I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2014 and some of my first symptoms were a problem with the feeling of electricity shooting up my legs when running. Previously I had been a runner and hiker and went to the gym four days a week. However the shooting electricity caused me to have to stop running, but I could still walk up hill on a treadmill to get exercise.

After a few years on Gilenya, an MS medication to pause the progression of the disease I found myself getting extremely fatigued, heat sensitive and feeling like I was carrying a few cinder blocks on my legs. That’s when I found out I had a growing lesion on my spine affecting my nerves for my legs. Becuase of this I was put on Ocrevus which is an infusion drug and much more effective at pausing the MS than Gilenya.

The above led me to researching mobility scooters. Since I was 40 years old when researching mobility scooters I didn’t want to just go buy any scooter that would technically carry me. Also being the engineer that I am, I researched for months before choosing one. I wanted it to do everything. I also wanted it to go at least the same speed I would walk before I had trouble (4.2mph). I didn’t want it to get in the way of keeping up with my kids or catching up to my family when going to amusement parks. I had used those scooters that big box stores lend out and they always illicit strange stares from people seeing me ride because I don’t look injured. They also go extremely slowly and accelerate like a turtle. They also keep the rider below normal walking height.

Here are the choices I started with.