Michel Joulié

How did you meet Sebastien and Jordan ?

I was told about WalkMe by an article in Midi Libre. My first impression has been somewhat mixed.

A friend of mine who is an electrotherapist told me a few weeks later about someone who had tested WalkMe with great satisfaction. From that day on, I made all necessary steps to contact Sebastien and Jordan.

 

As a patient, what is your current lifestyle ?
What changed since you have been ill ?

All of a sudden I was told that I had Parkinson’s while being in hospital for some other reason. Basically, I’m very active. I am a motorbike rider After the diagnosis was confirmed, I sold my Harleys, I changed my car’s manual gearbox into an automatic one. I have a boat but I don’t use it anymore when I am alone. My life has truly been affected by this disease.

 

What do you think of current treatments ?

My contacts with neurologists have been very difficult. During the appointments, they never gave me any advice on how to organize myself with Parkinson. They were considering that I was still at the early beginning of the disease and therefore there wasn’t much to do. I just had to wait. The interviews with them were never encouraging. They never brought me any solution to help me face the disease. It’s been almost a year and a half since I haven’t seen anyone of them.

I met a neurologist in Grenoble who practices electrostimulation. He was very friendly during our appointment. I immediately asked to be part of the selection of patients admitted to treatment, even though the neurologist well explained to me that neurostimulation wasn’t for everyone and that with my diabetes, the risk of infection was high. Since February 3rd, day of our appointment, I never had any feedback in spite of 5 phone calls to his secretary’s office. had back, despite 5 calls to the secretariat. I do not know where my file stands.Anyway, sincerely, since I discovered WalkMe, I never called them back.

 

How was the test ?

Sebastian asked me to walk along straight line without the device, to start. Then he asked to walk again with the device. I felt like released. I was able to make a u-turn without trampling once, very smoothly and without losing my balance.

I’ve seen many surprising things in my life, but something like that, never!. It’s simple, if I were 20 years younger, I would sell my house and join RESILIENT innovation as a partner.

 

What was the your relatives’ reaction during the test ?

My wife burst into tears.

 

And since this first test, what happened ?

I suggested Sebastian that I could find other testers, particularly in Beziers where I live. The more the device is tested, the faster its development and availability will be. So I decided to organize a meeting. I contacted Parkinson’s disease foundation but also people from medical and paramedical fields. They were all been very hard to find and quite difficult to convince. People with Parkinson’s disease have a true sense of denial regarding their illness, and often rely on themselves. About the physiotherapists, speech therapists, managers of retirement homes, I had to work hard because they remain very cautious. They do not want to give any false hope to the patients. They protect their patients as long as there is no absolute proof which is to their credit.

I finally managed to bring 55 people in April 2016 including 15 people with Parkinson’s disease. Sebastian was also there. The 15 patients tested the device and they all saw how positive were the effects when they wore the WalkMe. A lady in her 60’s which could only move with a Walker even executed some tango steps with her husband which definitely impressed and satisfied the helping and caring staff who was attending in the room.

 

Did you make any comment to Sebastien and Jordan after the test ?

From a technical point of view, no, I am not a doctor.

But at a commercial level, one thing is sure. In spite of their patent, it is obvious that they will be copied. The life expectancy of their discovery is short- according to me 2 years at the most ! When the device will be launched, the volume of demands will be so high that they won’t be able to meet the orders. China will copy their invention much faster than we think. Thus, they should flood the market massively from the beginning, to meet all demands and then be redeemed by a larger structure. They would then receive royalties which would enable them to quietly pursue their research. They are too small, they won’t be able to fight against competitors and copies. (OFF)

 

How do you intend to use the device ?

Every day, all day long, as soon as I am in a vertical position.

 

What about the price ?

It is a tremendous amount of money but I can’t give up. The benefit gained with WalkMe is really worth a microcredit.

 

Any word to define WalkMe ?

Alleluia.
And yet I’m not a believer.