Thanks for all the closet bloggers that have shown their electronic face. I’m glad my previous post brought you out, we welcomed your presence. I hope that my ‘forget nice, this is cancer’ comment did not offend anyone, it was not meant for that purpose.
Marisa went for intravenous chemo today in Hamilton. The docs changed some of her medication, the biggest change was that her main chemo drug was scaled down about 33% in hopes that this would help her nausea.
Thank you again for all your comments. Many of you mention the strength you feel reading them but that doesn’t come close to the strength Marisa and I gain from them.
Love Mendelt
Life 
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January 30, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Amber Vanderhout
Marissa, Mendelt and kids
I want to say something but I dont know what to say.
I hope the second round of treatments goes well!
You are continually in my thoughts and prayers
Keep holding on!
Lots of Love, Amber
January 30, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Amalie and Kevin Ritskes
Hey Marisa
It was great to hear you bringing your game face to even cancer. That’s the girl I remember from Redeemer basketball. 🙂
I heard a quote:
“Feed your Faith and your Fears will Starve.”
It seems relevant with the all of the nausea you’ve been feeling, and with the overwhelming level of faithful support you get from this praying community.
Just wanted to let you know that you’re in our daily thoughts and prayers.
Just curious… How did wig shopping turn out?
Get well soon
Amalie and Kevin Ritskes
January 30, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Julia van Staalduinen
Hey you. My heart was hurting for you today. We’ll pray that the change in the drugs will allow you to feel better this time. Maybe even “normal” like you did the last few days.
Stay strong, friends. You are continually being lifted up to our God who is so much more powerful than cancer.
Love and prayers,
Julia
January 30, 2007 at 8:21 pm
mendelt en willy tillema
Get straight on this second way of chemo.
Love,
Mendelt en Willy.
January 30, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Janine Ferrier
Hello Marisa & Mendelt:
I must admit that I too read your blog almost daily. I often find myself in tears for you and your family, and not a day goes by that you are not prayed for. I keep trying to put myself in your shoes and I just can’t imagine what you are truely experiencing. I am thankful that you allow all of us to journey with you via this blog.
Yesterday was my son Malachi’s first birthday. We had some people over for pizza and cake to help us celebrate. My husband prayed for the meal before we started and as soon as he said Amen my daughter Lydia (almost 3) yelled ‘DON”T EAT YET!, you forgot to pray for Marisa daddy.’ We all bowed our heads and prayed for you then. It totally amazes me how a small almost 3 year old can have such a tender concerned heart for others, even among balloons, pizza, streamers, 7 other little friends around…..and she doesn’t even know you…. It makes me ponder the teachings of Jesus….. let the little children come to me. Oh what precious gifts the Father gives to us. Thankyou for your reminder to enjoy our loved ones more.
Praying for strength as you start round #2.
Hugs,
Janine
January 30, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Bob and Betty
Dear Marisa and Mendelt:
Round 2…yes the party is over and now looking forward to that next break, which is down the road.
We know that you are all surrounded in the prayers of your extended family, the church and friends that you have. This feels sooo good. Just bask in the love of Jesus.
We pray that this round will not be so harsh to your stomach and that the cancer will shrink. God can do anything!
Be sure to wear a touque and keep warm.
Love Bob & Betty
January 30, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Bonnie Wilson
Marisa & Mendelt.
I spoke to Jeanetta at church on Sunday and told her a few stories that I am sure will show that cancer can be beaten. I am not sure that you know who I am but Stephen, Charles and myself are part of the St. Andrews choir in N-O-T-L. The stories I told Jeanetta about was my aunt (aged 81, 2 years ago) had found a lump in her breast and it was cancer. She had it removed and she had radiation treatments, but now 2 years later she is still cancer free. The other story I told her was about a 4 year old neighbor of ours that had liver cancer. She had a full regiment of chemo and then surgery. That was about 14 years ago. She is now 18 years old, in university and has been cancer free for 14 yrs. Don’t let it get you down. You have family and friends are a great support group and your faith in God that will see you through. Are prayers are with you and your family daily.
Stephen, Bonnie and Charles
January 30, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Grace Dekker
Hi Mr. and Mrs. Hoekstra. I just thought I’d let you know that I think of you guys often… and I cry for you sometimes. You are such good people and I often find myself wondering why God lets these things happen… but I guess we just have to trust Him; He will never give us anything we can’t handle. I just felt God telling me to encourage you… you’re so loved and you have so much support; I cannot tell you how much I admire your strength. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. God Bless you always… I will be praying for you and your family. Love always,
Grace
p.s. I have no doubt in my mind that you look sexy bald, Marisa 🙂 hehe.
