Mrs Does no longer recognises the painter, but she does recognise herself

From simply eating an ice cream to a real helicopter flight. The wishing tree that was erected last winter in 23 Eindhoven residential care centres yielded the most diverse wishes of residents. On Monday afternoon, the wish of Christien Does (81) was fulfilled by unveiling the painting for which she had served as a model.

The wishes are part of the campaign Heart Warming Together of Samen voor Eindhoven, a foundation that mobilises volunteers to dedicate themselves to social organisations and vulnerable people. On Valentine's Day, all residents of 23 residential care centres locations of Archipel, Oktober and Vitalis received a bag with heart-shaped biscuits and a greeting card, intended to give them a heartfelt boost in coronation time but also to collect as many wishes from residents as possible.

 

Wibra open again

Almost a thousand of them were literally mapped out in this way. Mrs Bep, for example, wanted the Wibra to be allowed to open for an hour, in order to stock up on balls of wool. Other residents wanted to eat ice cream, pick flowers or go to a live music performance. And there was one woman who wanted to take a helicopter flight, although that turned out not to be within budget. In the coming period we will try to fulfil as many wishes as possible", Marbritta van Boldrik of Samen voor Eindhoven tells us. Next week, for example, we are taking a number of former Philips employees to the Philips Museum for a guided tour by the director."

Also today a wish is fulfilled: Christien Does (81) receives from artist Antonie de Rooij the painting for which she patiently posed. In addition to being a painter, De Rooij is also involved in Hartverwarmend Samen (Warm-hearted Together). With this project we try to give lonely elderly people not only attention but also a face. This wish fits in perfectly with that. 

The sketches of their meeting at Gagelbosch in Gestel were the basis for the portrait. Do you remember?", he asks her. Does, who suffers from dementia, shakes her head. The painter doesn't ring a bell, but eventually she recognises herself in the canvas. Suddenly she starts beaming. A member of staff says that Mrs Does has always been creative herself. Her whole room is full of art, almost all of her own work. She has a lot of clay dolls with clothes she designed herself. And from now on there is also a beautiful portrait among them.