"Some day they are going to kill you," Bonnie remembers one doctor telling her while they discussed amputating her legs. 

Bonnie medical saga began when she was an athletic teenager living in California and suffering records in track, field and swimming competitions. Her polo team won the Southern California championship. 

Bonnie and her swim teammates sometimes would start the day with a two-hour workout, Afterwards they would meet at the beach and play football, Then they would have another two-hour workout in the evening. 

During one football game Bonnie caught the ball, turned to run and felt her right knee pop. The injured joint developed water on the knee and would not heal. She continued to swim but had to use crutches to walk. 

"That was really the beginning of the end for sports, and everything," Bonnie said. 

Then Bonnie woke up one morning with pain in her knees, hips, ankles and wrists and was unable to get out of bed. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. 

"At that point I went right into a wheelchair," Bonnie said. She was home schooled during her senior year of high school. 

After starting college in a wheelchair, Bonnie progressed to using crutches and being able to walk for short distances. 

Shortly before graduating from college. The arthritis rapidly worsened. Bonnie ended up back in a wheelchair and unable to walk. 

"I got to the point where I couldn't even swim," Bonnie said. 

Her limited mobility contributed to poor circulation. As a result any cut or bruise on her legs would not heal properly. The wounds would become infected. 

One doctor advised her to spend weeks in bed with her legs elevated to help improve her circulation and heal the wounds. Bonnie admits that she did not strictly follow his advice, "It was just pure torture for me," Bonnie said. 'If  I laid in bed, it was like being in prison".

Bonnie's husband tried to improve circulation by massaging her legs for hours. Bonnie also tried wearing a wrap device that was supposed to squeeze the edema out of her legs. The wrap helped but had several drawbacks. Putting on the device was like putting a child in and out of a snowsuit, according to Bonnie. Besides taking hours to work, the wrap also would rub blisters.

Since oral antibiotics did not work well against the infections due to her circulation problems, Bonnie frequently had to be admitted to the hospital and treated with intravenous antibiotics. 

"I felt like I was doing the Infection of the Month Club".  Bonnie said. Each trip to the hospital was a scary experience because Bonnie never knew if the antibiotics would work or if the infection would spread and kill her. 

At this desperate point, Bonnie was introduced to a couple from her neighborhood, Dr. Andrew and Brenda Kim, Dr. Kim markets the Revitalizer, a machine that is designed to aid circulatory and other problems. He loaned Bonnie a machine to try. 

Since Bonnie began using the Revitalizer about two years ago, she has not had any infections in her legs. She credits the Revitalizer with saving her legs and her life. 

"I told them it was like a miracle to me," Bonniesaid. "I figure it probably has saved my life because it stopped me from having all these horrible infection."

Dr. Kim explained that since most people spend their days standing or sitting, blood can flow easily down to the legs, but gravity makes it more difficult for blood to return to the heart. Blood and edema can pool in the legs and cause a heavy uncomfortable feeling. 

The Revitalizer uses vibration to stimulate circulation. Users can place their legs on top of the machine to have their legs gently vibrated. 

"I found that it was just incredible how quickly the shaking made my swelling go down in my leg," Bonnie reported. 

Instead of suffering with muscle aches and stinging skin caused by swollen legs, Bonnie generally uses the Revitalizer twice a day to reduce swelling and improve circulation. 

Revitalizer users also can put their ankles on a footrest that moves back and forth. This exercise, known as the "goldfish" exercise because of the motion helps to adjust the spine, according to Dr. Kim. 

"When you do this fish exercise every day, you'll prevent all kinds of problems," Dr. Kim said. 

The Revitalizer also comes with a special belt that can be used to massage necks and shoulders. 

"Every family should have the machine, and they should use it daily," Dr. Kim recommended. 

Although Dr. Kim has marketed a similar machine in Canada for about 25 years, the Revitalizer was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the US less than three years ago. Since receiving FDA approval, Dr. Kim has sold at least 100 machines, 

The Revitalizers are built in Korea to Dr. Kim's specifications.