Hello and welcome! This site is run by the Van Veen family to keep friends and family up to date on Pam's journey through chemotherapy, radiation, and ultimately beating cancer! We are grateful that you are here and we appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement!
To begin, we recently found out that Pam had a two lumps in her breast that tested positive for cancer. We are so grateful that through surgery doctors were able to successfully remove the lumps of cancer. However, her lymph nodes were tested during this time and one lymph node tested positive for cancer. We were devastated to hear that her cancer had spread and that she would be needing chemotherapy and then radiation. In true Pam fashion, she took to comforting us all while we processed her diagnosis, reminding us that she knows God is in control.
Pam's chemotherapy treatments will be starting July 6th - she will be receiving four doses of a two chemo drugs every other week and then following this, she will receive around twelve treatments each week of a different chemo drug. When the chemo is done, she will have 6-8 weeks of radiation. Monday-Friday. There are so many unknowns and we hope for the best with her treatment. Ultimately we don't know how her body will react to the treatments or when exactly she will finish.
We are so thankful for a close-knit family during this time and are looking forward to being able to be with Pam and Gary (mom and dad!) at home. Anneka will be at home for the first couple of weeks and Ingrid will be moving back home the week of July 19. We will do our best to keep things updated and invite you to visit this site to hear how Pam is doing. We are not sure if she will feel up to responding to calls, visitors, texts, and so this is a way to keep everyone informed. Of course, any type of encouragement is invited :). We do ask that if you are considering "stopping by" that you call in advance. Due to chemo weakening the immune system and because we are in the midst of a pandemic, we want to utilize extreme precautions when interacting with Pam in order to keep her as healthy as possible during this time. Please reach out to let us know if you'd like to bring something or stop by so we can plan something safe together.
Once again, thank you for being here. We remember: "God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1.
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