I say "Lay off the sauce!" :D:D:D:D

Oh alright~ here's her foot's new addy
stinkyfeet@clothespin.com :D:D:D:D

Rough day today, I've decided to abort the entire bot foot project with the current gaggle of jackals and start from scratch elsewhere. As I prepared to drive a huge (to me) check up to the office, I prayed for clarity and confirmation that this is the right thing for me. I asked God to make it abundantly clear to me if I were making a mistake and He came through in spades.

Here is the condensed version of events. I was given a verbal deal of $5500 for an outright purchase of the unit as opposed to the "actual" price of $6250. I was so enamored with how the unit works for me, I figured it was best to go for it and save the $750. So, I went up to the office, paid the $5500, had receipt in hand and before leaving, decided to inspect the cool, recumbent hand-pedal trikes they have on the floor. As I was turning to leave, Jerry suddenly called me into an office and informed me that he had made a mistake.

Suddenly, the price was back up to the $6250, apologies (not from him who is never mistaken), it was all Bioness's fault and he's really sorry, but blah blah blah. Now, to me, a deal is a deal, it was sealed when I signed. Things must be different in their world. My money was given back to me and before I even got finished signing the refund receipt, my vision had begun to fail me. By the time I made it to the car, I could see only the legs moving on the playground next door.

I had to sit there and wait for my eyes as I tried to calm myself down. I can't describe the profound hurt and disappointment and anger and frustration that exploded inside me. After sitting there for 20 numb, emotionally-charged minutes, I called Earl who was good enough to let me blow my stack and he talked me down enough to at least get out of the meltdown. My eyes weren't ready so I sat and waited a bit longer.

After another 20 minutes, the president of the PT group came out to my car with sky-high apologies and swore to high heaven that he will honor the original deal. Mind you, I'm still pretty upset, so I told him I'd call on Monday. My eyes were getting a little better by then and I felt like it would be only a few more minutes when one of the desk gals came out to the car and informed me with a billion excuses that the price is now higher, but only $5700 this time.

I felt like a teenager with a wad of cash in a used car lot. "You can come back in and pay it right now, it will be here just like we promised...." "When you feel a little better, just stop back in and we'll fix you right up..." I came home and took a nap.

They called, I did not answer.

There is a lot more detail to the story but the bottom line is that they were using me as their guinea pig and they don't really know what they're doing. The other big issue is the sales rep who is actually a highly trained PT whose gifts are not in communication, customer service, or sales.

When all of this was happening, I felt that God had given me a definite "NO" on this unit and the thought of losing this opportunity completely crushed and wrecked me. I don't know right now what I'll do next but my heart wants to believe, at least for the weekend, that going with the bigger name in town will make it right— that what I think was a "NO" was just, instead, a "NOT WITH THESE IDIOTS".

It's a tremendously powerless feeling when the carrot of mobility is dangled just beyond my reach.

Sorry to be a whiner, it's really not my style.

Cindy, I am so sorry.

:hug:

I will pray that God is saying it's ok, but not with these idiots. :smileypray:

Tomorrow will be a better day..:hug:

I don't even know what to say. I do hope it will work out with the other guys, though. Dammit they knew how much that thing meant to you and they just screwed with your heart and your check book. Not cool at all!!!

((((cindy))))

i'm so sorry. i feel so bad for you.
however, i'm glad God saw fit to show you the way and how these people were manipulating you. they seem like shiesters.

i'd call the press on them.

please rest this wk/e. i'm glad you got home ok.
:hug:

This is so wrong in so many ways I cannot even begin to stop spitting and list them. :mf_argue:

I am glad that you called on prayer before you went, and got your answer, even IF it was like being hit with a Louisville Slugger. That part sucks, but an answer it was and its time to look in a different direction for the prize.

Rest and start out anew tomorrow. :grouphug:

Let me know if you need a new bat for your dancing and dining pleasure when you get back to swinging speed!:deadhorsebeat:

I'm so sorry AMN. :( :hug: If I lived close I'd go over there and rip them a new one.

Thanks, guys. :grouphug:

After a ton of sleep and some angered meltdowns, I think it was a real answer to prayer that this was the wrong thing for me to do. It may just be "not with these idiots" yet, but if it's meant to be for me, I believe it will happen in due course.

