Sarah Brückner – That's how she rolls

What makes a day a good day to you?

Sarah Brückner: Getting a good night's sleep, coffee and sun are a dream. If I can also be on vacation with my family and enjoy beautiful nature, I'm perfectly happy.

Which day or moment in your life do you particularly like to remember? And why?

Sarah Brückner: The birth of my daughter, the most moving moment of my life.

What has been the biggest challenge in your life so far and how did you overcome it?

Sarah Brückner: There are a few. Most recently, probably my accident in 2021. I was at home injured for two weeks with a five-month-old baby and had to wait for an operation due to coronavirus. I could barely move and wasn't allowed to take any medication. Without my husband, I would have found it difficult to cope. My sweet daughter also gave me strength.

My biggest challenge at the moment is finally getting a suitable prosthesis made that won't leave me with pressure sores. The process has been going on for almost two years now and there is no end in sight. Patience and the belief that everything will work out in the end helps me here.

Which assistive devices are indispensable for you in everyday life and why?

Sarah Brückner: My prosthesis, without which I would not be able to walk freely.

If you could invent your own assistive device, what would it look like and what would it have to be able to do?

Sarah Brückner: Instead of a wheelchair, I would develop a kind of flying chair, so you would always be at eye level with other people and could also manage stairs effortlessly.

What do you wish for from society and your fellow human beings in dealing with people with disabilities?

Sarah Brückner: I would like to see more empathy. Without the ability to empathize with other people and try to understand them, society cannot function in my eyes. For me, empathy is the key to everything. If we were all as empathetic as possible, there would be no wars – I am firmly convinced of that.

If nothing were impossible: Who would you like to meet, what place would you like to visit or what time would you like to experience? And why?

Sarah Brückner: I would love to meet Brandi Carlile and sing a duet with her – a wonderful singer and very interesting personality. I'd also like to swim with dolphins in the wild – somewhere nice and warm. If I could beam myself back, I'd like to live in the Middle Ages for a day. Just to experience it for myself.

Are there certain topics or initiatives relating to people with disabilities that are particularly close to your heart?

Sarah Brückner: The Center for Self-Determined Living (ZSL) in Cologne, an advice center run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. I worked there for a while and got to know some wonderful people. The work there is incredibly valuable and highly competent in the field of inclusion.

Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us.

Sarah Brückner: I don't like to eat sweet things, but I really like sour things – like lemons, for example, which I nibble on just like that. I also love very salty salmiak licorice.

What significance does REHACARE have for you?

Sarah Brückner: I was there shortly after my amputation and informed myself about prostheses. We also had a stand there ourselves with the ZSL Cologne.

What's still on my mind...

Sarah Brückner: Be nice to each other!