Froukje: 'When I see a video of someone who is sick, I get a crazy feeling in my throat. I've had tube feeding for two years, maybe that feeling comes up again. I also have a little trouble at school. I am easily distracted and a little slower with gymnastics, for example. Sometimes I also have trouble remembering multiple assignments at once.
I am now in the third grade. I notice that I have trouble connecting with other girls. Girlfriends from before now hang out with others more. I may have been through a lot, but I am also just normal. I sometimes miss contact with someone who understands me. Very much I would like to have contact with kids who have also been sick and understand how I feel sometimes.’
The diagnosis: Acute Lymphatic Leukemia
Mama Erica: ‘My motherly feeling told me that something serious was going on. Froukje was just two years old at the time and normally always cheerful and upbeat. Suddenly she cried a lot, looked pale and didn't want to walk anymore. I took her to the family doctor for blood tests.
A few days later the family doctor came with a worrying result. We were referred to the hospital for examination. There we got the results: it turned out to be A.L.L., which is Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. The ground disappeared from under my feet.... That same evening we went to the Radboud hospital in Nijmegen and the treatment started. It eventually took two years.
During the treatment process Froukje had many setbacks and bad luck. She got infections, brittle bones and more. She has been very sick. The chemo and all the medication weakened her so much that walking became more and more difficult. Eventually she ended up in a wheelchair and had to learn to walk all over again. When she turned 4 years old, the treatments were almost finished. She then went to school half days, in the wheelchair, and still had tube feeding.'
The LATER poli
Froukje: 'I don't know any children who have also gone through this. Except Sterre, who I also follow on Instagram; she was sick too, but had something other than leukemia. I already followed the Princess Máxima Center on Instagram and we had also heard about it many times. I also wanted to go there, because it's really focused on children there.’
Mama Erica: ‘Since May 2022, we have been visiting the LATER clinic at the Máxima. The doctors at the Máxima discovered during a test that Froukje is missing a piece of visual field with her right eye. Not only that. The doctors also told us that Froukje has a non-congenital brain injury. As a result, she has short-term memory, concentration problems and is easily distracted. In short; two new discoveries for us.’
Rehabilitation track
Mom Erica: ‘Now a rehabilitation program has started. She has been to an occupational therapist. There they look at how difficult activities can be made easier for Froukje. She also goes to physio once a week to strengthen her muscles. Then she can participate better in sports at school. That
feels very nice. But it would be even better if Froukje could also talk to someone who really understands her.’
Froukje: 'I would like to have contact with other children who have been ill. Because sometimes I try to explain to classmates what I feel, but they don't understand the pain. They don't understand the story. I find that difficult. I often think: if only I had someone who did understand...'
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