bike from an article on how actress Selma Blair has one and it helps her MS greatly.
I have problems walking with my neuropathy and lupus adds even more numbness to my feet and fingers. I stumble often. My fatigue limits my activity. I do have a rolling walker to take places but even on a trip to get groceries the activity will make me take a 3-5 hour nap when I get home.
As some of you know, I had the Seattle Geekly podcast with my husband and we’d go to a ton of geek conventions. I haven’t been to any conventions in the past 3 years. My social life is gone. I have to beg off so many family and friend occasions. This will replace my walker for inside as well as outside. I’m not in favor of scooters until I absolutely have to. This will keep me standing eye to eye with people rather than waist high.
I believe that if I had the Alinker bike I would be able to attend conventions again. You sit on the seat and have your legs move. Since one of my needs is breaks to sit every few minutes I really think I could get out of the house more with it.
I think I’d be able to travel more. I used to really love shopping in a mall. My friends or my sister and I would walk around, socialize and (sometimes) buy things. I didn’t think it might be a possibility until I learned of this.
I don’t like the thought of having to get a scooter. It’s confining.
i know this is a huge amount to ask. I’m on disability now and probably the rest of my life. I can’t have a job so that’s why I’m asking for help.
This bike looks like freedom to me. My rheumatologist always tells his patients to try to get outside and walk. I don’t have enough mobility right now to be able to do that right now.
So if you can help, please donate so I can be confident and leave the house. Possibly see you at a convention soon. I really appreciate it.❤️
BTW- The amount shown I need to raise is the bike + tax
Thank you for reading my story!
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