Uncategorized – Page 37 – Ebony on Everything

October 18, 2020October 18, 2020

Who’s Next?!?!? I’m Next

This was not going to be my next post, but I was definitely hoping to share it for this October MS Awareness month in honor of me. What a great early birthday gift.

It is finally here. What I have been waiting to talk about. Drum roll please 🥁🥁🥁🥁, introducing the Alinker.

I was first introduced to the Alinker by Selma Blair. I was checking out her page on Instagram and I saw her sitting on one. I was like, “What is that?” I clicked on the link she had under the picture and it took me to their page. As you know I’m still mobile. The style of walk is penguin. Lol. This is due to spasticity, the stiffen of muscles which prevents normal movement. My sunrise friend Gerard says, “You just got a little flavor to your walk.” Lol. Thanks dude. I cannot walk long distances without some form of assistance. My legs tire out pretty quick. I have been on trips where my friend Monica has had to carry me piggy back because I was dragging so bad. Or whoever was walking with me had to stay behind while I took multiple rest breaks. I love and appreciate my friends for their endless support and consideration. I’m not going to cry. But it truly means so much to me. Now the Alinker has entered the chat.

This little doodad right here can solve the problems I just listed and some. Not only would I be able to keep up with my friends on trips but no one would have to carry me at all. On solo trips, I can really get out there and explore the way that I want to. I will strap my GoPro onto the front and record all my adventures. I would be able to go to the park and actually do the full trail. Oh the places I can go. These are all the thoughts rushing through my mind when I see this bike.

Now this is where I am in need of assistance. The bike is retailing at $2,200. Yeah, I knew it wasn’t cheap when I seen Selma sitting on it. It is not like I have seen everyday people walking around on this bike. And it has been out in the US since 2016, created in 2014. I have started a Crowdfunding page that people can donate to help me get this beauty. I am not asking for any specific amount. It is whatever you are able to give. Be it a dollar or five dollars. I know that it will add up and I will get this bike. And that is the ultimate goal. If you want to share with others, I would appreciate that as well. I am easy to please. I just want to continue to enjoy this life as much as I can. There is times that I may not participate in activities not just because I am antisocial. But because the logistics of the activity requires too much energy. I don’t want to have that reason anymore.

Here is a video from YouTube talking about the Alinker.

Right now there is a tremendous waiting list and they are not accepting any new campaigns. The team at Alinker wants to clear out a few campaigns first. If you know someone who would benefit from this awesome bike, please share this post. It would be great for them to know about it and get everything together for when they are accepting new campaigns.

Today Alinker launched 10 new campaigns and I am so grateful to be one of them. This is the link to donate for my campaign.

Alinker Family Crowdfunding – Alinker USA
https://www.thealinker.com/pages/crowdfund-alinker-family

Once again, I appreciate all the love and support throughout this journey. Thank you. Continue to be well and whole. Much love 🧡 💚.

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020

MS-cellaneous Pt. 4, Fall Edition

For the whole month of October I am going to be talking about multiple sclerosis(MS) even though it is not MS Awareness month. March is MS Awareness month and I have some posts that you can check out if you want to read my MS story. If you go on my blog page at www.ebonyoneverything.com, there is a category on the right side or bottom of the page called MS-cellaneous. This category contains all my previous posts regarding Multiple Sclerosis. Someone great was born in October who just happens to have MS, me! I am speaking about MS because I was challenged by a group of ladies to do something that makes me feel uncomfortable. Talking about MS makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t want to dwell on it. It is a part of my life just like work, sleep and the weather. These are topics we briefly discuss and move on. That is how I like to treat MS. Well, I accepted the challenge, so let’s talk.

On Friday, September 25th, I stuck a needle into my thigh muscle. The syringe contained my new MS medication called Avonex. Avonex is an interferon beta-1b medication that helps to inhibit inflammation that causes MS flare ups. Avonex may slow the progression of physical disability in people with multiple sclerosis. I had a nurse educator, Renee, there with me to coach me through the process. She came with sample placebo syringes for me to practice on a fake piece of flesh a few times before I did it on my actual flesh. It is so much easier stabbing fake meat versus real meat. Lol. Ok if you have read this blog at all, by now y’all should know I’m crazy. If you are new here, please read some previous blogs. I don’t take much to heart. Though an MS diagnosis is a pretty serious issue, I approach it with humor. How else do you get through a day?

