My son, the pilot

An accident at work left Koen in a wheelchair. This changed a lot in his life but also in the lives of the people around him.

When Koen turned out to have a spinal cord injury after his accident, it was a big shock for him, but also for the people around him. Koen had to recover and everyone increasingly realised what the new reality had become. So did Koen's father. He thought the worst thing about the new situation was not the wheelchair itself, but that so much would change in his son's life. This new reality came rock hard when he saw Koen in a wheelchair for the first time. 'So this is what it looks like from now on...'

But in this shock there was also great pride. From day one, Koen's father saw him struggling, which suited his driven nature. And it certainly showed. Rehabilitation went like a rocket, the different steps in the process followed at breakneck speed. After six weeks, Koen was rehabilitated and allowed to go home. Koen did not sit still there either. He continued to struggle to be where he is today. Something his father admires enormously about him. 'He commands respect with that.'

His parents have made small adjustments in their home for Koen. For instance, they take into account the space between furniture when they move things around. Really big changes were not necessary because, just like before the wheelchair, Koen is easy to get along with and doesn't make problems of anything.

Koen walked for the first time again in the Sint Maartenskliniek with the Rewalk. This was attended by his father Eeb time, but that was a long time ago. At the MARCH VI reveal in August, they saw Koen standing up and walking again for the first time in a long time. When Koen entered the room, his parents were beaming with pride. But of course, it was also very emotional to see your son standing upright again after so many years. 'A grandiose moment!'

'It was great to see the achievement Koen and the team had achieved after so much effort and time.' Koen's father can imagine that the exoskeleton can provide more self-confidence. O he sees that it can contribute to the overall well-being of someone with spinal cord injury. He also sees the health benefits, such as reducing pressure sores and spasms.

Koen's father thinks an exoskeleton could be used in everyday life in the future. 'Not as a replacement for a wheelchair, but as a supplement and variation.' He thinks that for this to happen, steps still need to be made in the ease of use of an exoskeleton. 'A few more MARCHies are definitely needed for that!'