It’s crazy how fast the time went and here we are again doing chemo. It went fine again. Thank goodness. I am getting a little bit weary of this part of the journey and look forward to it being done. In a way. I want it to work and therefore wish to carry on with it and so want it to NOT be done. If it is done too soon, that means it isn’t working and I believe I remember Dr. Tozer, in the very beginning, saying that if Plan A, B or C didn’t work, then he still had some tricks up his sleeve, but I’m not so crazy about seeing what those tricks are. (Speaking of tricks, about 2 weeks ago, we were filling up the van with gas, and a pretty fair sized pick up truck was in front of us gassing up. It had a bumper sticker on it which read: ‘Silly cowboy, trucks are for girls.’ (A play on the words from the cereal commercial for ‘Trix’ where some kids say to the rabbit mascot–“Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids.”) Mendelt and I read it at the same time and he looked at me and just smiled. He knew that I loved that bumper sticker even before I said–that’s an awesome bumper sticker–I love it!!)
But back to chemo, we had our favourite nurse help us today. Her name is Chris and she sings while she works and always has a fun story to tell and a smile on her face. She’s also the one that called me a freak when we told her my first chemo wasn’t working but the A/C type of chemo was. Anyways, today she told me that I have farmer veins. We laughed and weren’t sure if that was a good thing, but she proceeded to say that I have big veins that stick out nicely but it can hurt when the needle goes in because my vein bends when the needle goes in and she has to try and catch the vein. She was not wrong about the hurting part. (The nurse who helped us 3 weeks ago said I had tough skin. SO, it is all making sense why I don’t enjoy the needle part of getting the IV set up….)
Chris also said something very interesting. A farmer who had been a previous patient at the clinic had come to bring some bushels of peaches for the nurses and staff. That prompted Mendelt to ask what could be done for the nurses to show our appreciation. Chris said–nothing! We are just so blessed by you guys. Selfishly, we see you guys, you’ve hit the preverbial wall, and you are still living life. It makes all the seemingly crappy stuff in our lives seem very insignificant. Mendelt said that if that was the case, then us having this makes it seem a little bit better.
There was one sad part of our day. At the tail end of me getting my drugs, a very young guy came in with his mom. He got the bed next to me. It broke mine and Mendelt’s hearts to see such a young guy here! He couldn’t have been more than 16 or 17. Seemingly in the prime of his life. A mystery.
Our kids are doing well. They see me come home from chemo and see my IV gauzed and bandaged up and they ask me about it. I explain that it’s kind of a needle that the doctors and nurses put my medicine in. They want to see it and so I show it to them.
Mendelt talked with Zion last night about me going to chemo again and he asked Zion if he knew what chemo was. Zion said he didn’t and so Mendelt explained it was the medicine that I got to help me get better from cancer. He got that. Then this morning on the way to bringing Zion and Jacoba to Emily’s (whom he really likes but doesn’t love….) 🙂 Zion explained to Jacoba what chemo was. She said “I knew that”. To which Zion proclaimed–“You did NOT!” Yep, still brother and sister…. I also showed them my needles that I have to give myself for the blood clot because Zion really wanted to see them. Really. (His words) so I showed him (and Jacoba too, because Zion was seeing them and whatever he does she likes to do too….) and they took it all in stride. Zion also wanted to see me give myself the needle but that is where I drew the line. (I don’t think Mendelt even watches. 🙂 But he would if I asked him too. In fact he would give me the needle if I asked him too he’s that great.)
I think that is about it. Oh, a little bit about our oncologist. He loves Mendelt’s piano playing (there’s a piano in the cafeteria at the cancer clinic that Mendelt gets to play for a bit and SO many people absolutely LOVE it) and so Mendelt asked him what his favourite song was. Well, he proceeded to tell us about his favourite type of music in highschool (disco) and then in college (rave) and that his current girlfriend then, who is his wife now–found out he was married–was a DJ back then and that now it’s his dream to go to a rave party. He said a number of times that he is very a-typical in his music choices and that it surprises so many people that he is an oncologist who likes this type of music. We find out a little bit more about him every time we see him. One of the chemo nurses also told us that he previously wanted to be an archaeologist and that today, when he takes vacations he goes to jungles and far away places to see things like lost and forbidden pyramids. He is a unique individual whom we are VERY thankful for. We are so nervous sometimes to see him (me especially because I’m afraid he’ll give me bad news…), but we know that he is my biggest advocate and is here to help me.
Okay, now I think that is about it. Tomorrow I go again and my mom and dad are taking me and then on Thursday my sister Monica and possibly my sister Christy (she is just returning from a trip abroad on Wednesday so she’ll see how she is feeling) are going to go with me. In a way it’s kind of nice to go to the clinic for 3 days because now more people can come with me if they would like. Although, if all goes well and I only have this for 4 rounds….. 🙂 But, it could be more too, so I won’t get too excited or hopeful.
Good night all.
Love MaV
17 comments
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August 8, 2007 at 7:28 am
Sheri Nywening
Wow, Marisa, your strength, openess and courage makes me stand in humble awe. I know a lot of people who’ve endured hardship, but I’ve not seen one take it in stride as you and Mendelt have been.
We’re praying for you, Mendelt and the kids and trust that God will give you the peace and strength that you will need for the next round of chemo.
Sheri & Mike Nywening
August 8, 2007 at 8:22 am
Tim and Daphne Vaandering
Hi Marissa
It has been a while since I checked into your blog. Glad to read the “upbeat” tone in your writing. I think your open honesty with your kids is great, they are living in a kids world but also in a grown up world right now too. Keep up the great work!! Praying for you constantly and also for your hubby and the kids!!! Hope you have a good day!!
