Mobility isn’t black & white
X’s story
Mobility is different for everyone. It’s personal and it comes in all shapes and colors.
Through our collaboration with Neo Walk, we had the chance to get to know X who showed us how mobility isn’t just black and white.
Meet X
With an artistic spirit woven into her very being, X grew up in a home filled with harmonious creativity. During her time in Chicago, she co-founded the experimental music group Care of the Cow, now celebrating an incredible 50 years together. Now residing in New York’s East Village, X has transitioned from a successful career as a magazine art director to embracing the newfound time in exploring more of her enthusiasms.
After her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, X faced a significant shift in her mobility, transitioning from a cane to a rollator. Rather than viewing this change as a setback, she is empowered by her mobility aids, which fueled her determination to pursue her passions and live life on her terms – and make it become a part of herself.
“After my diagnosis, I had walked with a cane for a couple of years until – within a period of a few months – I went from taking the subway, to taking the bus, to taking a car, to needing assistance getting from my building into a car.”
Time for extra support
I began to use a rollator when I had a rather dramatic, to my mind, loss of walking in 2021.
After my MS-diagnosis, I had walked with a cane for a couple of years until – within a period of a few months – I went from taking the subway, to taking the bus, to taking a car, to needing assistance getting from my building into a car. Needless to say, | was devastated. When my neurologist suggested a rollator might help, byACRE came up in my research.
As I learned more and more about them, all other options fell away. I invested in a compact size Carbon Ultralight and my life was restored to me!
“I feel empowered by just being able to walk. I feel like my rollator has become a part of who I am, like my self-knitted berets, my funny haircut or my shoelaces.”
Feeling empowered
I feel empowered by just being able to walk. I feel like my rollator has become a part of who I am, like my self-knitted berets, my funny haircut or my shoelaces. I get many compliments on my rollator (my “sportscar,” “Porsche,” “Ferrari…” Today someone said “Cadillac”).
Who knew a mobility aid could be so beautiful? Design has always been important to me and I could not help but be impressed by the sleek shape of the byACRE, its saturated color, its surface. I love that it looks light, not cumbersome, and seems to inhabit rather than interrupt any space it’s in.
Of course, I considered function first. But people have actually asked me if I bought my rollator because of the way it looks!
“I can zip around and feel as if I am walking unaided. That is a real plus for me – not feeling like I am dragging something around or something is dragging me around!”
Mobility is individual – so is your need for a mobility aid
I mostly use a rollator. I ‘wall surf’ indoors, but wide open spaces defeat me; I lose my balance and cannot navigate unaided.
I want to keep upright and rolling around for a long time! I am so grateful to have a rollator as an option.
One thing I have loved about my rollator, is how lean and mean I can be completely unencumbered (unlike many rollators). I can zip around and feel as if I am walking unaided. That is a real plus for me – not feeling like I am dragging something around or something is dragging me around!
I have been on the bus and have gotten up to exit and have seen the surprise on peoples’ faces when I opened up my rollator – they didn’t realize I had one!
“In order to operate easily in the so-called “normal” everyday world, being able to move is key.”
Keep moving
In order to operate easily in the so-called “normal” everyday world, being able to move is key. I need to GO to the ceramics studio, I need to SHOP for yarn, I need to meet my bandmates to play music in a FAR AWAY city.
I value my independence. People have been unfailingly kind and helpful. But I could not do things on my own without my mobility aids.