‘This is the most beautiful gift I've received in years.’.
When Trautje's brother suddenly passed away in 2007, her general practitioner decided to thoroughly examine Trautje (69). Besides her pre-existing high blood pressure, various issues were discovered. In 2012, she underwent open-heart surgery involving multiple bypasses. After that, her health had its ups and downs. Eventually, it declined steadily. Trautje reached a point where she didn't even have the energy to dry herself after taking a shower. The cardiologist advised her to visit Ciro: "They can assess your condition well and let you know what to expect." She embraced this opportunity eagerly.
Trautje enjoys taking care of other people. This is also evident from her work history. She has worked in healthcare, had a catering business with her husband, and helped families with household chores. She especially enjoyed regularly looking after her grandchildren. The parental home where she lives exudes hospitality. "It has always been an open house until the arrival of the coronavirus. The doctors advised me: stay at home as much as possible and avoid meeting people. It's better not to go shopping, because if you get the coronavirus, you won't make it." A heavy message. Now she couldn't look after her granddaughter, who is almost five years old. Her older grandsons – adolescents – also stopped spending Fridays over. All the enjoyable family gatherings came to an end.
Tools
Trautje understood the need for caution. After all, she has a unique health condition with various ailments: high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues, fibromyalgia, acute rheumatism, and sleep apnea. You shouldn't add too much to that mix. "With the right tools, it's perfectly manageable to live with my conditions," says Trautje optimistically. "In hindsight, it's a relief that sleep apnea was diagnosed 7 years ago. I was found to have an average of 27 breathing interruptions per hour at night. Thanks to the sleep apnea device, I gained more energy."
Back against the wall
Still, things took a turn for the worse at some point. "I was experiencing more and more shortness of breath and fatigue. When my husband and I went for walks, I would often say, 'Oh, look at this' or 'see that view.' All of these were ways for me to catch my breath. Of course, my husband noticed. I would stop every 50 meters. It got to the point where, before going for a walk to the windmills in our 'backyard,' we would check which way the wind was blowing to decide our direction. Walking against the wind or uphill was no longer an option. After further examination, the cardiologist determined that there was something off with the pressure in my heart and lungs. I underwent an experimental surgery for it, but unfortunately, it didn't yield any results. That's when I found myself with my back against the wall."
In the elephant parade
"I was incredibly happy when I got the opportunity to go to Ciro. I am undergoing outpatient rehabilitation in Maastricht. Seeing what it has already brought me, even though I'm still in the middle of my rehabilitation journey, I can only advise everyone: 'Make use of it! Go for it!' During the initial assessment, I was able to state my personal goals. I wanted to be able to climb stairs normally again, dance with my granddaughter, and cook for the whole family. Along the way, one more goal came up. I 'promised' my fellow rehab patients and the therapists that I would do the 'elephant parade' with them before I left. In this, you hold the hand of the person in front of you with one hand and reach between your legs to the person behind you with the other hand. We used to do this during our holidays in my beloved Tyrol, but I wasn't capable of it anymore. Recently, the moment arrived: we did it after our training! Although due to COVID-19 it was a special version, with sticks in between."
Accomplished and learned a lot
Trautje has now been in rehabilitation for eight weeks, three times a week. "For the next eight weeks, I will be in rehabilitation twice a week. And then comes the final assessment. But I've already achieved and learned so much. Yes, learned as well. For instance, I had no idea that after exercising, you should eat a cup of yogurt right away for muscle recovery, and not wait, say, half an hour. I've also lost 11 kilos in the meantime, can walk 6 kilometers again, and tend to the garden, something I enjoy. It's also a matter of careful planning. Before I go down to the basement, I think about what I need so I don't have to make two trips for nothing. I pay attention to my breathing and manage my energy better. It's quite remarkable what the combination of exercising correctly, eating, taking medication, and managing energy levels can do. To me, rehabilitation at Ciro is the most wonderful gift I've received in years."”