This group has lost my trust and faith and even if they offered to give it to me for nothing, I would refuse the offer from them.

In hindsight, I have been uncomfortable with this Jerry guy from the start and the warnings were probably out there. The real pain I was feeling in all this is the fear that God is saying a final "no" on this.

I won't be brooding over it for the weekend and will see if my doctor will set me up to go elsewhere and start from scratch.

In the meantime, I might go to the flea market to buy a plaid sports jacket for Jerry.

Thanks, I really appreciate the support from all of you! :grouphug:

Oh Cindy, I am so sorry. But, you have the right frame of mind - God was answering your request. Don't give up as I know you won't!

:hug:

Geez Cindy, I cannot believe what a "used car salesman" attitude this dude Jerry has. Does he have any idea what he has done? Probably not...does he care? Probably not.

"not with these idiots" is a good healthy attitude and one I admire (always) in you. I do believe you have exposed the snake oil salesman in these people and hopefully NO ONE else will suffer.

Bless you Cindy, for your clarity and God has truly answered your prayers. I hope, and know, that all will work out in the end as it should. :hug:

LOL! Plaid coat for Jerry, polyester I hope! :)

:hug:

When one door closes, another opens.

This just wasn't the "one" God intended for you, but it got you thinking and researching.

The right one will be there.

:hug:

Don't forget the bowtie. :wink:

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

Wow!

Sorry to be jumping in here late.

I would say that God was watching out for you.

These guys made a big mistake and wanted you to pay for it.

Go somewhere else and even if it cost a little more....they will have been honest and mistake free from the start.

Or....DM can follow you around with one of those cattle prods and zap you every now and then. Was it in the leg or butt? Oh well...DM zap her in both spots just because!

There is also a drug called fampridine, at the end of Phase 3 of the Clinical Trial that helps with gait. I am excited about that too!

Starting my fund jar for bioness zapper!

Get one Nap!

make their lives miserable.
did you hear about them on the today show? write them with your story.
call your local DA, call the sheriff.
call tv and the newspapers. just so some other poor person doesn't get taken.

on the other hand. you can't take this all on yourself.
skip my rambling.

get some peeps, and some beer. make a diorama.
put on your pendletons and golf shoes. and your skinny jeans.

i'm glad earl was there for you cin. i am too.

That's the *Tude* DM! Let's get him! Except with River in front I can't see a dang thing!

Hope that guy has his depends on....he is gonna need them!

Awww Cin I am sorry I am just seeing this now. :hug::hug:

Maybe its not the end of the bioness bot but it is the end of thos idiots.

All I can send right now is :hug::hug::hug:

P.S. Terpy I got the duct tape, lets go!

Cindy sorry it turned out this way. But, it might be for the best
right now. God is watching over and he is directing you to another
way.
Don't give up.

As for Jerry I am ready Gals for the posse. Got the TAR & FEATHERS

let's get him. We will show these people you don't play around
with NT friends.


sending you a :hug::hug: for now

Jappy

How'd ju know auh had a machine gun cane??:D

It wasn't hard. I googled you and found this:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...ptain/cane.jpg

Just a little update for anyone who hasn't seen my posts in the Good News thread up yonder in the Stumb.

I have been training with the Bioness L300 for just over a month now, and to be frank, it has been a veritable miracle for me. They'll have to kill me to get it away from me!

Their site: http://www.bioness.com/Bioness_for_Foot_Drop.php

You can also see patient demos by searching it on YouTube.

This time last year, my neuro and I began in earnest discussing my need for a near-full-time power chair.

Today, I walked 1/4 mile on uneven grass using only trekking poles to check my very poor balance. It's an exponentially greater distance than any I have been able to walk in over six years.


When I finally got set up with the right PT group, on the first day, the "bot foot" as I call it, allowed me to take 10-15 steps with a rollator much more easily. (It is neither robotic nor a foot, and I don't care. ;))

By faithfully doing the exercises prescribed, along with my own adaptations to accommodate my needs, my legs, hips, back, and even arms have begun to redevelop strength and coordination. It has been a blast showing off to my friends and family who have watched this once-athletic chick turn into a blob.

Last Friday, they put me through the original battery of tests to check my one-month progress and they were extremely pleased with the results.

