(sorry if any of my students are reading this)
When Marisa and I were both at Redeemer, I would go to every one of her basketball games. (she was a provincial All-Star, I never was) When Marisa would get fouled and went to the free throw line, she went there with a lunch-bucket-get-it-done attitude. She would get the ball from the ref, look at the basket and do her job.
It was the same get-it-done attitude that Marisa brought today when she got her head shaved. She decided to take some of the power back from cancer and get rid of her hair on her terms. Marisa sat in that chair while Zekijah (8 months) and I watched with pride and admiration.
We are now going out for dinner and Marisa looks totally sexy.
Peace, love and thanks again for all the comments, please keep them coming.
Love Mendelt
Life 
39 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 26, 2007 at 7:10 pm
AB
That’s what I keep telling my wife about the bald spot on the top of my head… but she’s not buying it…
January 26, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Alison
You go girl! Keep that take charge attitude strong! You’ll look great with either look. I think you are truely brave.
Luv you always, with or without the hair!!!
January 26, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Daphne and Tim Vaandering
Hey Marisa
You go girl!!! Hope you have a good weekend!!
Love
Daphne and Tim
January 26, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Susanne Wood
Hi Marisa and Mendelt,
Way to go, Marisa! I know you look beautiful and I am so proud of you to just go for it! I hope you all had a wonderful dinner out. Our family just got back from a dinner out. It is so nice to eat food you didn’t cook and you don’t have to clean up after, eh? I hope you had a good family time together.
The woodstove is crackling over here and I wish you could come by for a visit and warm your fingers and toes by the fire. You are in our constant thoughts and prayers.
Peace and Love,
Susanne and Daniel Wood and family
January 26, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Christine Valk
I have been checking in on your blog daily.
What a blessing we have as a body of believers to lay our burdens before the cross!
January 26, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Robyn Lamb
Marisa!!!!!!!
How can one be so filled with joy, pride, excitement….and tears all at the same time!!! I too, admire you! Way to GO!!!!
Mendelt, You’re Next!!!
Huge Hugs,
Love Robyn
January 26, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Julia van Staalduinen
Way to go, Marisa! I’m sure it wasn’t easy and I’m so proud of you! Yet another awesome display of your strength, courage and determination to kick cancer’s butt! You go girl!!
And Mendelt, you rock! If I ever need a cheering section, I sure do hope you’ll be a part of it! The love and encouragement you show to Marisa is just beautiful. She’s blessed to have you.
Have a great night out, kids! Love you both.
Love and prayers,
Julia
January 26, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Christine Valk
Last fall my husband and I experienced two deep losses within one week….we stood amazed at the “peace that went beyond understanding.” Looking back there were times when I thought I might simply fall in a heap somewhere, but was amazed that the Lord gave me the grace to rest in His Sovereign Will. During those “dark moments” I found Psalm 42 particularly comforting. I pray you will find those portions of God’s Word that give you that comfort during your “dark moments.”
I pray that you too will have that peace….
I have been reading through a book called “Trusting God- Even When Life Hurts” by Jerry Bridges. (Excellent book).
I quote for you…
“Paul received grace when he needed it. God does not give us all the divine strength we need for the Christian life the day we trust Christ. Rather, David speaks of God’s goodness, which is stored up for those who fear Him (Ps 31:19). Just as we are to store up (the meaning of ‘hidden’ in Psalm 119:11) God’s Word is our hearts against times of adversity. We do not receive it before we need it, but we never receive it too late.
I think of a physician whose son was born with an incurable birth defect, leaving him crippled for life. I asked the father how he felt when he, who had dedicated his life to treating the illnesses of other people, was confronted with an incurable condition in his own son. He told me his biggest problem was the tendency to capsule the next twenty years of his son’s life into that initial moment when he learned of his son’s condition. Viewed that way, the adversity was overwhelming. God does not give us twenty years of grace today. Rather, He gives it day by day. As the song says, “Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here; trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.”
Grace and peace to you….
Christine Valk (nee VanHooydonk)
January 26, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Grace and Norm
Marisa . . you go girl! Your indomitable spirit is evidence of God’s Spirit working in you. We continue to pray for healing, courage and strength for you, steadfastness for Mendelt and joy for all of your family. God bless . .
January 26, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Mike and Karen Carmody
Of course she’s sexy – all the girls of Dorm 14 were and are sexy! (speaking of Redeemer) Hair or no hair, I’m glad Marisa is still the same Marisa we all know and love . . . and cancer can’t take that away.
Love you lots.
Karen
January 26, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Bryan and Susanne Zietsma
Marissa, it’s not so bad losing your hair. I’ve been doing it for a few years. Although I don’t think Mendelt thinks I’m sexy.
Bryan
January 26, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Charleen Jongejan Harder
Mendelt,
We’re praying for you all – particularly for Marisa – here in Indiana. You are all in God’s hands; and never forgotten.
Charleen
January 26, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Mark & Laura Bassie
Hey Marisa – I admire your spunk!!!! Way to go!
