Her mother was already diagnosed with MS before Sonia Groot (27) was born. Still, she and her sister grew up in a loving and above all resilient family — a family that prefers to think in solutions rather than problems. Sonia alternated her studies in Amsterdam with “digital caregiving” for her parents in Hasselt, and today she runs an international travel agency for people with physical disabilities. Her mother? She’s excited about the trip they’ll soon be taking together.
What is possible?
Sheila Groot (67) got diagnosed with MS at 22 years old. A neurological condition that gradually damages the nerves and causes recurring symptoms — from tingling sensations to fatigue, from spasm to vision loss. There is currently no cure.
The disease is progressive, meaning symptoms increase over time. She now uses a small mobility scooter inside the house, as transferring from one (wheel)chair to another has become difficult. “Staying active is the most important thing.” Sheila says at the kitchen table in Hasselt. Daughter Sonia pours another cup of tea. Father Jeroen Groot (66) leans back. Outside the large window, water ripples through the centuries-old canal.
The couple radiates resilience and cheerfulness. Like true Rotterdammers, they face every new challenge head-on. “Everything I can still do, I will do,” Sheila says firmly. It’s become something of a family motto: “Don’t think in limitations, think in possibilities.” Jeroen shows the custom-built accessible toilet and the platform lift by the stairs. “This way she can get through the entire house with her scooter, without needing to transfer. easy, right?”
Double vision
They met in Rotterdam. Sheila bought a car from Jeroen. “A Datsun,” she remembers. “A beautiful car. Only, it ran out of fuel at the end of the street. When I turned back to tell him and refill the tank, he asked me out.” Jeroen smiles. “That was over 45 years ago, in 1979.
Our second date almost went wrong too. We were waiting for each other in different cafés. But we found each other in the end.”
Their early encounters filled with small obstacles turned out to be a reflection of how they would navigate their relationship. Not long after, Sheila started experiencing symptoms at work. “I worked as a nurse at Sint Clara Hospital in Rotterdam-South,” she explains. “And suddenly I had double vision.”
It wasn’t until 1981 that she was diagnosed with MS — the relapsing-remitting form. “The disease comes in flare-ups, known as relapses,” Sheila says. “During those periods, I have a range of symptoms.” These lessen over time, but she never returns to her previous state. “There’s always a new normal.”
Not a sad person
She and Jeroen were already living together then and often spent time on the water in their sailboat. They dreamed of having children, but pregnancy can worsen MS symptoms. “We felt that was too risky,” Sheila says. “So, we started the adoption process.”
Four years later, all the paperwork was finalized, and Sonia, then three, and her two-year-older sister came from South India to the Netherlands. “She made her presence known right away,” Jeroen recalls. “From the moment she arrived, she was switched on.”
Growing up with a mother whose MS symptoms gradually increased might have been tough for some kids. But not for Sonia: “Honestly, I never noticed it like that. She’s not a sad person or anything.”
Just normal stuff
They went to birthday parties by car. To the zoo, to the science museum Nemo. Picnics nearby. “I can’t remember anything we didn’t do,” Sonia says. “My childhood wasn’t really any different from that of my classmates. There was space for normal stuff, just like in any family.”
Sure, the disease kept introducing new obstacles. Riding a bike with a child on the back wasn’t an option. “So, we got a cargo bike,” Sheila explains, “so I could still bring the kids to school myself.”
Unfortunately, Sheila can no longer go sailing. “Getting her onboard was doable. But when we couldn’t get her off the boat anymore, it was time to sell it,” Jeroen explains. “Now we camp a lot. I even adapted the van myself.”
That ‘do-it-yourself’ mentality is a recurring theme. “We don’t want to plan our life around the home care service schedule,” Jeroen explains. “Who does?” He helps Sheila dress every day. “But the rule is: whatever she can do herself, she does herself.”
Entrepreneurship and innovation
Sonia shares her parents’ sense of independence and determination. In 2019, she moved to Amsterdam to study Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
When Jeroen had to take time off due to burnout after the loss of his brother, Sonia stepped in — mainly digitally — from Amsterdam. She handled contacts with institutions that are supposed to support caregivers. “But they just made him angry,” she says, gesturing to her father. “That platform lift,” Jeroen adds, “we paid for ourselves because the municipality made it so difficult. Turns out we could have gotten it funded through a personal budget.” Sheila adds, “They don’t listen. They only look at their protocols.”
Jeroen leans forward. “They end up just getting in the way.”
Meanwhile, Sonia continues to build her company undisturbed — a travel agency that offers tailored trips worldwide for people with physical disabilities.
“We noticed on our own vacations how hard it was to find accessible accommodations,” she explains. “Now I research all the accommodations myself and I’m digitally available to my clients to help them with any unexpected issues.”
There’s a lot of trust in the Groot household. When asked about the future, Sheila lights up. “At the end of the year, we’re going to India — to Sonia’s birthplace. With the whole family.”
Sonia looks at her. “Well, that’s still a lot to arrange. But maybe early next year? That should be doable.”
Curious about the trips Sonia offers? Visit www.discoverable.eu.
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