January 31, 2007 at 6:51 am
Annette and Rob Schreuders
Dear Marisa and Mendelt,
TAKE COURAGE for round two. Keep fighting!
We are praying for you soooo often. What a support group you have! What a blessing! May God give you daily strength and moments of joy.
love annette and rob
January 31, 2007 at 7:45 am
Gary
M & M :
I am in the office early “catching up” as the homeschoolers head off to the slopes – what’s wrong with this picture… 🙂 I’m sure they’ll have fun!
Quick note to say HI and hope your day goes well Marisa. Big upside down, spin around hugs to the kids Mendelt…..
Question – what’s worse Mendolt or Mendalt? Always good to see there are others who are also keybored challenged at times.
Luv you guys…..strenth for the day Marisa!!!!! GT
PS – kids liked the hedgehog story……:-)
January 31, 2007 at 10:49 am
Harold
Dear Marisa & Mendelt,
Keep on keeping on! We’re praying for strength for you.
Kids are funny and faithful, aren’t they? It’s nice to know that my 2 yr old Isaiah isn’t the only little one who gets concerned if we fail to pray for Marisa or Michael. (How forgetful parents are, aren’t they?)
Thinking about your blog brought back memories of Christopher’s hospitalization. Do you remember in the fall of ’96 how James posted regular updates and picture of Christopher in the window of the Student Senate office at Redeemer? Does than make James was a blogger before blogs became high-tech?
Like you, we felt bouyed up by the support of God’s family — the body of Christ. What comfort there is in knowing that others are praying for you when you’re not sure how to pray, what to pray, or even whether God answers prayer anymore. The people around gave comfort and reassurance in the darkness of those deep valleys and tension-filled days or nights.
Yet in hindsight, I remember the joy of walking closely with the Lord during that time, because the situation had ripped us out of the illusion that we can cope with stress in our own strength. In that situation we saw our frailty more clearly than we generally do when things are going well. It was one way that God turned the adversity to our profit.
Yet, we were able, surprisingly to experience joy too. To laugh, joke, and make foolish puns even in the middle of a stressful night. What a relieve that sickness doesn’t need to reach our funny bones.
So, Marisa and Mendelt, blessings as you face Round 2.
May God give you strength and the reassurance of his love through his Spirit and the body of Christ — the faithful bloggers who encourage you on your way.
January 31, 2007 at 11:23 am
Jodi Mobach
Dear Marisa: Strength for you as you go through round 2. I pray that the decrease in chemo means wellness for your stomach. Keep looking to the cross as you face this next set of treatments. Keeping you in our prayers Jodi
January 31, 2007 at 11:32 am
Brit
have a great day!
thinking of you
January 31, 2007 at 2:29 pm
The Pols fam
It’s good to hear that the doctors are taking your nausea seriously too, and that they’re trying to make the treatments more “comfortable” for you.
We’ll continue to pray for your comfortability in dealing with the medications, peace when anxious moments arise, and strength in your weakness!
You guys continue to take joy in the little things in life that bring a smile to our faces on a daily basis. Take joy in the little blessings that run around your house smiling and giggling and even fighting with each other! And at the end of the day, when all is quiet in the house, take joy in the physical rest God grants to our frail bodies.
Take care Mendelt and Marisa, and hugs and kisses to Zion, Jacoba, and litttle Zekijah — yep, that means you might have to wrestle Zion down to give him a smooch from me, but you do it anyway.
Love and prayers, continually,
Cheryl and the gang
January 31, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Pauline
Yes, I am a closet blogger as well…. I read about your journey daily and you guys are very often on my heart and in my prayers. Just last night I was watching a bit of the Johnny Cash movie and it reminded me of Mendelt saying ‘I wanna be a rock ‘n roll star’… and I’m glad Marisa, that you have such a super-star husband. Marisa, I take to heart your comments on enjoying your spouse/family/children….. you guys really shine and are touching so many with your journey…. strength and courage.
Continued prayers
Love Pauline (DeVries) and Jeremy Zandberg, Solomon & baby
January 31, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Kim Reitsma- VanHaitsma
Hey Meesie.
I was wondering how “Meesie” came about! Thanks to Daphne, I know the origin! HAHA- learn something new everyday.
So I hope there has been no excessive barfing, and that the decreased dose has been good for you. A similar thing heppened with my anti-rejection drugs after the transplant, and they had to cut them way back. At first, it was freaky because I thought I might go into rejection.. but it was just a matter of figuring out what worked for me. Hopefully that will be the same deal for you!
Good to see some of the closet bloggers coming out… some of them good friends of mine!
