2008

S2.E3 ∙ Episode #2.3

Mon, Jan 03, 2011

Valerio meets Donovan (22), who is in a wheelchair being born with SMA, the progressive disease spinal muscular atrophy. Only his head, heart and genitals can still perform. Yet he lives with his parents, goes to school and works on a professional poker career. José (22) slowly revalidates after a few weeks of coma following a serious holiday crash, helped by electrified acupuncture and tai-chi, and hopes to recover fully, already trying snowboarding with Valerio.

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S2.E4 ∙ Episode #2.4

Sat, Jan 08, 2011

Valerio meets Thomas (18), who was born with the genetic syndrome photomelia, meaning he lacks all four lower limb halves, so he looks like a dwarf without hands. Yet tenacious teeth-dexterity and various tricks allow him to lead a relatively normal life, including 'special' sports even if he has to invent them. Valerio tries tennis with taped-off hands and taped-on rackets. Regina (23) suffers from emetophobia, a pathological fear of vomiting, which amounts to combined phobias, mainly concerning diet, crowds and movement, leaving her boring and bored.

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S2.E5 ∙ Episode #2.5

Mon, Jan 17, 2011

Valerio follows handsome Kevin (25), whose congenital cardiac condition requires an expensive, build-in ICD (pacemaker and defibrillator). He looks and behaves normally, even works out a gym. Valero compares their heart rates. Valerio meets Thiandi (20), who incurred brain damage due to oxygen lack during birth. She's in a wheelchair, lacking arbitrary body control or speech, but is otherwise mentally normal, studies and lives semi-independently thanks to a permanent attendants team. Valerio and a hunky one join her swimming.

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S2.E6 ∙ Episode #2.6

Mon, Jan 24, 2011

Valerio meets Arjan (24), who suffers from 'colitus ulcerosa', a chronic bowl disease causing recurring gastric problems. He can't eat regularly or hold a job down, but lives with bis fiancée. Every step outdoors feels unsafe. He finally decides on surgery to replace his colon with a stoma. Tasmara (29) has 'anosmia', a permanent lack of the senses of smell and taste since injuring her nose, but this doesn't affect her life.

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S2.E7 ∙ Episode #2.7

Mon, Jan 31, 2011

Valerio hangs out with cocky Niels (18), a sufferer 'hemifacial microsomia', a congenital condition affecting the left half of his face. He was also born with Goldenharhr's cardiac syndrome. Still he enjoys a rather regular life, including taking part in a soccer team and training as a cook's apprentice, while helping in the kitchen. Meneske an extremely rare neurological condition called 'hereditary sensory and autonomous neuropathy' (HSAN). This means she's complete insensitivity to physical pain, and so risks serious damage. Her eye-sight is also blurry and her legs so weak she's in a wheelchair, but she can live quite independently in her flat.

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S2.E8 ∙ Episode #2.8

Mon, Feb 07, 2011

Valerio meets first near-deaf-born, still cool-looking HIV patient Serhan (28), who still found the courage, after a failed suicide, to enjoy life as a semi-professional dancer with all-deaf band Sencity, although he can only feels vibes, not hear melody. After hearing the ethnic Turk's Greek tragedy, Valerio learns enough sign language to join Serhan shopping with covered ears. Secondly, Roxanne (21) has the incurable mental condition Asperger, which means she can't concentrate, function reliably or interact normally. Drawing however is feasible.

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S2.E9 ∙ Episode #2.9

Mon, Feb 14, 2011

Valerio meets amputee Alex (18), who bravely lives on after loosing his left arm to bone cancer. Stubborn Alex plays drums with pedal alternative fro the left hand and still beats Valerio at push-ups. He successfully auditions for a nightclub. The amputation prevented spreading, but a relapse on top of the phantom pain can't be excluded. Alex also enjoys driving a race-car. Tineke (20) has Sjögren's syndrome, a mysterious, incurable chronic auto-immune disease, which causes constant infections and exhaustion. She needs frequent check-ups

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S2.E10 ∙ Special Bart De Graaf Foundation

Mon, Feb 21, 2011

Special, last of season, where Valerio meets the finalists for the annuals 'bikkel' grant of the Bart De Graaf foundation. Martine (28) became functionally blind from age 12 from glaucoma. Her guide-dog is cool. A former Dutch Olympic volleyball coach counsels her as gym instructor for the blind, with Valerio among the blinded test pupils. Beautician Marente (22) has JIA, a severe rheumatic condition which can inflame all joints simultaneously, fairly well controlled by medication. Valerio tries the wellness center she works in.

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