Ann Peetermans and Iosif, who lives with her as a boarder, feeding a donkey in the backyard of her home in Geel, Belgium. (Ilvy Njiokiktjien/The New York Times)
By Matina Stevis-Gridneff and Koba Ryckewaert, The New York Times, April 21, 2023
A painful loop has defined Iosif’s 53 years on earth: trauma, mental breakdown, psychiatric institutionalization.
From his native Romania to a failed asylum bid in Belgium and later divorce and financial distress, Iosif’s condition has punctuated crises in his life that often spiraled out of control.
But as he sat at the dining table overlooking the woods through wide glass doors, he seemed at peace.
He spoke about his daily chores (feeding the donkey, doing the dishes), favorite pastimes (reading the Bible, shopping), worries (forgetting to take his pills, overspending).
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