After several visits to different hospitals (Tilburg, Nijmegen, Utrecht, and the VU Amsterdam), the diagnosis came quickly. Treatment began even before my first birthday—when I was just 5 months old. Because my father had been born with the same type of cancer, the doctors caught it early.
The treatment consisted of a total of 15 radiation sessions, and they were effective. The tumors have been encapsulated. I was able to retain my vision—something I’m grateful for every day. But that doesn’t mean it’s all behind me. I live with the long-term effects: daily headaches, dry eyes, and physical changes caused by the radiation. But also things that others often don’t see, yet that I carry with me constantly.
Still, I’ve never let that define me. I live my life to the fullest. I work, exercise, and challenge myself—even when it’s tough. In my work as a soldier, I learn about limits—and sometimes push them. But I learned that earlier—not at the barracks, but in the hospital, as a child. The illness didn’t make me stronger—I developed that strength on my own over time. By keeping moving forward step by step, even when things got tough. Not because it’s always easy, but because I have confidence in myself and in what I can handle.
That’s exactly why I’ve chosen to share my story. Not because I like being in the spotlight, but because retinoblastoma is more than just a rare diagnosis from the past. Its impact lives on—often unseen, but lasting. If my experience helps others feel understood, or sparks a conversation where there was once silence, then that’s valuable.
To everyone living with the effects of illness—whether visible or not—stay true to yourself and don’t let anyone limit your outlook on the future.
