Joost & Jennifer,

Thanks for the webblog. It helps to keep your friends informed. We are with you in our thoughts. We “duimen”!
Keep well.
Cor, Truus, Robert & Joyce (en natuurlijk Stijntje)

Beste Joost, Jenn, Katy and Sam,

We did not meet for quite some time and I had no idea how things where going at your end. When reading my mail this morning I learned you are facing a difficult period and you need your positive stand in life to fight this and overcome this.

I would like to visit you soon. This week I am travelling abroad, but next week I would like to visit you in the evening visit hours if that is OK.

Joost, Jenn, I wish you both lots of strength and determination!

Warm regards,

Tim

Dear Joost, Jennifer, Katy and Sam,

Today I received the RSM e-mail about Joost’s condition. Shocking news. Reading your blog, I hope you can all continue keeping this good spirit, although this must be hard sometimes. I hope you will/can soon start with the right treatment. Good to see/read about all the warm support you have. Hope to see a vivid Joost soon.

Wishing you all the best. Kind regards.

Anton

Dear Joost and Jennifer,

Like our fellow class-mates I got the mail today from Sergi, and at first could not understand it well. You don’t expect such a message.
Reading your weblog I admire your strength and spirit, and am sure that this will have a very, very positive influence on beating this thing inside you.
Joost, I wish you, Jenn and the kids all the strength necessary to overcome this and hope to meet you soon in better circumstances.

All the best,

John.

Dear Joost, Jennifer, Katy and Sam

As with many friends you have from all over the world, I got this sad news from that good Catalan named Sergi (yes, there are good Calatans at last! ;-)) via RSM…

Keep good spirit, sails up, ready to cross this storm you face with serenity, endurance and resilience. Keep sparkling, plenty and cheerful with your kids and Jenn’s love as from your family and close friends as well and, of course, knowing that we are (and for sure they are) more dependent on your recover than you are from anyone of them. That’s how life is and there’s no material achievement that could acquire all love, attention and care you have - and give - it’s just coming back when you need most.

From the other side of our tiny little planet, from Brazil, I cheer you and wish you really well, more than ever. I’ll keep on coming here and I hope to hear (or read) from you soon as well.

Cheers

Mario

Dear Joost and Jennifer,

We are all thinking about you and really admire you spirit and resolve. Keep up the good fight.

With much love,

Judi, Sandy, Kent and Brian

Dear Joost and Jennifer,

The news from Sergi about your health was very shocking. It is hard to imagine that your life can change so dramatically in such a short period.
I admire your courage in handling the current situation. And I certainly believe that it helps to have a positive attitude in beating this cancer.

I wish you all the best in the coming weeks. Keep up your good spirits. My thoughts are with you.
Take care, Jose

Hey Joost and Jennifer–

Wow, do you all have a lot of great friends! It just goes to show you that there are lots of good folks in this world, and they are all on your side.

I got a call from Mike Rio last night who was distraught because you have wrecked his summer vacation plans, if you know what I now know. But, even though the surprise party has been postponed, he allowed that he might show up anyway. Was that part of the deal? I think we should reschedule the event but you’re going to have to figure out another way to surprise Joann and me. We will be on guard. Bull Shoals would be great (hint).

The blog is fantastic. I especially like Dr. Paul’s column. Am I the only one who wonders if he is practicing medicine in another country under an assumed name?

We all expect you to get well soon. Be brave and lean on your friends and family. We’re here for you.

J/D

Dear Joost and Jennifer and everyone on this blog,

Greetings, Love you all!

Just a short story: a while ago I saw a video presentation of a succesfull entrepreneur, who was talking about “collective consciousness”. I thought the man had gone crazy and went back to work.

Now, a few years later, it seems that entrepreneurs like yourselves can actually put these kind of things to work. I am sure that many feel like us, we cry when we read your stories, touched by the love everyone expresses and touched by the love between yourselves.

We love you, and are proud to be a small particle of a collective that at least takes a chance at beating statistics, ego’s and what ever else there may be in the way.

Another story: Amal and her friend Kim digged up a video of a wonderful American preacher, a typical ” black” gospel-type preacher T.D. Jakes. He started by saying “stop praying against the valley…. people, stop praying against the valley…. start praying for the mountain….cause, ya’ll know, the valley DEFINES the mountain…. without a valley, there is no mountain!” . uhuh. A rare kind of logic, but we loved it. ” The lower the lows… the higher the highs” (Amen!!).

We should bring the video along, it’s a great video. Anyway, we thinks he’s right. When I climb mountains in spring, it’s not about being on top of the mountain, it’s about experiencing the distance between oneself, and the bottom of the valley. It’s about the difference between the summit and the cafe in the valley. And even more, it’s about the collective of friends that I trust to take on a risky journey, where one is the life insurance of the other.