Tomorrow is my last training day with the PT team and I am confident that I will be able to continue my unprecedented improvement!

Milestones:
-can now resist opposing force with once-dead toes/ankle
-can now lift my dead leg and hold it for a few seconds
-it is easier to get up from a seated position
-my emotional health is much improved
-my hip flexors have gone from a range of nada (45°) to the full range of 90° motion
-muscle tone in the leg is becoming visible
-my energy is up a tad
-I can walk into a store to "pick up a few things" again!
-even with it off, I've noticed much more agility in the leg and foot, including being able to lift it to a step again (sort of)

There is a lot more little stuff, and it's an ongoing process as far as I'm concerned, but this thing has literally changed my life in this one month.

I'm impossibly far from my normal, yet, this is the closest I've been to it in a very long time. :)


I will now open the floor for questions.

I can't think of any questions. I'm busy smiling. :D

That is just Awesome, Cindy! I am sooo happy for you!

Now to get sappy :hug: :hug: :hug:
(Just deal, you deserve a hug :p)

Like B2Y, I have no questions. I am too busy smiling here, with a tear in my eye.

I know how much this means to you, and how hard you worked to get where you are today. You're not done, but what a wonderful update!

You DO deserve a hug!
:hug::grouphug::hug::grouphug::hug:

Now get back to work!!!:D

I know River...I am pretty verklempt myself.:hug:

I just watched all the videos again so I can see what you are doing. It is just amazing...I am so happy for you...:)

Do you have to have foot drop for this to work? Can it work for a weak leg as well?

Hmm. Good question. It's indicated for foot drop but I could see how it could still be useful just for general movement work. There is a training mode called the Training Mode that does measured stims to help with the exercises.

It is unique to each leg so it would require two units for both legs.

I'll ask the team tomorrow if they think it could benefit a pair of needy legs. :)

Well I was just talking to Nappy a few minutes ago and she was telling me all about her bot foot walking adventures :D

I might have misunderstood her but she said something about pole dancing :eek::eek::eek: or maybe it was pole-walking....nope had to be pole dancing since she has a hook in her car and calls herself a hooker :rolleyes:

Oh, it all makes sense now. That's how she is making the money to pay for bot. I get it. Yup! That's it Shells!

Shelley, you might just be an authentic girl pig. LOL!!!!

Well, it was a bittersweet day at PT, it was my last day with my awesome training team and I'm going to miss those terrific people. They have all been just great and have helped me so much, I feel a huge debt of gratitude toward each one of them.

They were very pleased with the pole walking and could see good potential for building balance and repairing my posture. We retested my times on the obstacle course with walker/cane/poles and my times were all good, but slower with the poles. They said that it's early to test me on "four-point" walking, but definitely agreed with my using them. I was glad to have their endorsement because I am seriously digging the poles.

I was kind of sad because today my goal was to get up off the ground with nothing to climb on, but, I just couldn't do it. They gave me some more maneuvers to practice with at home. No one was especially hopeful, but nor did they think it impossible with time and practice.

Sal: I asked about the potential benefits of using the system just for leg training in your situation and the overall response was that you should definitely ask your neuro for a scrip and at least go try them out. One gal even thought that if you were to be quite diligent with a set of exercises, you might just find yourself wanting to hook up your shoes and give it a go.

The training mode works without the shoe part, so you can definitely use it with bare feet. I do it every day.

Yet. Give that time. And consider that that is tough for a LOT of people.

What you have accomplished - in what, a few weeks? - is amazing.

Thanks, Brain and all, I really did need to be reminded of that. I'm so hopped up on this thing that I forget to keep things in perspective. I do know, somewhere in my spotted brain, that it's outrageous to expect myself to undo years of damage in just weeks, but my heart is already halfway up Pike's Peak!:o

Thanks Nappy for finding out about the other possible uses of your BotNess..:) If I were in better shape and maybe younger, I'd give it a go, but I don't think Pike's Peak is in my future....Nor do I want it to be..:eek:. I'll leave that challenge for you trekker types.;)

I find myself wishing that, just liked LDN, that this had come into my life 15 years ago..:(

So, you people who are still strong and can get around pretty well with their canes and walkers, ought to give the Ness a try. I think you can rent them, too? Insurance coverage will come around, I think?

:hug: