Two and a half years of living with Post-COVID
Astrid has been interested in art her whole life. However, she initially chose other courses that ultimately did not give her the satisfaction she was looking for. The Art Academy she attended in Rotterdam did. After finishing her studies, it was difficult to make a living from art. Various jobs followed one another until she ended up in the care sector. First, difficult-to-educate young people, then women's shelters, a drop-in centre for young mothers and finally crisis shelters. For years she worked 24 hours a day as a social worker and combined this with her artistic career. A busy life, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Three years ago, Astrid quit her permanent job to start working as an outpatient social worker at another social organization. She was given a one-year contract but was unlucky enough to fall ill after six months. Astrid contracted corona four times in total, the first time at work during a home visit to a client with a cold. “It started with a tickly cough and a sore throat. I continued working, but from home for the time being. Things went well for a few weeks, but then I became increasingly ill. I wanted to continue working because I really enjoyed it and wanted a permanent contract, but at a certain point I really had to report sick 100%; it just wasn’t possible anymore.”
Unknown disease
It took Astrid a long time to realize that she had Long COVID. “Things got worse and worse. I was often short of breath and had no energy at all. I visited a lung specialist and started speech therapy for my breathing. I also went to physiotherapy. It was only after a year that I ended up at C-support and started a rehabilitation program. C-support was able to answer many of my questions. I simply did not understand what was going on and how to deal with my illness. The conversations with the aftercare advisor and the home visit from the medical advisor were very helpful to me.”
After a few weeks, she had to stop the rehabilitation. Her blood pressure became much too high during exertion and she could not even walk anymore. After examination by a cardiologist, her heart fortunately appeared to be fine. However, she was so ill that she could not work at all. Her employer was very cooperative and wanted to keep her. “After a second year contract, it was unfortunately over and we had to say goodbye to each other. With great reluctance; my employer even put it in writing that I can come back when I am able to work again.”
Making art is always possible
No matter how ill Astrid was, she was always able to work on art. Not as grandly as she had initially planned. “I had found a beautiful studio with very high ceilings. I wanted to make large works of art and installations there. I was no longer physically able to do that. The journey to the studio was already far too much for me. I could no longer cycle and even walking was a challenge. Friends sometimes brought me so that I could spend a day there. Fortunately, I was able to work on art at home on good days. I made small drawings and I started with mixed media on my phone; combining my different photos of works of art and nature. The image on the C-support Christmas card is also an example of that.”
Red Dots, used for the Christmas card of C-support and Q-support
“No matter how sick I am, in my head I can always be busy with art. I think of all sorts of things and can execute them in small steps. This makes me very happy. It gives me autonomy, something that I can continue to do despite the limitations I have now. I have made a series of self-portraits in the past period, the 'transformation'. I wouldn't have made this if I hadn't gotten sick. Creatively I took a different turn, which leads to different art. Being an artist makes me happy."
Confidence in the future
Astrid has several exhibitions. Her work is currently on display at the Rijksmuseum Twente. With the help of her husband, who is also a visual artist, family and friends, she is able to do this. “I will continue to create and exhibit work. In the future, I also hope to be able to resume my work as a social worker. I am currently following a one-year reintegration program. This is mandatory under the WIA. I have looked for a coach who has experience with Long COVID. I will continue to work on my recovery and am confident that I can still make progress. If I compare my situation with that of a year ago, I am clearly in a better position. I hope that I can say the same next year.”
