Would we please not turn it into “a sob story”, Eleonoor quickly checks just before saying goodbye. Why on earth should we? The intimate ties with hockey team member Jasmijn Haverhals from the Trouble Shooters, their cheer and the many laughs had clearly prevailed in the preceding conversation. Even though laughing is also painful for Eleonoor. Literally so, due to the neuralgia in her face – one of the symptoms accompanying ‘her’ MS.

Multiple sclerosis (MS for short) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, affecting some 17,000 people in the Netherlands. Eighteen months ago Eleonoor was given the official diagnosis, after many years of ‘tinkering with medical treatment’ and suspicions. Complaints she had had even from the age of twelve: a lot of pain and fatigue in particular. Meanwhile symptoms including a lack of energy, reduced concentration and memory, sleep disturbance, somberness, anxiety, low resistance and continuous pain form part of her ‘MS package’.

“MS entirely changes your prospects for the future; you need to adjust your expectations and goals, stop doing certain things. That does make me somber. Still, I was relieved also: at least you know what it is you are suffering from and that you are not putting on airs”. “Although my environment is very understanding, it continues to be very difficult for a great many people to assess what I can do.”

And what she can do, is invariably less than she herself would want to. Thus, she had to discontinue her hbo course of Business Administration MER and cancels her weekly Don Quishoot hockey training in a standard way. “I felt guilty about having to pass so often.” With a smile: “Now when I turn up, I am always the bonus”.