Beth's New Leg Gear
Donation protected
Beth's Story
Twenty-three years ago my Aunt Beth developed a severe case of relapsing Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS, an autoimmune disease that confuses the immune system into attacking its own body. When a relapse or “attack” happens, the immune system creates lesions on the myelin sheath that protects the nervous system. This interrupts the messages the brain sends to the body.
MS has greatly affected Beth. She has constant numbness in both hands and from the waist down making it difficult to lift her feet and legs and it’s nearly impossible for her to walk. Her vision has diminished enough that she is unable to drive and cannot read or see things in detail without significant magnification.
The Need
This summer while attending physical therapy she learned of the Bioness leg device, which helps people with nervous system damage walk more normally and with greater ease. The first day that she tried the device on both legs she was utterly amazed (shown in the before and after videos)! She told me she had not walked with such ease in 23 years! She started by walking with two canes at the first session since her legs weren’t used to supporting her weight. However, after eight weeks in physical therapy with the Bioness devices, her muscles grew stronger and she only needed one cane! Amazingly by the end of the summer she was also able to walk up a flight of stairs in 30 seconds and trek across uneven ground without much effort.
My aunt’s doctors agree the Bioness devices have worked miracles and she desperately needs them for both legs in order to keep living without being confined to a wheelchair as long as possible. Since Bioness makes walking much easier, she has gained back enormous amounts of energy that was once used for the difficult task of trying to walk!
Bioness is very expensive, and unfortunately, is not covered by insurance. She has one Bioness device for each leg; however, the electrodes required for the device’s continued operation have to be replaced every two weeks and will cost several thousand dollars per year.
Before Bioness :
With Bioness!
Wishes:
For my aunt, the Bioness device will be life changing. She says they will allow her to once again:
- Ride her tandem bike with her husband.
- Play with her 10-year-old daughter Adelisa and be involved in her school activities.
- Have the energy to complete the meaningful work she’s dreamed of after earning her master’s degree.
Twenty-three years ago my Aunt Beth developed a severe case of relapsing Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS, an autoimmune disease that confuses the immune system into attacking its own body. When a relapse or “attack” happens, the immune system creates lesions on the myelin sheath that protects the nervous system. This interrupts the messages the brain sends to the body.
MS has greatly affected Beth. She has constant numbness in both hands and from the waist down making it difficult to lift her feet and legs and it’s nearly impossible for her to walk. Her vision has diminished enough that she is unable to drive and cannot read or see things in detail without significant magnification.
The Need
This summer while attending physical therapy she learned of the Bioness leg device, which helps people with nervous system damage walk more normally and with greater ease. The first day that she tried the device on both legs she was utterly amazed (shown in the before and after videos)! She told me she had not walked with such ease in 23 years! She started by walking with two canes at the first session since her legs weren’t used to supporting her weight. However, after eight weeks in physical therapy with the Bioness devices, her muscles grew stronger and she only needed one cane! Amazingly by the end of the summer she was also able to walk up a flight of stairs in 30 seconds and trek across uneven ground without much effort.
My aunt’s doctors agree the Bioness devices have worked miracles and she desperately needs them for both legs in order to keep living without being confined to a wheelchair as long as possible. Since Bioness makes walking much easier, she has gained back enormous amounts of energy that was once used for the difficult task of trying to walk!
Bioness is very expensive, and unfortunately, is not covered by insurance. She has one Bioness device for each leg; however, the electrodes required for the device’s continued operation have to be replaced every two weeks and will cost several thousand dollars per year.
Before Bioness :
With Bioness!
Wishes:
For my aunt, the Bioness device will be life changing. She says they will allow her to once again:
- Ride her tandem bike with her husband.
- Play with her 10-year-old daughter Adelisa and be involved in her school activities.
- Have the energy to complete the meaningful work she’s dreamed of after earning her master’s degree.
Organizer and beneficiary
Nicole Elizabeth
Organizer
San Diego, CA
Beth Fullwiler
Beneficiary