Well, in that respect you guys have got a great life insurance by means of all the folks on the blog. forget about the valley, see the mountain and we will enjoy our togetherness in the climb together, risky and uncertain as it is.

Love.

Sander & Amal.

Dear Joost,

After having talked with Sander and having read this weblog, I am overwhelmed by the positive way you are dealing with your disease. If anyone can win this tough fight against cancer, it is you Joost, with the support of all the wonderful people around you.

You’ll be in our minds the coming weeks and we’ll be part of all your friends supporting you with positive thoughts. Hope you can feel it!

As I found it hard to find the right words myself, I’d like to end with a Plato quote: ‘We are twice armed if we fight with faith’

Keep up that faith, spend all your energy on getting better and come out even stronger!

Love
Hans & Trude

Dear Joost and Jennifer,

Just like all other RSM classmates I was shocked to learn from your medical situation. It certainly makes all of our daily professional challenges look like the peanuts they really are.

Please continue to use plenty of ‘RSM-slang’ in your postings to help keep your good spirits up and geared towards a positive outcome.

Warm greetings in pure admiration of your strength,
Richard de Beijer

Dearest Joost, Jenn, Katy and Sam, Family and Friends, I´m sending a strong hug to you all. With your exceptional skills and drive Joost I´m convinced you will be able to compete like no one ever did. If can I ever do something to help you with anything, you can count on me absolutely any hour of the day.

een maatje, arrivederci, Serge

Dear Joost,

It has been a long time since we spoke or met.

When I heard I was shocked, when I read the blog I was silent and impressed. The human species is special and you are a special version of that.

Wishing you and your loved-ones lots of strenght and positive energy, I am more than confident that ‘failure will not be an option’.

Just let me know when I can be of any help.

Rob

Joost and Jenn,
I send all the best and positive vibes from the across the ocean, from the US. Though many years have passed since the MBA, news of you both bring a smile to my face. Joost you were always the most positive influence during the MBA. Never without an opinion, always the planner and the hub of activity. Jenn the gal that met her husband at a random Dutch MBA tour. I love telling the story of your meeting, even though I was far removed from any of it.

I just want your family to know that even from far away places there are people out there thinking all the best thoughts for you. You are in my thoughts. I know that you have the spirit to beat this monster.

Katie

Hi Everyone,

Jennifer asked that I write something on the blog and, of course, I have worried about what I could possibly say that hadn’t already been said. But having just spent three weeks in Wijk bij Duurstede, it will be very easy. I am going to share some of the wonderful moments I had even though the first couple of weeks after Joost’s arrival home were, at best, incredibly busy and chaotic.

Joost arrived home in a big yellow ambulance and, when we first saw him, he was walking on crutches. Katy didn’t notice either the ambulance or the crutches. Her eyes, her body language, her whole little self lit up because PaPa was home. Jennifer’s reaction was the same and she later told someone she was happier at that moment than she had been on her wedding day. Sam is happy all the time, so no difference there.

Occasionally, in the evening Joost goes out to the garage where the piano is and plays with the door open so all can hear. Jones (the cat) and I a couple of times just sat and listened and I think, of all the mental images I have of Joost, that is the one that remains the most imbedded in my memory.

One day the local doctor from Wijk bij Duurstede came to the door, Katy answered it with me behind her, and the doctor went upstairs to see Joost. We went into the living room where I sat on the sofa and Katy with worried eyes asked me something in Dutch which contained the words “PaPa” and “Doctor”. I answered her in English although I can’t remember what wise words I used. She thought about it for a second, crawled up next to me on the sofa, I put my arm around her, and we just sat there for a long while. There was no language barrier. No language was necessary.

And lastly, almost every night after busy, gruelling days, Jennifer and I would have a glass of wine, talk a little bit, and then go watch the reruns of “The Office” (American version, of course) which she had downloaded on the Mac. We would die laughing, probably keeping Joost awake upstairs. I’m sure we laughed much harder than “The Office” deserved but what a release and what a memory.

I also want to say that Joost’s friends, family, and the people of Wijk bij Duurstede have been amazing. Joost’s friends have worked tirelessly helping with his medical status, the business, and the personal finances. They have not left a stone unturned. The people of Wijk bij Duurstede have been incredible also, bringing food, cleaning the house, entertaining and keeping ME company, moving beds around, putting new railings up for Joost, sending flowers, and on and on.

But mostly, Joost, Jennifer, Katy, and Sam-you amaze me.

Joann (or Nana or Mom)

Hi Joost and Jenn,

My sister has studied medicine and she is very much in favour of changing the current health system towards people centric care instead of specialist centric care. She came with the name of Bernie Siegel, maybe you already know him? He wrote a boek (Love, medicine and miracles). He is surgeon in the USA, treats a lot of people with cancer and uses a holistic approach. He is also convinced of using meditation and visualisation as means that are helpful to people with a disease. So he affirms your ways very much! one of the links: http://www.shareguide.com/Siegel.html

lots of love, trude

Joost,

I trust I could include Stijn in the race to pass the hurdle of 90+.
Since he has recently proudle mastered to present himself in a chair I guess we will get there (myself, Stijn + chair)!