Hope you’re getting some good jokes because I can’t think of anything funny off-hand. HMM… something that did happen to us this week… our dog Katie, who is a 6 year old yellow lab (we adopted her 3 months ago from the Humane Society), is NOT fixed! After some looking up of “girl dog” behavior online, we found that she was indeed in heat and experiencing some, well, “mess”. I guess the funny part of this story is imagining a 65 pound dog with a towel tied around her butt. (Actually that didn’t work very well because it fell off, and now we have to chase her around with a paper towel… that’s not so funny..) You will be pleased to know she is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.
Like you don’t have enough to read.. maybe I’ll check a real joke book out of the library….
AIOPYT Love, Kim
January 31, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Julie Oosterloo-Pilling
Hello Again Marisa, Medelt and family,
How timely were Harold’s words to us about being drawn closer to God during the difficult times in our lives. Zach and I also feel that our trials and tribulations over the last number of years have drawn us closer to God – in seeking His will for our lives and we are in turn drawn closer to each other. What a blessing it is to have faith in a loving God who is so concerned for us that not a hair can fall from our heads with out Him knowing exactly how many are left….or exactly how many were shaved off as is your case!! LOL How brave you are Marisa!
I was reading Malachi in ‘The Message’ today…I was interested in the passage concerning refining fire (3:3). But what really caught my eye was the intro to the chapter of Malichi – It had this to say:
“Most of life is not lived in crisis – which is a good thing. Not many of us would be able to sustain a life of perpetual pain or loss or ecstacy or challenge. But crisis has this to say for it: In time of crisis everything, absolutely everything, is important and significant. Life itself is on the line. No word is casual, no action marginal. And almost always, God and our relationship with God is on the front page.”
When we face times of trial in our lives we have a choice…it can make us or it can break us. I have often said to people that ask us about how Zach and I deal with our childlessness…”Infertility can do one of two things to a marriage…destroy it or make it stronger” We have made the decision to allow God to ‘make us’ in the midst of infertility and all the grief and loss that accompany it. It is so wonderful that you two have also chosen to allow cancer to ‘make you’….don’t let it break you…or your relationship with God. It is all ways good to remember that crisis aren’t something that God ‘does’ to us…rather they are opportunities for God to carry us through. He grants us his ‘supernatual’ grace and love which we in turn can share with those around us – because what He gives, He gives to overflowing.
Godspeed to you as you begin ‘Round 2’ and may He give you more reason for joy than for sorrow!
With much love,
Julie
January 31, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Cheryl Vanderhout
Marisa,
It was good to see you at Coffee Break this morning. Looks like the scaling down has helped so far since you were able to come. I pray it continues!
Keep smiling that great smile!
January 31, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Kathleen
Dear Marisa and Mendelt,
I am a friend of Martha’s, I have been reading your blog since the beginning and have been thinking and praying for you all since I first heard of your diagnosis.
Marisa, for the past 4 years I have been walking in ‘The Weekend to End Breastcancer”, in Toronto with 4 high school girlfriends. 2 of them are young mothers who were diagnosed with breast cancer in their early 30s. both have been cancer free for several years. They educated themselves about the disease, stayed positive and determined and put their trust in God; I also have an Aunt who in her early 40s was diagnosed with breast cancer. She completed her treatments only to discover spots on her liver. Her attitude was, “I got through the first round of treatments, I can do it again – this is not going to beat me”. She has now been cancer free for around 10 years. Marisa, I also have another Aunt who was diagnosed with breast cancer and basically gave up – she passed away about 5 years ago. I really don’t want to mention that to you but I have to in order to emphasize my point…..stay positive – do not let a negative thought enter your mind – I think cancer feeds on negativity. Let God, your doctors and your family take care of you. You put all your strength into staying positive.
Also, your faith is beautiful, inspiring, awesome…. Perhaps that is the ‘why’. Witnessing your faith make me step back and take stock with regards to my own faith – I am sure other closet bloggers are doing the same! I am honoured and humbled to take a small part of this journey with you via this blog….. God Bless.
Kathleen.
