Fleury Simons (30) from Breda has been living in hell for two years since her corona infection. Nothing is left of the energetic and ambitious woman she was. The lung covid patient has therefore pinned her hopes on a new treatment in America.
“You know, the consequences of corona hinder me so much that I no longer have a life. I recently told a friend that I can’t remember what I was like before I got sick. It’s that intense.” Fleury cannot hold back her tears when she tells her story.
The Bredase works as a behavioral scientist in youth care. In September 2020 she got corona. At first the consequences seemed to be not too bad, but soon she noticed that she became exhausted more often. She suffered from shortness of breath, sleeping problems, anxiety attacks, overstimulation and memory loss.
“It is terrible for us to see how Fleury suffers.”
Although she had had all vaccinations, she contracted corona for the second time in June of this year. She tries to maintain a daily rhythm, but in practice she hardly keeps it up. Sometimes Fleury manages to work for an hour, but even that is often too much for her. The once so lively woman is in bed eighteen to twenty hours a day.
Fleury’s older sister Wendy: “It is terrible for us to see how Fleury suffers. Can you imagine your life standing still for two years and you don’t know if you will ever get better? That is mentally very hard. Certainly also because the outside world does not always understand it. You can’t always see it from the outside.”
“Really super sweet, I have no words for it.”
Fleury tried everything to get rid of her complaints. She was given medicines, various forms of therapy and alternative medicine. Each time she felt a little better, but in the meantime she is completely back to square one. In desperation, she finally told Wendy that she “really can’t go on.”
That is the moment for Wendy that she decides to look for help for her sister. After an extensive search, she comes across a treatment at a Florida clinic. There, the brains of lung covid patients are stimulated with oxygen therapy to restore lost functions.
In America this therapy is very successful.
This experimental healing method is not available in the Netherlands and is not reimbursed by health insurance. At least Wendy has every confidence in it.
To be able to pay the costs, Wendy is one crowdfunding campaign started for her sister. Of the 51,000 euros that is needed, about 13,000 euros have been received. “Really super sweet, I have no words for it. So heartwarming, I feel really supported and I am very grateful to everyone”, says Fleury.
It is estimated that there are several tens of thousands of lung covid patients in the Netherlands with similar complaints. Fleury: “I think this number is still underestimated. I therefore hope that there will be more understanding and recognition. That is my great wish.”
As long as I can live again.
Although the entire amount has not yet been received, the Breda resident will leave for Florida on Thursday for four months to receive treatment. “I hope I can regain quality of life. If that means I have to adjust my pace for this, that’s not a bad thing at all. As long as I can live again.”
