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  • Thijs Hendriks – That's how he rolls

Thijs Hendriks – That's how he rolls

18.09.2019

Hendriks Thijs is a tetraplegic and supports the rights of people with spinal paralysis in his association "Quereinsteiger" (lateral entrants). He tries to support those affected and their relatives in the first period after accidents. On Thursday at the TREFFPUNKT, he tells us that a life with even the most severe physical disability is worthwhile. What else moves him, he tells at REHACARE.com.
Photo: Thijs Hendriks; Copyright: private

Name: Hendriks Thijs
Age: 39
City: Duisburg, Germany
Occupation: As chairman of "Quereinsteiger e.V.", I give seminars, for example, to nursing schools preparing them for their own outpatient intensive care service.
Impairment: I am a quadriplegic (paraplegic) and am ventilated in a controlled manner.

What makes you laugh?

Thijs Hendriks: My nieces, nephews and children of friends. Fun company for example from friends and dark humor.

What have you always been wanting to do and why have you never done this so far?

Thijs Hendriks: My motto in life is: "Don't see what can't be done anymore, concentrate on the things you can still do". The things that I can and would like to do, I also tackle.

Which person has influenced you most? And why?

Thijs Hendriks: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, because he has always fought peacefully for his and especially for the rights of other people.

You have the chance to become the Commissioner for the Disabled. What would you do first?

Thijs Hendriks:  I would advocate transparent, fair and uniform remuneration for pensions.

Gif animation: REHACARE 2025 from 17 to 20 September 2025 in Düsseldorf/Germany, linked to "More information about the Trade Fair"
Photo: Thijs Hendriks; Copyright: private

14 years ago Thijs Hendriks fell from a friend's shoulders at a rock concert and broke his neck. Since then he can only feel and move his face and gets controlled ventilation. But for him this is no reason not to want to change the world.

What is especially near and dear to you?

Thijs Hendriks: Peace, Nature/Environment, Family and Friends

I would like to be...

Thijs Hendriks: ...Minister of Health. Then I would tackle the grievances in nursing both in hospitals and in outpatient care at their roots and ensure more recognition and fair, uniform remuneration.

Which question would you like answered the most?

Thijs Hendriks: Why do people always want to own more than they already have? Everything but a roof over your head, a bed, access to clean water, the knowledge that you have something to eat on the table tomorrow and a right to education is luxury.

What else I wanted to say...

Thijs Hendriks: Life is worth it! No matter how big or how many packages you have to carry. You only have this one. Make the most of it!

Grafik: So tickt; Copyright: beta-web/Schmitz

© beta-web/Schmitz

What makes other people actually happy in life? If you ever wondered, you have come to the right place. In regular intervals REHACARE.com asks a varity of people always the same questions. What results from that? Read for yourself!

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