On the road with LUISA and

Inspirer Lars

»Not always to be on the receiving end of help, but to help others instead.« Lars, 23, wants to be a psychotherapist.

Student's daily life: Lars lives as independently as possible in an integrated dormitory with disabled and non-disabled students.

Ready for the night shift: LUISA.

Between mud bath and books

What's the best moment of the day? Lars doesn't have to think very long before he says, »In the evening when I start the ventilation. Then I can let go, really relax.«

Since he was seven years old, the Marburg psychology student has been ventilated – always at night and when he exerts himself during the day. As the result of a congenital disorder known as “diastrophic dysplasia,” his arms and legs are significantly shorter than the extremities of others. His spinal cord is damaged and his respiratory muscle function is impaired. Nevertheless, with a ventilator and wheelchair, the 23-year-old can lead an independent life. Friends, parents or caregivers accompany him if he needs help, for example, when he goes to festivals.

»I like heavy metal and have even been to Wacken Open Air. There I got pulled on lashing straps through the deepest mud. It was crass, totally surreal,« says Lars, his eyes bright at the memory. What does he want to do when he finishes his studies? Start a family, perhaps become a psychotherapist. »Not always to be on the receiving end of help but to help others instead – that’d be super.«