Love
daph
August 8, 2007 at 2:34 pm
J & J
we love reading about how your day goes, and about the questions your kids ask, and about how amazing your husband is to you..
thank you very much for sharing.
praying, thinking, fighting, and hoping, right along with you guys.
see you on friday : )
much love*
J & J
(ps- say hi to the kids from us, we miss them)
August 8, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Dina
My dearest Macaroni!
I love you and pray for you and your family all the time!
I pray that you will receive the sleep that you need and the love that you deserve today.
Love Dina
August 8, 2007 at 7:10 pm
julie kingma
dear Meesie,
thanks for that posting. it’s neat to hear about the details of your day and how it is at the Cancer Centre.
we continue to pray for you daily and pray that this round of chemo will go well.
strength and peace,
julie and dave.
August 8, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Wally
Marisa,
Thanks for writing with such detail. I really enjoyed this particular message, perhaps because it was full of anecdotes and the usual “Mendmar” levity.
Anyways, I’ve printed this page and placed it inside the cover of a favourite book. I’ve been doing this with postcards from friends since I was 18.
In time, I always end up returning to old books to reread them, or to enjoy a particular chapter. When I come across a postcard, I smile at my good fortune and call the friend in question to catch up.
When I pick up this particular book in a year or two, you will have beaten Cancer by then. I will smile at my good fortune to have you as a friend, then I’ll call you and Mendelt and tell you just how fantastic I think you are. Yours,
Wally, Mireille, Bianca and Bébé Katia.
August 8, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Rachel Wiersma
Sounds like you have a lot of amazing health care workers backing you up. What a blessing.
August 8, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Rose Tamming
Thanks for the amazing “journal” writing, Marisa!!! Very cool to hear about your wonderful nurse…and the stuff your kids say…I can “hear” them when you write…
Praise God for bumper stickers, for blood clot medicine(although I do wish, for your sake, it was oral), and for unusual oncologists!
RT
August 9, 2007 at 2:53 am
Neeke en René
Dear Marisa and Mendelt,
It’s great that you write so often and so beautiful on this blog. Almost everyday we check the blog and think about you. We are proud of you how you handle everything. We keep on praying for you!
Big hugs and kisses, also for the kids!
René and Neeke
August 9, 2007 at 8:59 am
sandie Narsansky
Hi Marisa,
Thank you so very much for taking the time to share such intimite details of your journey. Your strength is so inspiring. Your family is going through an experience that will change you all forever, in one way or another. You are so fortunate to have such a loving and caring and committed family. It makes all the difference for your recovery. Continue the fight. You can beat this. God granted you the gift of perserverance to keep on going. The will to carry on. to stay the course for however long it takes, regardless of obstacles that arise. Be determined.
You continue to be held up in prayer.
Love, Sandie
August 9, 2007 at 9:23 am
Susan
Just a note to let you know I am continuing to pray for you. Thanks for the updates, it helps me know better how and what to pray.
“One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and you, O Lord are loving.” (Ps 62:11, 12a)
Father, work with your great strength and power, through your great love, in Marissa and her family today. Amen
August 9, 2007 at 1:39 pm
janis
stay strong….you are beautiful!
August 9, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Faye
Glad for the update guys. Mendelt I can just see your piano playing being such a blessing to so many people! Marisa, have you been in that hammock yet? or do we need to bring a hammock stand along in September?
lots of love & prayers
Faye
August 9, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Sam & Leona
It is amazing to read about your journey. Don’t know how to say it, but we think of you often and thank you for sharing your journey with us. It’s neat that Mendelt plays the piano at the cancer clinic. We did hear from a friend’s aunt that Mendelt was playing while she was there for her treatments and she enjoyed it. Praying for each of you. Love Sam & Leona
August 10, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Melissa Tigchelaar
Hi Marisa and Mendelt,
I just wanted to say hi, and let you know that you are both in our thoughts, and especially our daily prayers as you battle this cancer. I check in on your blog every other day or so, and love to hear your updates. We pray that God will grant you healing Marisa!, and that you will contine to trust God to be your Strong Tower in these days of chemo.
In Christian love,
Jeff and Melissa Tigchelaar & family
August 11, 2007 at 9:52 am
Diane Bakker
Hey Marisa,
I haven’t written for a while, life seems to rush by sometimes, I pray that this chapter of your life will rush by as well and that the next chapter brings renewed strength and good health. When you were talking about your oncologist and how you are discovering more about him all the time, it made me think that you spend too much time with him if your beginning to know him that well……….that made me think of our Serve Theme this year, ‘Discovering the Mystery’, the more time we spend with our God, the more we discover who He is, He continues to reveal Himself to us in ways that we didn’t think possible, although so much of Him remains a mystery, as well as situations around us, like that young man who came into the clinic and took the bed beside you….a mystery indeed!!
We pray that you both will continue to draw strength in our Heavenly Father and that although the mystery of why things happens will continue to boggle our minds………may you feel secure in trusting that the Lord is holding on to you both, He will not!…. let you fall!
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow is our prayer.
You continue to inspire so many of us……..your words… a true testimony of God’s abundant grace.
Shalom……. love Diane & Ralph
August 11, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Yvonne and Terry Veldboom and girls
Dear Marisa and Mendelt,
Continuing to pray for hope!!!
With love, Terry and Yvonne Veldboom and girls