Wednesday, 8.30 a.m., Amsterdam Noord. Elmer Kouwenberg hangs over his mattress within the ropes. His nurse Toby pushed a fabric below his buttocks, connected it to a small crane with straps and lifted it up remotely. Koouwenberg is now floating there and frowns. The crane buzzes. Kouwenberg’s again bends. Slowly his physique is swung over the mattress edge and lowered into its electrical wheelchair.

Toby gently loosens the straps. “Okay, Elmer, I’m going away now, ready?” Kouwenberg nods. Toby continues. Then he steps behind the wheelchair and pulls Kouwenberg’s hips with a jerk to the again of the again. In denims, black hoodie and sneakers, he now sits upright and blows a strand of hair from his face. He grins. “Hi!”