At The Cancer & Hematology Centers, we witness stories of resilience and hope every day, but Jobje Lammers’ journey stands out. She recently reached a remarkable milestone—her 100th treatment for pancreatic cancer. Little did she know, this day would bring more celebrations than she could have imagined.
Jobje has always been a woman on a mission. Born in the Netherlands, she immigrated to Canada at the age of five with her family. During her college years, she met her husband and lifelong partner, Warren. Together, they raised four children and dedicated much of their lives to mission work, serving communities in Mexico, Ukraine, Latvia, Siberia, and beyond.
When she began treatment four years ago, her nurse, Rachel, gave her a new mission: to reach 25 treatments. With her characteristic determination, Jobje met that goal—then surpassed it, reaching 50, then 75, and now 100 treatments. Warren and Jobje recalled her physician, Jared Knol, MD, saying that he wished the emergency staff, nurses, and surgeon could see her now and witness how well she has done with her treatments.
But Jobje isn’t just focused on her personal journey; she’s using her experience to uplift others. Her latest mission, the “Jobje Challenge,” encourages acts of kindness throughout the week—sending cards, gifting flowers, offering acts of service, and sharing prayers. “I have to focus on others and give back. It makes my life better,” she shared. Her church has embraced the challenge, spreading joy and generosity in their community.
As Jobje recounted her story, she was surrounded by love. Friends and family surprised her at the clinic with balloons, gifts, and heartfelt congratulations. One of the biggest surprises of the day? Her granddaughter traveled from out of state just to celebrate with her. But the final, most touching moment came when another granddaughter arrived with her young daughter, Eden, who was wearing a shirt that read “Big Sister.” The realization that her family was growing brought happy tears to Jobje’s eyes.
Who knew that so much joy could come from a chemo treatment milestone? For Jobje, every day is a mission to embrace life fully and spread kindness. Happy 100th treatment, Jobje!
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