January 31, 2007 at 9:33 pm
julie kingma
hello Marisa and Mendelt,
we’re glad to hear that the doctors are trying to decrease the nausea for you. we’ve had the flu around here and it reminded both Dave and I how trying it must be to have extreme nausea all the time. This has been heavy on our hearts. There are so many other thoughts and prayers that cross our minds as we think of you and as we read the words that others have written to you. Today i am struck – as others have been – by the pure and innocent faith of our children. We heard a testimony recently in which people prayed continually for a child who was very ill. After some time their prayers became a little less hopeful, as if they no longer believed that God could actually heal her. Then they decided to let other children around this sick child pray for her. These children boldly asked God for healing, they seemed to assume that God would do so. And the next day, the miracle of her healing began. Tonight after praying with my 3 year old for you, she took my hand and said, ‘don’t worry Mom, God will heal Marisa just like He healed my cold’. and so, i’m going to pray more like her….i’m going to ask for NO nausea, not just less nausea, and for you to be totally at peace and be totally healed.
with love, Julie (Reitsma) Kingma and family.
January 31, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Ruth/Rick Jongejan
Hi! Just to remind you that you are prayed for daily both at home and at school. Marisa, God has promised that he would never send you more than you could bear WITH HIS HELP. Keep walking this journey with God as your guide. I can feel his tears as he observes your suffering. Mendelt, just keep trusting in God to be your guide, even when the pathway seems so dark sometimes. God has promised that he would be with his children all the time. Keep clinging to that promise.
I would love to see your Dad without his beard and hair. What a statement of “meeleven” that is. It must be so hard for both your sets of parents to experience this. They must be wishing that it was them instead of you. Please let them know that they are often in our thoughts and prayers. As your Mom said in her note, she has others to pray for as well. Often my thoughts go out to Jacoba. Now that I am not teaching with Klaas anymore I don’t her news about her. Please send her our love as well.
SHALOM! From Ruth (and Rick….who is presently skiing in BC, lucky guy!)
February 1, 2007 at 12:26 am
carolyn lammers
Mendelt, Marisa and children,
you are in our thoughts and prayers as you face this giant in your lives. God is greater than any Goliath and it is our prayer that He will restore you Marisa ,fully strong and healthy to your family.
I used to babysit Mendelt in church nursery in Trinity Church way back when. He was a very rambuncious little kid to say the least!!! (my maiden name is Bezuyen Mendelt) I’m guessing he still is basically that same fireball today!
Many prayers went up to our Father tonight at our weekly prayer meeting for you all. May God grant you His abiding peace in your trials.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith–the salvation of your souls” 1Peter1:6-9
thankyou for sharing your journey- it helps us to pray in a much more personal way for you. God bless your family. In His love, Carolyn and family
February 1, 2007 at 6:42 am
Jake & Ann Ellens
Marisa & Mendelt
I suppose we all have our routines in life, some good , some not so good. One of my routines is to read the CRC “Today”, every morning right after breakfast. This I have done for decades and I have been enriched by it. My routine has changed in the course of the last few weeks. Now I read your blog before breakfast and then the “Today”. Now I am encouraged even more, by your witness and by the “great cloud of witnesses”, namely your fellow bloggers. May you find strength from these many supporters and grace from our Lord.
Jake
February 1, 2007 at 7:13 am
Jon and Sharon Dreise
Sorry we haven’t written for a while, but each of us do check-in every day. Sharon has her first post-cancer mammogram next week, Feb 8. We see your “one day at a time” life and pray for your continued strength.
Last year, on February 9 (also Sharon’s birthday) we went for the post-operation interview with the Surgeon. We were told the Ductal Carcinoma In Situ removed the week prior showed signs of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (actual cancer). It was ALMOST undetectable. That is the day life really changed. Surgury #2 was booked for the following week. Happy Birthday!? Actually yes…. Praise the Lord for Surgeons, Doctors and Lab Technicians (any many more) all doing their very best for us. Without them we would not have known.
Take Courage.
February 1, 2007 at 9:58 am
brian & erin knight
Hi there Mendelt & Marisa and family,
Remember us from high school Mendelt? It’s been a while since we’ve seen you… and this is not how we wanted to “reunite” with an old Beaconite.
We are praying for all of you and we will keep praying earnestly to God that Marisa will BEAT this cancer and that you will enjoy a long, happy, healthy life together as a family. Keep God in the centre and all things will work out. He promises us that!!!
Take care and God bless,
brian & erin
February 1, 2007 at 10:52 am
Daphne and Tim Vaandering
Hi Meesie and Mendelt
All the best in Round 2!!! Thinking of you!!
Love
Daphne and Tim
February 1, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Christine Vanderkooy
Dear Marisa and Mendelt,
Just a little note to let you know that the Vanderkooy family is praying for you daily, and you are so often in our thoughts. I hope this week is going as well as possible for you, and that your tummy is not as upset as with round 1….
I read 1Peter 5:7 last night (I think that is the right scripture reference, but since I am at work I might have it wrong), the wording is brief but beautiful:
“Cast all your anxiety on him, for he cares for you”
May you feel that caring today.
