Marie-José Bosch-Kuiper, 42, thrives despite having just one functional lung. Santé journalist Fleur Baxmeijer shares her candid interview on daily challenges and the surprising discovery that one lung was barely working.
“At just one year old, I likely choked on a stone, leading to severe pneumonia that left lasting damage. Scar tissue on my left lung limits its perfusion and capacity to only 20%. I had no idea until my student days, when persistent coughing and frequent colds prompted a doctor's visit.”
My GP referred me to a pulmonologist at UMC, where a contrast scan revealed the poor blood flow—my left lung hardly functions. Simple tasks like walking and talking leave me breathless. Speech requires extra effort, often leaving me short of breath. I play tennis and hockey but need to catch my breath sooner, mimicking poor fitness. I manage, but colds reduce capacity further, forcing me to gasp for air. COVID-19 was terrifying; infection could have been fatal or worsened my condition.
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In the latest Santé, explore our in-depth feature on breathing and lung health.
Text: Fleur Baxmeijer, Santé 9 / Image: Getty Images
