Simone

Hi,

I am Simone, 42 years old and married to Ruud. Together we have three sons Wout, Juul and Stijn. We live in cosy Baarlo. My hobbies are reading, baking, crocheting and swimming.

About five years ago, my rollercoaster began after I was told that I was a carrier of the brca-2 gene. Having decided to go for preventive surgery, I first underwent a gastric bypass. This was because I had been overweight all my life and could not manage to reduce my weight permanently.

After this operation, I had my dieplap surgery. A tough operation, but fortunately everything went well. To finish it off, I also got ‘new’ nipples . After this, things unfortunately went wrong … One nipple died off and after this I got inflammation upon inflammation. The end result was that both my new breasts had to be removed.

My last surgery was on the Friday before the 2024 Venloop. My husband was competing in the half marathon. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go and watch, but followed him from my bed. As I lay there in bed watching him like that, I thought how cool would it be if I could take part next year . not a half marathon but, say, 10 km! Without breasts, but healthy! That would be a super nice ending to this rollercoaster … then the idea was born!

I heard about the Dream Team and thought this seems like a super cool challenge!!! We had our first meeting, and the first training too! It was great fun right from the start! Together we will take on this challenge! I am really looking forward to it!

After about a month of training, we were still walking and would start running the next training, I unfortunately fell ill again. And well again this time… After a week in hospital, I was allowed back home to continue my recovery.

How incredibly supported I was by my dear fellow dreamteamers. When they trained, I waved from the hospital window, we appended a lot and often and I was in regular contact with Pascal about how we were going to tackle this. After all, I really want to cross that finish line in March! Starting and building up very slowly, I was able to pick up the thread in December and train with the group again! How nice this was, and how I had missed it! Fortunately, things are going well again and on 5 January we ran the 5 kilometres together at the New Year’s Run!

Together we take on this challenge, was one of the last sentences from my previous blog yes together we are really doing this together! Together with my teamies, Vivian, Pascal and Guido. Without them I would not be standing where I am today. Proud of what me and all of us have already achieved! On to 30 March!!!

My last blog, one more time reliving everything, one more time feeling all the emotions, one more time enjoying everything we experienced together. What a wonderful adventure this was. With ups and downs, with a smile and a tear. Together but also sometimes alone. One last time, no I will never forget this adventure!

The weekend of the Venloop is approaching. On Saturday, we will all be cheering on our Sas and Vivian! They are walking the 10 kilometres. What a topper Sas is; the 10 km on her flip-flops!!! In the evening we go to the pasta party! And we get a super sweet surprise from our dear supporters back home! Goose bumps! Then quickly to bed and in the morning we get up in time to go back to the city! The day has arrived! Today we are going to run the 10 km! With a little tingling in my stomach, we then stood in the starting area. With a warm-up from Pascal, we are ready!

Sas makes sure everyone knows the Dream team is off to a great start! Gee what a lot of people along the side! What a party, what an experience!

My husband Ruud runs with me, which is very nice!

And there it is, the Parade, the finish line! Yes we did it!!! After the finish, all the emotions come out! And we stand there again as a team! Laughing together, crying together, being proud together!

How grateful I am to have experienced this with all these beautiful people!!! A memory never to be forgotten!!! Proud of all of us.

Thank you for this amazing adventure!