The start of Avonex had me injecting only 1/4 dose with an increase of an additional 1/4 dose until the fourth week when I use the recommended dosage. The shot is injected once a week. I usually like to administer this type of medication on Fridays. One of the side effects is flu-like symptoms. Friday injections allows me to recover over the weekend, if I was to experience any side effects. The last time I started an injection medication the side effects didn’t hit me until the middle of the week. I had to be wheel out of work in a wheelchair, which I do not use, and driven home by my coworkers. My body locked up and I couldn’t even walk or bend my legs. What a day that was. Took a couple of Aleve and was back in busy a few hours later. Everyone was freaked out though. Especially my boss. Couldn’t return to work without a doctor’s note. Lol. I don’t blame her.

This will be my fourth medication. I am hoping it will either be my last or I will be able to use it for at least a few years. I am starting to get discouraged with these medications. They all have scary side effect warnings and I just don’t know if they are even working. But the goal is to stay mobile. So I am willing to give it a try.

Since I have accepted the challenge that means I am available for any questions you may have in regards to multiple sclerosis. Whether it is general information about the disease or personal information about my life with the disease. You can leave your questions in the comment box below or email me at elsims27@yahoo.com. This stands true for the whole month of October. After that, I ain’t doing it. Lol. No, I will still be available. I did not really know what MS was until I got it, so I don’t expect anyone to know about it unless they have it or someone close to them has it. That is the way it goes with most diseases. So I can be your MS educator.

The weather is changing. It is getting cooler. People will be in the house more. The leaves will turn all those beautiful colors that represents my favorite season, fall. But we are still in the middle of a pandemic. So masks will still need to be wore and care taken with your health. Continue to be well and whole. Much love 🧡 💚

September 29, 2020

Ridiculously Amazing

This was true for me today. So I went to get my license tag for my car. It is a bit early but I just wanted to get it out of the way. I had already decided to get two year tags. Just found out about this option recently and thought that was a good idea. My driver’s license expires in 2022 and I could just kill two birds with one stone that year. Good! Well, not so much. Come to find out, I never got my tag last year 😳. I have been riding dirty as hell for 11 months. WTF!!! When I tell y’all I was disturbed, I mean I was flabbergasted. That is so not like me. I break rules but some rules I abide by with no questions asked and having a current tag is one of them.

Now I am on my phone looking at my calender of what happened last year. Trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Why would I have not gotten my tags!?!?!?! Unfortunately, the phone did not give me any clues. I even called my friend Shayla to see if she could remember what happened last year. I know that is unreasonable for her to remember what was going on in my life, but it was worth a try. Now here comes the funny part. I had noticed the tag on my car was for 2019 about a month ago and I thought someone had stolen my tag. I was going to file a police report 😆. I told my mom and my friends this shit. I was talking all types of junk. On top of it, I couldn’t find my registration so I just knew someone had taken both 🤦🏾‍♀️.

I drive a lot. I have been up and down these roads non-stop. I just went to Detroit, MI on Saturday. I have been to South Carolina, Cleveland, OH, Lima, OH, Ann Arbor, MI, Trenton, MI and so many other trips here and there. Y’all I have even been in a car accident! No one notice this. This is just unreal. When I tell y’all God is Good, this is an understatement. He has had my back for the last 11 months and I had no idea. I am blown away. I am filled with so much gratitude for this blessing. Thank God!

I know y’all have heard the saying that said God is working things out even when we can’t see it or feel it. This is a prime example. Here I am thinking I’m good. Don’t have a clue that I am driving illegally. And God has protected me. So my day was ridiculous because I couldn’t believe this bit of information or that I had messed up so bad. But it was amazing because I felt God’s grace, favor and mercy working in my life.

I just had to share this story. Today they charged me for this year’s tag and last year’s tag. Now I still have to go back next year for a new tag and 2022 for a tag and new driver’s license. Oh well, at least I know in 2022 I can get a two year tag and won’t have to return for another 2 years. Has this happen to anyone else besides me? Got a story to tell? Please leave it in the comments or you can email me at elsims27@yahoo.com. Continue to be well and whole and check your license plates 😂. Much love 🧡 💚