It probably won’t fit your diet, but a very nice high calory recipe is for “Banoffy Pie”:

You will need
2 cans of condensed milk (Friese Vlag)
1 pack of wholeweat cookies
Bananas
Butter (not sure how much)
Cream - slagroom
Cacao

Cook the condensed milk in the can in boiling water for app. 2 hours
In the mean time crunch all cookies and stir melted butter over it.
Put the mixture at the bottom of you cake mould (springvorm)
Slice the bananas - quantity as much as you like
Put the banana on top of the buttercooky bottom
On top of the banana a thick layer of fresh cream
On top of the cream cacao.

It is delicious!

See you!
Joyce

Joyce,

you are definately invited, assuming you bring some of this Banoffy Pie. It’s the day of the forbidden ingredients!

Joost

Joost & Jen,

First and foremost my prayers and well wishes are with you both and the rest of your family. Michael R. and I recently reconnected due to my diagnosis of grade 2.5 brain cancer. He and I discussed in-depth my surgery and current chemo/radiation recovery. Among things we discussed was the incredible strength that comes from within as your battle adversity. Mike informed me how strong your support system is. I would like to say you provide me encouragement in battling my cancer and I hope my prayers and thoughts will provide the same.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Liedtke

Dear Joost and Jennrea:

Regrets that I just discovered your website. So much to catch up on. Notable impressions: such a wonderful support group of friends and family…your message on ‘Will Power’, Joost… and ‘Failure is not an Option’…and Don Asel’s eloquent message…and so very much more. Prayer is a big part of my life. Please know that you and your beautiful children are included daily. Much Love,

Hi Jennifer,

We never met in person, but Joost was a dear friend from me at our time at the “Huisvesting” in Delft.

I admire the approach both of you had over the recent months!

You take care with the children, Joost will live on in my memory as a lighting example of positive energy!

Love,

Richard

Beste Jennifer, Katy, Sam, ouders, familie en vrienden van Joost,

Ik, Bert, heb gisteren samen met jullie, afscheid genomen van Joost. Dit was een heel pijnlijke en verdrietige dag voor me. Joost, studievriend uit Delft, heeft altijd een bijzondere plek bij mij gehad en dat zal ook zeker altijd zo blijven.
Ooit wilde we nog eens samen een buro beginnen, ‘solvie’ genaamd ,s(choeren) (v)erheggen, ‘oplossingen’ en boven al ‘zonnig leven’…
Joost, op de terug weg van mijn gesprek afgelopen donderdag waarin ik te horen kreeg dat mijn eerste kinetische sculptuur ‘vogels in de wind’ waarschijnlijk geplaatst kan worden kreeg ik een telefoontje waarin ik hoorde dat je gevlogen was. Als het lukt en hij wordt geplaatst draag ik deze in stilte op aan jou.

Vooral de afgelopen dagen hebben wij, Esther en Bert, veel stilgestaan bij het ziekteproces van Joost, de opmerkelijke wijze waarop Joost met deze ziekte wist om te gaan die bij ons gevoelens van bewondering en ontzag opriep, de angst en onzekerheid die Joost, Jennifer en alle andere naasten gedurende zijn ziekteproces moeten hebben gevoeld, zijn overlijden en wat dit afscheid voor al zijn dierbaren moet betekenen.

Onze gedachten gaan uit naar Jennifer, moeder van twee prachtige jonge kinderen. Zij zal nu moeten leven met het intense verdriet om het verlies van Joost maar ook met de blijdschap en vreugde die Katy en Sam haar brengen. Leven met die uiterste gevoelens kan niet anders dan een hoop energie kosten. Wij wensen haar de kracht en moed die nodig is om dit alles een goede plek in haar leven te geven.

Katy en Sam moeten in hun verdere leven hun vader missen die ontzettend veel van hun hield en dol was op hen. Zij zullen Joost alleen leren kennen uit verhalen en van foto’s, maar bewust of onbewust zullen zij merken dat Joost juist in hen voortleeft en hen de kracht zal geven om iets moois van het leven te maken. Overal waar zij gaan, is Joost!

Onze speciale gevoelens en gedachten gaan uit naar de ouders van Joost, die hem liefde en warmte hebben gegeven waardoor hij kon worden wat hij was geworden. Het is tegen de wetten van de natuur in om als ouder je kind te moeten verliezen en wij wensen voor de ouders dat de pijn om het verlies van Joost draagbaar wordt.

Alle andere familieleden, in het bijzonder zijn zusje Janneke en broers Bart en Roemer en schoonfamilie, en vrienden wensen wij heel veel sterkte bij het verwerken van het verlies van Joost.

Bert Schoeren en Esther Moons