Re-abled participant Susan (9) walked the Avond4Daagse last summer, dances and sings every week at music class, and during summer vacation with her parents, sister and brother a whopping 15,000 steps were taken in one day! "I was in the front the whole time and I was the only one who didn't fall down!" enthuses Susan.

After Susan broke her leg at age five after a fall in the schoolyard and had an X-ray of the fracture taken at the hospital, she was discovered to have a tumor in her leg. The tumor turned out to be bone cancer and not much later Susan began her first chemotherapy, also having the tumor removed. 'With this form of bone cancer everything had to be removed, in this case reversal plastic surgery was chosen because according to the doctors that was the best option for Susan,' says Manon, Susan's mother.

'After Susan's rehabilitation, in 2022 we were able to go on vacation with the family again for several years and we soon found out that you run into things,' says Manon. For example, in the beginning Susan was not reimbursed by her health insurance for a water prosthesis and she could not swim with her sister and brother. Susan wanted to be able to do more than just walk but was told this was not possible. Her basic ADL only had to meet 200 meters of painless walking according to health insurance.

In early 2023, Susan and her parents joined the Re-abled program. Manon came across a message on LinkedIn from someone who was facing the same struggles and Manon shared Susan's story with her. Charlotte (project manager Bibian Mentel Foundation) responded and that's how the ball got rolling. 'A world opened up; the following summer Susan was able to swim in the pool again and go to swimming parties of her classmates. 

Susan is also in music class, and is now preparing for the Christmas musical The Grinch. "I want to be a singer later, and playing in a theater or musical seems like fun, too!

Last week she went to school camp and performed and danced at the bonte avond. "She is not afraid of the stage," says Manon. Susan tells that she also wrote a song herself; 'It's about how I find some things difficult but that in the end I can participate. In the end I try to participate and I always succeed. My song is called, 'You are good the way you are.'

With her self-written song, Susan also wants to inspire other children and has already sung the song a few times at home. We were allowed to hear the first sentences in advance and got a hint: 'I find it hard, I find it hard to join in, to go along.' 'The song ends with it all working out in the end!'

In addition to singing and dancing, Susan is also athletic and was at the last Re-abled Day, this fall they are cozily attending again! "We went crossfit last time and one section involved hanging from a horizontal bar for as long as we could, and we did pretty well!" says Susan. 

'As a parent, you want your child to be happy and to be able to participate with her peers. 'We are very grateful,' says Manon. 

On November 3, we will organize the Re-abled Day at the Friendship Sports Centre in Amsterdam. During this day you will meet other prosthetic and orhtese users, we will enjoy sports and there will be inspiration sessions. Also bring your friends and family, everyone is welcome to join! You can read more about the Re-abled Day here.