On the Journey With
Cherie Matthews
Cherie is a breast cancer survivor, and she was one of the first people to call me after I received my diagnosis. She is a scientist and researcher. One of the ways she has helped me (and many others) is by helping them know what questions to ask their medical team. My docs were always great about asking me if I had any questions. I just didn’t know what to ask, and this is where Cherie helped me the most. Perhaps this will be of help to you or someone you love dealing with this disease.
“Doctor, I need to understand the science behind the treatment you’ve prescribed. It’s crucial for me to grasp the rationale to ease my concerns. I’m feeling a bit uneasy and I want to make sure we’re on the same page about my care. Could you explain why this is the best course of action for me?
I also have some specific worries that I’d like to discuss with you. Are there alternative or additional treatments with different approaches we could consider? I value your expertise, but I also want to ensure that the treatment aligns with my personal values and quality of life.
I plan to take detailed notes during our discussions and may seek a second opinion to fully understand my options. I’ll also be discussing everything with my family and friends, as their support is essential to me so please use terminology I can understand and explain to them.
Your guidance is greatly appreciated as I make these important decisions about my health and I need to be free to ask important questions.”
- “Can you explain the stage of my cancer and its implications for my prognosis?”
- “What are the goals of the treatment you’re proposing? A 5-year survival plan goal is not interesting as I don’t know of anyone who only wants to live for the next 5 years so let’s move past the 5 year survival plan discussion.”
- “Are there alternative treatments or supporting healthy immune building protocols available that I should be doing while on your treatment plan such as exercise, eating super healthy and increasing my water intake?”
- “What are the potential side effects of the recommended treatment, and how can they be best managed?”
- “How will this treatment affect my daily life, including work, family, and physical activity?”
- “Could you provide information on any clinical trials that I might be eligible for?”
- “What support services do you recommend for emotional, nutritional, or physical needs during treatment and how do I get signed up?”
- “How much will all this cost? Who can I talk to about the financial aspects of my care, including insurance and treatment costs?”
- “How can I get a second and possibly a third opinion for my treatment plan? Will you help me because this could be a life or death decision and I need to have total confidence that the treatment plan is the absolute best plan for me to put all this behind me?”
Soul Care with
Pastor Jenn
To Pastor (verb): to shepherd, advise, and guide into a place of deeper spiritual understanding
Have you ever wondered if you’re letting God down?
One of the facts of life as a human in a broken world is that not every day is going to be a good day and not every decision we make is going to be perfect. God’s word reminds us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
In some ways this “promise” can feel disheartening. After all, how are we supposed to have peace in the midst of our own brokenness and the brokenness of others around us? But this verse tells us to take heart, the Lord knew this world wouldn’t be perfect and we as humans would struggle to navigate it. He’s not depending on us to win at this life. In fact, He’s not depending on us at all. It is He who holds us up, not the other way around.
When we find the correct orientation for life – us depending on God and the fact that Jesus has already overcome – we can have peace that perfection was never the goal. Jesus achieved perfection on our behalf. The goal was only ever for us to be representatives of God’s love, goodness and grace, both in the way we reach others and in the way we give grace to ourselves.
If striving in this world is starting to wear you down, take heart. Jesus already did all the heavy lifting. Rest in knowing He has already overcome. You are a vessel of His love, with every imperfection surrendered to be used just as God intended. Have peace this week.
Caregivers Corner with
Lori Smith
To Support (noun): to provide assistance that enables one to function or act.
Anxiety seems rampant in our society at the moment. Or maybe more people are just willing to talk about it. Whatever the case, anxiety is a human condition. This fear of the future is our brain projecting every possible scenario for how things are going to play out. And those fears can really take us captive if we let them.
Caring for someone with cancer can cause a ton of anxiety. It did for me. I dealt with panic attacks and general anxiety throughout our 18-month journey. I played out every possible scenario for every possible thing that came our way. I envisioned his funeral more times than I would like to admit. I envisioned him getting better but never being the same again, and what it would be like to be a long-term caretaker. I envisioned running away. It was a daily battle. I personally chose not to take prescription medication, though it was offered to me. I know many people who have been helped by it, but I chose to use supplements and the tools my therapist gave me. Each person has a different journey, and there are many paths to help and healing.
Much of my fear could be traced back to my need to feel safe and secure. What would I do without my husband, my protector and provider? What would happen to me and the children? How could we ever feel safe and secure after all of this? Once again, the Psalms were a place that I went often to help with my feelings during that time, including anxiety and my need to feel safe.
Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord make me dwell in safety. Psalm4:8
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalm 94:18-19
Our story did end with my worst-case scenario happening. My husband lost his earthly life to cancer. But, even now, I am still here and I am still ok. Even now, much of what I envisioned happening hasn’t happened. I miss him every day, but I am still dwelling in the safety of the Lord.
If you are dealing with anxiety, call out to Him for relief from your distress, as David did. Ask Him to be your safety. Ask Him to send godly helpers so that you can find healing; so that you can lie down and sleep in peace.
