Encourager Bidi

My first thought was, can I have more children? Four children have always been my goal in life. And then my doctor said there's nothing wrong with having kids. I also asked if I could pass on MS or not. And so I was reassured and poof, poof, I was pregnant. The four children became five children, but yes, it just fits. It's fun, it's exhausting and you need good support and I have that too.

There were good years now, but also years where there was a push again. When I look back now, I have been struggling with walking for 5 / 6 years. The distances have become shorter and shorter, it becomes strenuous. And so it is now, but I still walk on two legs.

How old were you when MS was discovered?

I was 24 years old.

It started with bad vision and then it started again? But it was better during pregnancy, right?

During the pregnancies it was better. The first pregnancy I had a relapse. But that was not because of the pregnancy, because I was always fine during the pregnancies. And I also had hormonal contraception before that and I was fine. When I took this off, there was a surge. I'm sure there is a connection with my hormones.

In my first pregnancy I was prone to colds. During the first years I had to be careful of every cold, because after a cold there was often a relapse. That was in the first pregnancy, but apart from that the pregnancies were always top-notch.

Now you've decided on a walker wheelchair. How was the way there? How did you decide that you needed one?

It wasn't easy at first. Just like the first time I went outside with a cane. I had problems with my balance and then the doctor told me to use a walking stick to cushion it. The first time I went into the supermarket with a bright red pear. But I soon noticed that people look at me differently with the cane because I walk around. In the past, they used to look at me as if I had a stick because I walked so funny. With the cane I have set a sign: No, I can not help it. Since then, people have been getting out of the way and making room. So I actually find it very pleasant. It was the same with the wheelchair.

You have the Rollz Motion Performance, it has pneumatic tyres. How do you use it mainly? The Rollz Motion is a rollator wheelchair and you said you use it mainly as a wheelchair.

Yes as a wheelchair. Like I said I don't go far alone anymore. If I do, I do my rounds with my walkin sticks here in front of the house. When I want to do some gymnastics. But the wheelchair is actually always with me in the car when we go somewhere, so my husband can push me. That I simply don't overexert myself and am still mobile. And that is great. That's really perfect.

And you told me that you had the Rollz Motion with you on vacation.

Yeah. Our son works in Ireland and then we flew over in January. There I also used the airline's wheelchair service. Which is great. I was first driven to the gate and picked up again. We had my own wheelchair with us, because we need one in Ireland, too. I was driven to the gate, the wheelchair was folded and the airline stowed it away.

How does it feel to those who push you? Is it pleasant?

Back in Ireland I still had the Rollz Motion, now I have the Rollz Motion Performance with pneumatic tyres. The pneumatic tires are a great relief. A for me to sit on, because it is just softer. And B for those who push, it is easier.

What was it like when you first used the wheelchair? Was that a breakthrough for you?

The very first time I rented a wheelchair in America. And so now when I used the Rollz Motion it was no longer the overcoming because I just realized it was good for me. The biggest overcoming was the stick. And I think to myself, if you have already overcome yourself the first time, then everything else is an aid which just helps.

Finally, do you have a few words for someone who is in the situation that they should or want to get an aid?

I can only suggest to everyone to just try it out. You don't have to get it right away, maybe it doesn't fit at all. But the cane helps me and the wheelchair helps me in any case. Because you take part in life so much again and that is simply beautiful. I know it takes a lot of effort in the beginning, but once you have used it, it is so much easier. And that's why everyone should just try it.