Week 50 Q Fever

Week 50

I struggled with writing this week because one of our clients has opted for the euthenasia solution - which is a thing over here.

Janny and I knew it was coming, but we hadn't said anything to the other clients. So, last Friday was the day and next Friday Janny, Ankie and I are going to the funeral service in Groningen.

He had first been denied by the powers that be, but eventually the sickness became untreatable and the Doctors gave the go ahead.

This morning, we told the other clients of his passing but not of the euthenasia. Perhaps some of them will pick up on it...

In any case, the sickness was caused by Q Koorts (Q Fever) which had severely damaged his lungs - even a lung transplant is not possible due to the infection being in his body - and would also attack new lungs, even if that had been possible.

I read up a bit on Q Fever - it was first recognised as a human health problem in Australia in 1935. I'm pretty sure I had never heard of it before.

There was an epidemic in the Netherlands around 2008/2009 - in 2009 there were 2354 reported cases. In 2020 there have been 8.

The Dutch Royal Health Institute (RIVM) says that deaths usually only occur after a period of chronic illness. It is only an estimate (due to the rules around compulsory reporting) that since the epidemic, 95 patients have died, of which 86 were as a result of chronic illness.

We had a discussion with the clients this morning - which actually helped me as well. Janny and Ankie are very good at this sort of thing...

When he first came, I read in his dossier that "loneliness" was one of his biggest problems. He has been facing up to this for 12 months and his social worker suggested that he come to us for a while to see if it helped. He was always very much aware and had a great sense of humour - which the others noticed.  He must have "lifted" himself for Tuesday mornings.

Janny and I went to his house a week ago, to have a cuppa and a chat. He gave the Care Farm all his old tools and a bit of other stuff. I said to him that I hope we have meant something to him for the last months. He said yes, so that means a lot to us as well. 

There was more from last week but it can wait...