Worship Moment with
Joel Salabarria
To Inspire (verb): to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
Song: What a God (Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music)
Band: SEU Worship
From: Move of God, 2024
This song is so powerful to me. In the simplest form it paints the picture that God has already done above and beyond what He would ever need to do and if He does nothing else I’ve SEEN it all I’ve HEARD it all I’ve DONE it all In HIM! I just can’t stop listening to it and think about Faithfulness and Provision in every area of my life! What a God, What a God!
If the highest place I reach is at Your feet
Then I’ve done it all
If the best thing that I’ve seen is Your glory
Then I’ve seen it all
Your love has changed my life, forever satisfied
God, You are my everything
My whole life now is for You, yeah
Poetic Encouragement with
Julie Clarke
To Encourage (noun): to give support and hope to someone so that they will do or continue to do something.
Work It Out
Important work, this stuff
needs to get done
To feel settled, secure,
And not under the gun
Its the top of my “To Do list”
And the ticking on my clock
To find the time to meet with you…
Let’s sit on my front porch and rock
It’s an urgent, must do, priority
As important as a drink
Of crystal clean, fresh water
When my heart is on the brink
I need you Lord, I need you
My heart is feeling sick
My heart, it seems, is melting
And my body’s taken a lick
Help me heal, please, fill my wounds
With your sweet and fragrant oil
Lift me up and hold my hand
I fear my blood’s starting to boil
Help me to breathe, Lord help me to be
And give me words, only when needed
A brand new old vision, a way of rest
A perspective of peace let’s heed it
I need you Lord, I need you
I need to feel you move
Silence! Lord, sweet silence
Oh, how I love this way that YOU soothe.
Nutrition Nuggets with
Suzanna Hake
To Nourish (verb): the act or process of being nourished.
Eating plenty of healthy fats is one of the most powerful ways you can nourish your body, starting at the cellular level.
Fats:
✅ Anti-aging – help cells retain structure and shape, even as we age.
✅ Anti-inflammatory – reduce the risk of inflammatory and degenerative diseases.
✅ Cholesterol – Healthy fats actually keep your fat profile at optimal ratios
✅ Brain health – healthy fats are essential for proper brain function
✅ Satiety – fats turn on hormonal functions that signal satiety, keeping you from overeating and also keep you full longer
✅ A ton more…help with blood sugar stability, liver function, sleep, bone health…
Here are a few to consider: Avocados, Olive Oil, Flaxseed, Chia seed, oily fish, hard cheese, almonds, even dark chocolate,
Piet's Ponderings
To Ponder (verb): to think about something carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
I ran across a teaching from 17th century theologian/pastor on dealing with depression and discouragement. I found his take on the subject refreshingly broad and nuanced. Perhaps you will find it as helpful as I did.
He said we are subject to feeling melancholy for a variety of reasons:
- Physical roots —> if so, find rest, medication, diet
- Psychological roots —> if so, seek out encouragement, support, affirmation, love
- Moral roots —> if so, practice repentance, forgiveness, restitution, reconciliation
- Demonic roots —> if so, be aware, prayerful, resistant, put on the full armor of God
It’s also likely that our despondency can be a combination of all the above.
My point in sharing is that when are in this place, we can get fixated on one root cause or assume there is no solution and cycle down into some very dark places.
But there is hope and we have a wide array of resources to access to get the help we need.
Today I am praying for all those who suffer in this way. May God grant us wisdom and discernment as we attempt to discover what might be most helpful at this time with whatever is at the root.
Prayer of the Week
Christianity.com
To Pray (verb): Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer ad petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God )Philippians 4:6)
Are you praying for a friend?
Lord, your Word speaks promises of healing and restoration and I thank you for the miracles you still perform today. Today I claim those promises over my friend. I believe in the healing power of faith and prayer and I ask you to begin your mighty work in the life of my friend. Please reach down and surround my friend with supernatural peace and strength and give her the faith to believe that all things are possible for you. Protect him/her from Satan’s lies and discouragement and let her miraculous healing begin.
Amen.
Word of the Week
Find-Your-Place
Natural beauty inherently inspires. In the busyness of life find a time and space to take it in. It’s all around you!
Look for it….
Linger at it…
Let it feed your soul…
Interested in supporting this new initative?
The Van Waarde Foundation underwrites and supports a variety of projects and team members committed to supporting, educating, and encouraging fellow cancer warriors and their families. As we look to the future, we are excited about creating a variety of new resources that will provide pastoral support to those battling cancer. This initiative will include this newsletter AND a host of other resources including a new podcast providing helpful information on health and fitness, fresh pocket prayers delivered daily to fellow cancer warriors, a new page on the website “heal” Heal – Piet Van Waarde with weekly reflections on navigating the “dailyness” of the journey, plus a soon-coming book Keep on Healing that will address the top 50 questions people face when confronted by a cancer diagnosis. We want to make these resources available at little/no cost to those who need them, and your support through the Foundation (https://www.patreon.com/pietvanwaarde) makes that possible.
Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration.
