According to regional broadcaster Omroep Brabant, 51-year-old Lieke de Nooij-Leijdekkers from Tilburg spends most of her days confined to bed due to severe long covid after contracting the virus at her mother’s funeral in October 2020. Her condition has sparked a major community fundraising effort, with four lifelong friends participating in a quarter-triathlon to raise money for research and generate awareness for post-acute infectious syndromes.
The Daily Impact of Long Covid on Lieke de Nooij-Leijdekkers
Before contracting the virus, Lieke led an active life as an educational therapist at Erasmus MC and raised three children. According to Omroep Brabant, she was known as an energetic and optimistic person who frequently stayed out latest at parties. However, a severe initial two-month illness period left her permanently altered. She never fully recovered, developing long covid that severely impairs her body’s ability to regulate heart rate and blood pressure.
The condition triggers intense relapses from basic daily activities. According to source reports, routine actions like sitting, standing, holding a conversation, or expressing an emotion can cause crashes lasting days, weeks, or months. During her most severe relapse, she remained bedridden for 1.5 years, spending up to 23 hours a day in bed. After two years on sick leave, she lost her job at the hospital. Sensory overload from light, sound, and social contact presents a constant barrier; she can no longer listen to music and frequently wears a noise-cancelling headphones, as detailed by Omroep Brabant.
Friends Launch #piekenvoorLieke Triathlon Campaign to Fight Post-Acute Infectious Syndrome
To combat feelings of powerlessness, four friends of roughly 30 years—Annemarie, Annemiek, Rita, and Veronic—organized a sports campaign named #piekenvoorLieke. According to regional coverage, the group aims to raise at least 15,000 euros for research. The participants dusted off old gear and took up specialized training, with Annemiek pulling her racing bike out of the shed after a decade and Veronic taking swimming lessons alongside Rita’s running regimen.
“We’ve felt powerless for a few years now,” friend Rita Berger told Omroep Brabant, describing Lieke as a shadow of her former self. The organizers emphasize that the campaign targets both financial backing and broader societal recognition. “The pandemic is over, but long covid is not over. There are still people who have lost their lives to this,” Rita told the broadcaster, adding that the group intends to keep running until Lieke recovers.
Medical Context and Patient Resilience Amid Chronic Illness
Long covid falls under the broader umbrella of PAIS (Post-Acute Infectious Syndrome), a classification that also encompasses Q-fever, Lyme disease, and ME/CFS. Despite trying multiple rehabilitation programs, medical examinations, and medications with little success, Lieke focuses strictly on pacing and avoiding overexertion. “You can fight fatigue, but that only costs energy and doesn’t help with recovery,” she told Omroep Brabant.
Did you know? Post-Acute Infectious Syndrome (PAIS) is an overarching term for long-term, debilitating symptoms that persist or develop following an initial viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection.
Her wife, Nike, manages the household and handles the primary caregiving duties, while their youngest daughter—who was four when Lieke fell ill—knows her only in her current state. Despite the profound losses to her freedom and social life, Lieke maintains an optimistic outlook and hopes to witness her friends cross the finish line on Saturday, supported by transport from her wife. “I really want to bring them in, whatever it takes,” she said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is long covid according to medical classifications?
Long covid is categorized under Post-Acute Infectious Syndrome (PAIS), a medical classification for chronic, debilitating symptoms persisting after an initial infection.
How are Lieke’s friends supporting her?
Four friends of 30 years organized a fundraising campaign called #piekenvoorLieke, participating in a quarter-triathlon to raise at least 15,000 euros for research and awareness.
What are the primary physical symptoms reported in this case?
According to regional news reports, the patient experiences extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, memory problems, blood pressure and heart rate dysregulation, and severe post-exertional malaise.
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