My mother’s disease got more and more grip on her. When she got up, she closed her eyes and puffed the pain audibly. It was hard to look at.
In the meantime, I received the umpteenth update from a friend who had created an app group about his agony: a – to what it seemed – inflamed balance organ. “Jaspers updates”.
At first I had been worried when I heard that the doctors represented an MRI scan, but when it turned out to be fine, it just seemed like a matter of resting. André Rieu had had it, just like the sister -in -law of a friend. All workaholics.
I had found the app group laughable. And even though the manager said you could get out, it didn’t feel like you could really do that. I also had the illusion that I was one of the few who was involved – I had bought and brought and brought by for 25 euros in vitamin D and C – but his parents, brothers, sisters, girlfriend, and eleven friends proved to be interested in his disease. At the bottom of each update was a reprimand. “Questions like” Can’t the research be faster? ” are sweet, but don’t help me. ”
Or: “Please don’t always ask ‘I can do something’, is intended super sweet, but I am fine !!”
Responding was only possible by means of an emoji, at the bottom of the chat stood: “Only the manager can send messages in this group.”
Multiple hearts with a bandage were given on each update.
I told a friend about the app group, but he said, “Well, he is alone.”
Fortunately I found a supporter in my friend, M., who crushed himself with every update. We were shown a cross-section of Jaspers’s head of the MRI scan, with Jaspers looked eye like cartoon characters. A white eyeball that bulged from the greenhouse. He also sent links to scientific articles about the balance organ.
Last Monday it turned out that I would have to travel a lot from Amsterdam to Limburg.
I searched for rental cars: all around 400 euros for a week, with a limited number of kilometers. Moreover, I had not arrived to extend my driver’s license, so I would not get that car.
When Jasper sent another update after two months of radio silence, I suddenly thought how beautiful things came together now: had he not applied me a few months ago that I was allowed to ‘always’ borrow his car to drive to my mother?
I applied him that I found it annoying that he had been in the rag basket for so long and that I hoped he was still swallowing his vitamins. “Could I borrow your car for a week?” I asked. I clarified the seriousness of the situation. “My mother is now in a hospice.”
Seven hours later I received an app back. “Gosh, super large dude! What should this be sad! ”
However, he could not lend his car, because that was currently being “lifeline“With that he was able to take a ride for five minutes on days when walking was too heavy.
I wondered where a five -minute ride was going. Did he go a block by car?
“I really want to help you, because I can imagine how difficult this is for you.” That is why he had asked all the friends with two cars if they wanted to give up their car.
“Who is borrowing a car to a stranger now?” I asked M.
At the bottom of his message was the hold. “Man, how difficult, this puts my own misery somewhat in perspective.”
The next morning I started a two and a half hour train journey home. M. received an app from Jasper. He had received his song through girlfriend Janneke. Jasper wanted to raise money for me from my friends, so that I felt somewhat relieved.
M. had a red color on his cheeks of entertainment, and apte back that it was a sweet offer, “but really not necessary.”
At Eindhoven station the driver was looking, we had to go on to Weert with a slow train. From Weert there were buses due to a collision with a person.
If only money had been collected for a taxi.
Stéphanie Hoogenberk is a writer and podcast maker.