Chris and Jim Vanderkooy
February 1, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Kathy Beigie
Feb. 1, 2007
Marisa,
I am a member of St. Andrew’s Church and know your mother and father-
in law. When I heard you had cancer, I began praying for you right away.
When people prayed for me, it meant so much and I felt so grateful.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer Nov. 2003. I was treated with surgery, chemo, and radiation so I understand the walk you are taking.
Marisa, you are young and this is very much a positive for you. At first, there is mental period of adjusting and coming to grips. The day does finally comes when you say “I AM GOING TO BEAT THIS.” I receive newsletters from Juravinski Clinic where I was treated and there is always encouraging news, new breakthroughs, and stories of those who have
been cured. When you finish your treatment, you will feel as though you have climbed Mt. Everest, because, in fact, you have. There are good days and bad days, but you forge on and finally you come to the top of the mountain. Sometimes it feels as though God is saying to you “come closer to me – there are things I want to show you. I cannot show you in the valley – you must climb this mountain.”
February 1, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Carrie
Hi guys, neither of you really know me that well, but I worked with Jacoba at SCACL for 3 years. Currently I work with “Dee” (she is the w/e night staff at my house) and she gave me this “blog” address. I read it often, and my thoughts are with you all during this trying time. It seems that Marissa is on the same schedule of chemo as my step mom; whom is currently struggling with breast cancer. Luckily, she seems to be tolerating chemo well, and her nausea became pretty much non-existent with the help of some oral medications. Hopefully the same works for you.
They say that we learn from each other. Here is my advice for you (via my step mother). Marissa, I read the blog about you getting a wig. If you decided to get one-one tip….when they say to stay away from heat with it on-that includes the oven! The other day my step mom opened up the oven to take out dinner, and the heat synged (spelling?!) her wig…needless to say that was one of the last things that she needed!
My thoughts and prayers are with you all,
Carrie Dungavel
February 1, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Carrie
Hey lovely! I wish I were able to see you at quilting. I miss the banter around the table as we get our projects going and am happy to know you have been able to make it a few times. Nate is doing great with daycare and has a few words already – – two of his first three words were dog and Cocoa, the name of the dog at daycare. It might be tricky to keep up my no-dog resolution as he gets older! Anyway, it’s Thursday night so I was thinking of you and wanted to let you know we have been thinking of you and praying for you and your family. Love, Carrie 🙂
February 2, 2007 at 11:17 am
Sheri Nywening
Marisa,
This morning as I prayed and thought much about you, Mendelt and the children, I started to think about all the times you’ve played piano for the “Sheri and Rose” duo … you’ve been our lady pretty much each time! And that brings me to a funny memory of when we were practicing one Sunday morning after church. There were a couple of us in the sanctuary. I think Jean, Wendy, Mike and Joe … perhaps some others …You were playing the piano and Rose and I were practicing (I think the song was “Lord have Mercy”) and as I took a deep breath – as a good singer would, I inhaled what was probably the only fly/bug in the entire sanctuary. I don’t know if you’d remember it … but you laughed pretty hard at me. Everyone did … I on the other hand didn’t think it was very funny… At least I can laugh about it now. So, yah. I thought I’d share that with you, hopefully you’ll get a good chuckle out of it once again. In the meantime, keep smiling and keep tinkling the ivories. Here’s to the next funny memory we have around the piano!! Lots of smiles and cheer to you!
Sheri
February 2, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Kim Reitsma-VanHaitsma
Hey hey!
Taking a little lunch break at work, and as is my new routine (like Jake Ellen’s!) am checking your blog!
The word is out in Grand Rapids that Marisa VanderVeen Hoekstra needs your prayers YESTERDAY and GET IT DONE! Our Bible Study has been informed, as well as many people I work with ! I will be checking in periodially to make sure they are doing their job.
Hope that new chemo cocktail is still working well and you have a bit of energy back!
AIOPYT (That’s short for “Always in our prayers, you troopers… sorry for the confusion!)
Love, Kim
P.S. Our dog Katie is doing well, coming home later today.
February 4, 2007 at 5:08 pm
stan/marlene langendoen
Marisa,Mendelt and family,
Just a little note to say you continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. We pray for continued strength, patience, peace and courage as you press on! We see how you feel empowered by the prayers and support that surrounds you all! What a true blessing. In the business of our own lives, your web site reminds us again of the love that binds communities of faith, and how minor some of our own “little worries” really are. So, thank you for sharing your story – you are inspiring so many – including us! God bless!
Stan and Marlene Langendoen
Tim, Ryan. Alison, Leanne, Evan