I used to play this game as a young child. On your turn, you spin the spinner and move your pawn, square by square, the number shown on the spinner. Any time a pawn ends its move on a picture square at the bottom of a ladder, that pawn must climb up to the picture square at the top of the ladder. Any time a pawn ends its move on a picture square at the top of a chute, that pawn must slide down the chute to the picture square at the bottom of the chute.

Never thought it was based on real life or Bart’s life at this moment. It seems he has climbed a few ladders an slid down a few chutes, mentally and physically.

His white blood cell count was up every day with the help of some injections in his belly. Yesterday, the injections stopped. Today, his white blood cell count in significantly lower. All his other counts are very low as well, platelets, red blood cells,…. And the counts that are up, are really up and not good : blood pressure, bilirubin and glucose.

Eating is another problem. His taste has disappeared and will only return in 2 or 3 weeks. If he doesn’t eat at least 3 meals a day, he can’t come home. Because he is not eating properly, his stomach is hurting as there is too much gastric acid.

There is good news, he has shaved his beard and still looks as handsome as ever. He finally found a good position to sleep so his frozen shoulder doesn’t hurt as much and had a decent night.

His spirit goes up every time we visit and video call.

When Louise was small, she needed to go to the Frankfurt University hospital with an ambulance. Bart chased the ambulance at 190 kmh on the German highway. In the ER he blew up a blue glove and drew a face on it to distract her and make her smile.

Twenty years later, roles are reversed. Louise blew up a blue glove and drew a face on it to distract him and make him smile. Small gesture, big impact. It was heartwarming to hear him tell me the story. The inflated glove is stuck to a whiteboard in his room and he points it out every time I visit him.

When we video call, he makes me walk around the house and show him every room. When I am visiting, he gives me lists of things to do and reminds me to do them with regular interval which suits me as I forget everything at the moment. I only have Bart on my mind.

He misses home, the family, his friends and colleagues and is not looking forward to minimum 3 more weeks in the hospital.

Please keep sending him short videos, it keeps him in the loop and lifts his morale.