With intense sadness, but also with indescribable gratitude, dad (Frank) and I say goodbye to my dearest mother, Margriet Hermans.
For Flanders she was a singer, a television personality, a politician, a woman with a distinctive voice and a big heart. For me it was above all my home. My safe haven. My biggest critic and supporter. My best friend and most honest sounding board. My business partner and colleague. My everything.
We were alike in everything. Two stubborn women with a big heart, a love for music, humor as a survival mechanism and an indomitable urge to live life to the fullest. What I am today, I am because of her. Not just in talent or character, but in zest for life. In gentleness. In strength.
Mom lived life with an intensity that is rare. She enjoyed it out loud. She felt deeply. She made people happy. She gave everything she had – to her audience, to her friends, but above all to the people she loved.
But unfortunately, the cancer also manifested itself at an intensity that rarely occurs. At the end of April we were diagnosed with cancer. In mid-May it turned out to be a neuroendocrine carcinoma with limited treatment options. A few days later I took her to the hospital, where chemotherapy was started faster than planned. Unfortunately, mom was already extremely weak at that time. The energy decreased more and more quickly and the smile that she normally had on her face faded very quickly. Due to the extremely painful circumstances, the terrible discomfort and the very limited future prospects for a quality existence, mom has made the difficult and courageous decision to take her life into her own hands here too. Or the end of her life.
Over the past few weeks we have lived very consciously together. Wept, laughed, reminisced, held hands. Held until we had to let go. And even in her farewell she remained mum. Concerned about everyone around her. Satisfying. Lovingly. Strong.
I am endlessly proud to have been her daughter.
On behalf of our entire family, I would like to thank everyone for the immense love, warmth and support we have received over the past period. The messages, flowers, words and memories have touched us deeply.
“No mountain is high enough, no sea is deep enough. Nothing can stop me. I can fly without wings, over everything.”
Now fly mommy.
Thank you for everything.
“I stand by your side and watch over you too.”