Angelo’s family overwhelmed by many statements of support, donations are pouring in

The truck driver, who is driving through Austria with his fiancée Esmée, is hit by a heart attack on 4 October. Investigations in the hospital show that 80 percent of the cause can be attributed to the metastasis of a tumor that was removed from his neck a few years ago.

Since this day, the 25-year-old is in mortal danger and is kept in a coma by doctors. If he gains enough strength, he can be operated on on his heart, where this tumor presses against. The situation of the truck driver changes every moment.

Angelo’s family has been staying in a hotel in Austria for three weeks, an hour’s drive from the hospital where the Alkmaarder is staying. Every day they go to the hospital to assist Angelo. The costs incurred – partly due to hotel prices, fuel and the fact that no one is able to work during this period – now amount to thousands of euros.

Speechless

After WEFF/NH News reported this morning about Angelo’s situation the family is showered with messages of support. From all over the province, and beyond, Tanja and the family in Austria get to know how they feel about Angelo and them. It’s almost a day job for them.

“This morning we called each other over the speaker. Then you speak to all four of them,” says Nijssen about her conversation with Angelo’s parents, sister and fiancé. “They are perplexed by everything that has come at them, even speechless. More and more reactions are coming in, which is wonderful to see.”

According to Tanja, all support offers comfort in the uncertain time in which the family finds themselves. One minute Angelo may be better, the next it may be worse. “It is a rollercoaster in which the family and Esmée are. And there is no end to it,” says Tanja.

The doctors still see possibilities for the 25-year-old Alkmaarder. They hope he can gain more strength by administering another drug. The uncertainty is especially debilitating for the family, Tanja explains. “They have been sleeping very badly for a few weeks. They are also tired of all the worries they have. We are trying to encourage them. It remains to be seen how long this will last, and whether Angelo can recover. That’s the most important thing.”

Thousands of euros donated

Meanwhile, donations are also pouring in the fundraiser from Tanya. She has been setting this up since Sunday, so that the family can cover all costs for their stay in Austria. The donated money is also intended for other, unforeseen costs in the future.

“Gosh, that’s going fast”, Tanja says when we show her how much money has been donated at that moment. “It’s really heartwarming. We are happy with every euro. The money is badly needed.”

More than 800 people have now made a donation, from family to strangers. The counter now stands at more than 19,000 euros in donations. The amounts donated vary from ten euros to one hundred euros. And there are even three generous donors, including an anonymous one, who have donated five hundred euros.

“That is really not normal! We know who it is about one of those donors, but about the other (who donated anonymously, ed.) it is unknown from whom it comes. I can see a name in my account, but after much thought the family really has no idea who it is. We never expected this, of course.”