Marisa – the lean, mean (tough), fightin’ machine!
Keep On, Friend!
Love from Laura
January 26, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Danielle Vander Kolk
Awesome! Way to go, Marisa!
That sure is one way to…take COURAGE!!!
Now you can wear that purple wig! 🙂
Keep on…taking COURAGE!
God is with you.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Danielle & Chuck
January 26, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Steve and Julia Kooy
Dear Mendelt and Marisa,
It breaks my heart to read your blog. Steve and I are still shaking our heads saying, “I can’t believe Marisa has cancer”. We are so sorry we couldn’t be at the prayer service to support you. But we are praying for you constantly. May you find God’s strength, peace and grace enough for each day. Thank you for telling us to appreciate our spouses, children and lives. I certainly take these for granted. It’s a good wake up call for me.
Love you,
Steve and Julia
January 27, 2007 at 12:22 am
Nicole Baarda
You go, girl!!!!!! My husband suggests a tattoo might be fun too (you can cover it up when your hair grows back in).
January 27, 2007 at 9:26 am
Corrie
Dear Marisa: Way to go – I’m so glad you took the step and “did it YOUR way!” God is certainly giving you courage and strength! And the support of the community, not only on email but at the service. I was blessed to be part of those who were able to be there. We certainly could feel the Spirit move. May God hear the prayers of His saints who continually lift you and Mendelt, Zion, Jacoba and Zekijah up before His throne of grace.
May He constantly be your source of everything, yes everything you need.
Thought for the Day: (I know I’ve missed giving you a few of these BUT the thoughts are ALWAYS there!!)
“All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Saviour, I surrender all.”
Luv, blessings & prayers
cJz
January 27, 2007 at 9:28 am
Ms. Buma (a.k.a. Tine)
Dear Marisa and Mendelt,
I am amazed at the cheering of this support group (saints!) on your behalf! You are loved by God, you are loved by those whose lives you have impacted in your lifetime, and you are today again, in the thoughts and the prayers of countless people. For sure, one day at a time! Like the rest of us! As for the hair…your deciveness makes me smile! And that beautiful smile is how I have remembered you, and how I am picturing you today. As for those not too chipper times …where you’re soldiering ahead to the best of what it is you can muster up, Sterkte, Marisa! (Translated, it means, much strength.) Yeah, you do go, girl, and we’re all with you!
Peace, and to that fine fellow of yours, Mendelt, blessings!
Much love, from Ms. Buma
January 27, 2007 at 9:33 am
Cheryl
Way to go Marisa!!!
Mendelt – if any of your students are reading this (my daughter is one of them) they would see a loving and devoted and supporting husband! You are a good example for them!
Cheryl
January 27, 2007 at 9:57 am
Matt Van Geest
Marisa,
Awesome. Way to take charge of cancer and tell it who’s boss. I’ll send you pics of my shaved head if you send me pics of yours!
Have a great weekend guys.
Matt
January 27, 2007 at 10:56 am
Sonya Wonder
Dear Marisa & Mendelt,
Your comment from yesterday certainly brings back memories for me of when I helped my mom shave her head during chemo. When she first had cancer, someone gave her the poem that follows, and she also passed it on to me. She kept it on her dresser as a reminder, and I still carry mine in my wallet. Here it is:
What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot destroy peace,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot suppress memories,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot steal eternal life,
It cannot conquer the Spirit.
From “The Senior Times”
I hope you have a great weekend!
Sonya
January 27, 2007 at 11:42 am
Trevor and Rebecca
Sinead O’Connor. Sigourney Weaver. Natalie Portman. Jean-Luc Picard.
Marisa Vanderveen.
Bald and beautiful!
January 27, 2007 at 11:53 am
Mel and Betty Andree
Hey Marisa, I’m in your court, cheering you on, and the rest of your team too, of course. I remember a few years ago (well, maybe more than a few years ago) coaching basketball at BCS. Your quiet determination and get-the-job-done-attitude was and is still so much a part of you.
I’m sure you’ll find some really funky looks with a wig and maybe even some hats.
May God give you strength for each new day!!!
With love,
Betty
January 27, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Sally
Tony Campollo once said that a bald head is a solar panel for a love machine!
It has also been heard that God only created so many perfect heads…..the rest He covered with hair!!
The light of God surrounds us,
The love of God enfolds us,
The power of God protects us,
Wherever we are,
Wherever our loved one is,
God is.
January 27, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Sonya Eikelboom
Awesome, Marisa! Love that spunk, girl! Keep your chin up and continue to find your strength in HIM!!!
In our prayers…
Sonya
January 27, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Lauren Heinen
I came across your blog through a link on a friend’s blog. It seems like you have a great network of support of friends, as well as trust in our Saviour and Lord. May he continue to uplift you and provide you and your family with comfort while you beat cancer!! Your story has been very inspirational for me, even though I do not know you directly. Your courage and determination is so evident and reveals Christ in you. God bless!
