The whole article translated into English:
Eline (28) from Apeldoorn has already resigned herself to death: 'In this way I hope to give fellow sufferers a good life'
Because Eline van der Wal (28) has a lot of underlying suffering in addition to neck instability, she can no longer be cured herself. However, her heart is in the right place. Because the Apeldoornse is now in the breach for fellow sufferers who can still undergo a life-saving operation.
“The misery started when I was thirteen. In the winter, I had the flu for two months. That is of course not normal. I also passed out regularly. Eventually I did recover. But I continued to have low blood pressure. I didn't get really fit anymore. ”
Puzzle
“In the following year I also got a lot of pain in my stomach. Even in the hospital they did not find out what it was. I eventually went to an alternative doctor. He put me on a diet. I was no longer allowed to eat and drink certain things. Like milk, of which I previously took a liter a day, so to speak. That made it seem under control. ”
“In May 2008 I started to suffer from stomach pain again. A stricter diet did not help. I also kept getting very tired. That summer I was on holiday in the South of France, where I celebrated my sixteenth birthday, sleeping on the beach for two weeks. Very strange. Once back we ended up at the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital in Utrecht. There they diagnosed CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ed.) And chronic abdominal pain. ”
Sometimes my father had to carry me to bed like a little child. I was that tired
Eline van der Wal
“A lot of time has been lost in those years. I could not finish the atheneum. But thanks to my perseverance, I did get my MBO diploma. Cognitively it was. Not physically. When I got home from school, I had a plate of food and then I went to bed. Sometimes my dad had to carry me to bed like a little kid. I was that tired. ”
Complaints worsened
Complaints worsened
“I did study pedagogy. At a certain point that was impossible to do. In my third year, I was supposed to do an internship for four days and go to school for another day. After almost two months I collapsed to such an extent that I ended up in bed completely. ”
“The complaints also got worse. Not only was I tired, I was also in so much pain.
Couldn't stand light and sound anymore. Had trouble breathing. Regularly passed out and suffered from spasms. I even had to be helped to eat often. ”
Less hope
“Then the idea came to have an Upright MRI made. A vertical instead of a horizontal scan so they can see the pressure on the vertebrae. Because they cut them in the Netherlands, I had to go to London for it. Actually, I wanted to rule out things with that MRI. But the radiologist immediately hinted that I probably had neck instability. ”
“I would have to undergo surgery to stop the deterioration. Then they fix vertebrae in your neck and you lose all or most of the ability to move. That gave less hope for an ordinary future. And I also wanted to work, get out of home and have children. I then had to adjust those expectations. ”
"Then you won't get off that table and I don't want to kill you," said the doctor
Eline van der Wal
Unfortunately, the diagnosis was confirmed by a neurosurgeon in Barcelona. He is the only one in Europe who can perform this operation on people who also have other conditions. But I have so many that he doesn't dare to do it with me. "Then you won't get off that table and I don't want to kill you," he said. ”
“Because an operation is not possible and I continue to deteriorate, I eventually die. I have not received a forecast. On the one hand, a guideline would be nice. On the other hand, I wonder if I would really like to know. ”
My life was anything but spectacular. Very boring actually. But I think that's totally fine.
Eline van der Wal
“It may sound crazy, but I still had a good life. I have parents and a little brother who love me and have experienced beautiful things. My life was anything but spectacular. Very boring actually. But I think that's totally fine. Some memories are priceless for me: like sitting on a bike very early in the morning, sitting by a fire with people, spending a day at the beach and being busy in the garden. ”

© Kevin Hagens
Completely overwhelmed
“And little things still make me very happy. I also think you learn that when you get sick at a young age. This way I can really enjoy sitting outside with my father and see the flowers and bees in the garden. And recently on my 28th birthday I was completely overwhelmed by the large number of cards. It made me feel very happy and loved. ”
“I also cherish the friendships I have built up with fellow sufferers. They are still eligible for the operation in Barcelona. It costs a total of 130,000 euros alone. I can't organize an event or day for them to raise that money. I can, however, draw attention to their donation campaigns. It's not about me now. My life was perfect and I resigned myself to dying. But I would still like to contribute in this way to ensure that they still have the best possible life. ”
'Very special that Eline does this'
Two fellow sufferers for whom Eline asks for attention are Celeste (26) from Dronten and Marleen (26) from Zutphen. "I think it is quite clever that Eline dares to do that and it is very special that she wants to help those who can still be helped", says the latter.
Marleen hardly gets out of bed because of her cervical vertebra disorder. If she doesn't act, she will die. That is why she has set her sights on an intervention in Spain. “That is a risky operation. But if everything goes well, it will improve my quality of life. I will suffer less from shortness of breath and symptoms of failure. ”
Such an operation is not reimbursed by Dutch insurers, while altogether it costs about 130,000 euros. "Because the ambulance flight and the stay there also have to be paid." Since she does not have that money herself, the Hope for Marleen Foundation was established. More than 34,000 euros has already been received. “But actually the money has to be received within 1 to 2 months. The last month and a half I have deteriorated very fast. ”