Member Spotlight – Marie de Haan

Posted on July 1, 2018 by TriVita

Blessed Beyond Measure

“God put all the right people in my life at the right time. It was incredible!”

Marie de Haan grew up in Skagit County, Washington and loves the area. It has everything from the ocean to the desert and beautiful mountains for hiking. “My husband and I bought a fixer upper 20 years ago and committed never to leave,” Marie says.

In 1999, Marie was one of TriVita’s first members joining shortly after the company was founded. She is a songwriter, piano teacher, wife and mother of three, avid gardener, author and cancer survivor. Nine years ago, Marie went to her doctor for a routine exam and learned that she had Stage III breast cancer.

“I felt healthy, and this came out of nowhere. I slept great and had good energy. I just had this little lump that I thought was a cyst. They didn’t come out and tell me how long I had, but when a naturopath tells you to do chemotherapy because they cannot help you fast enough you know it’s bad.”

After her diagnosis, Marie faced a flurry of appointments, tests and treatments. She endured a year of intensive chemotherapy and surgery. She explains, “Every year after you are worried it’s going to come back, but it hasn’t. Then you experience survivor’s guilt, and it’s a very eerie feeling.”

One of the ways that Marie gives back and supports others dealing with cancer is by writing. She has authored two books about her experiences and also has her blog on cancerisafunnything.com. “I always knew I wanted to write a book, I just always thought it would be a children’s book, but God had other plans! I don’t write books to be a bestseller and make money. I get phone calls from people that read my books and my blog and felt hopeful again, and that is why I do it.”

Cancer is a Funny Thing: A Humorous Look at the Bright Side of Cancer… And There is One was her first book and her follow-up memoir, Cancer is a Funny Thing: Reconstructing My Life, was published last year.

“The reason I say ‘cancer is a funny thing’ is that sometimes it can be a blessing. People were coming out of the woodwork to help and show support. It’s a lesson for all of us. If you know someone that is going through cancer or something difficult, just be there for them in any way you can.”

When Marie thinks about the role her community played during her treatment and recovery, she recalls, “My family and friends are everything. I’ve had such a great support system, and not everyone has that. I know how lucky I am.”

For Marie, her cancer diagnosis came out of left field. Since her first visit with a naturopath at age 14, she’s been serious about living a balanced lifestyle.

“When I discovered Slow Dissolve B12 it changed my life. When you take it you don’t feel hyper; it’s when you stop taking it that you notice you don’t have as much energy.”

Marie’s favorites are: Slow Dissolve B12, Zamu Protect, Joint Complex, VitaCal-MagD K2 and GlucoManage.

“Healthy living isn’t just about taking the right supplements; it’s about making better choices. Make small changes one at a time. Get more sleep, drink more water, exercise more and take your vitamins.”

Through her difficult journey, Marie discovered her purpose to help and inspire others. “You wake up every day; you put your feet on the floor, do nice things for other people and let them know that there is hope. You just do every day the best you can. I don’t have everything in control, but thank goodness God does.”