January 28, 2007 at 9:47 am
Heit Hoekstra
Dear Marisa, Mendelt, Zion, Jacoba and Zekijah;
We admire you greatly and I decided to stand together with you, Marisa and the family. I have shaved my head and beard. So if people come up to me and ask ‘why’ I have an opportunity to tell them of a couragious daughter-in-law, son and grandchildren, who in trying circumstances show great faith and trust. Mem and I love you!
January 28, 2007 at 10:42 am
Leona and Rusty
Mahatma Gandhi, also bald and wise, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him
a super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
Love Rusty (actually it’s Leona. Can’t let Rusty take the rap)
I’m having trouble picturing Santa without facial hair
Shalom
January 28, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Julia van Staalduinen
Oh guys, I’ve got the giggles! I’m pretty sure there has never been a time (maybe when I was really young, but I doubt it) when Mr. Hoekstra didn’t have lots of hair and a big, bushy beard! Trying to imagine it now! What an awesome gesture of love and support! And a great opportunity to tell many (and I know there will be many!) about his courageous daughter-in-law, son and grandchildren. Love it!!
Curious now…is Mr. Hoekstra the first of a string of hairless Hoekstra’s??
Love you, guys! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Love and prayers,
Julia
January 28, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Kim Reitsma- VanHaitsma
Hey!
Let me tell you, over the years I have had varying degrees of thinning hair.. due to medicaiton, illness.. (something you could NEVER understand of course…) If Brad had a dime for every time I said in frustration, “I’m gonna shave me head.. I swear, I’ll do it this time!”… we’d be retired and living in Arizona full time.
Anyhoo, I was talking to my mom yesterday, and we were reminiscing about Hallowe’en of ’86, when you and Jules and I dressed up like “punks” (?) and put that pink gel concoction in our hair (I think we found it at Bargain Harold’s). My mom has a picutre of us at my grandma’s.. I can see it in my head right now. You put all your hair in one big spike on the top of you head and the whole thing fell over half-way through our candy mission. Oh crap, that made me laugh. (Thought it was a good, somewhat related story to you being sexy… )
Always always always in our prayers, you troopers! Don’t get too used to that “sick role” because when you fell better (and you WILL, I know it) you won’t know what to do with yourself.
Love, Kim (and Brad too)
January 28, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Paula and Darren
Hi Mendelt and Marisa,
We just finished reading through your entries on this blog and were amazed to find ourselves uplifted…uplifted by a clear, strong sense of Christ’s presence in your lives right now and in the community of believers who surround you. We join you in raising our cries of “Why Marisa? (Why anyone?)” and in our fervent prayers for healing, strength and courage. We commit to you that we will pray for you and continue to walk with you along this frightening road. We wish that there was more we could do…know that you are being prayed for in Ottawa. Thank you so much for allowing us to share in your pain, your joy, and your faith. Marisa, I bet that you look beautiful as a baldie!
God Bless you and your family.
All our love,
Paula, Darren, and Micah Brouwer
January 29, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Alec Home-Douglas
i’m thinking of pinning Monique down tonight and getting the shears out so she can have a shaved head in support of Marisa … or maybe all of us should shave our heads, except Matheo, because he has wicked long hair
January 31, 2007 at 3:09 pm
DORENE
Dear Hoekstra Family: Such a tough journey to be on. Praying that you plave your trust in our Heavenly Father and never let go no matter how many holes in the road ahead
February 12, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Vince VanderVeen
Hi, Marisa. Was there ever any sport that you weren’t good at? Ever try luge, for example? Anyway, there’s a snail mail letter en route from me. I’m thinking of you lots.
Vince VanderVeen (no relation 😉 )
February 24, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Pat Caldwell
Dear Marisa,
I am part of St. Andrew’s Church women who are regularly praying for you and your family.
I have just finished a Bible Study by Beth Moore, called Believing God
I wanted to share with you the 5 statement Pledge of faith from the book.
1. God is who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God’s word is alive and active in me.
Love Pat Caldwell Ephesians 1:19
February 24, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Anita Lubbers
Mendelt, Marisa and kids
My heart aches when i read your email. I wish so much Marisa didn’t have these terrible side effects from the chemo. YOu don’t have to apologize for the tone of your email, knowing how you really feel allows us to pray specifically for these things. May God bless you all in this moment and in the days ahead. May he surround you all with his love and peace and may God’s people be the hands and feet of Christ for you. God bless you all
love Anita
December 4, 2007 at 9:13 pm
klary harssema
Dear Marissa and Wendelt,
Can’t find any words to express how I feel when I read your blog, other then I want you to know I am praying for all of you!and I know many others who are, also!
Klary Harssema.
December 6, 2007 at 10:38 pm
klary harssema
Dear Wendelt and children,you asked us not to be sad for Marissa,but our thought are certainly with you,May god give you strenght and courage to be both mother and father. Klary Harssema.
March 16, 2008 at 10:44 am
klary harssema
DEAR MENDELT, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO VENT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT FAULT YOU FOR THAT .NO APOLOGIES ARE NEEDED’
THINKING OF YOU!KLARA HARSSEMA!