It’s about hope, perseverance, and the power of faith when everything seems impossible

My name is Steve Holthaus. I am 74 years old, and I live in Grayslake, Illinois.

On December 10, 2011—just six days before my 60th birthday—I underwent emergency surgery. Later that day, I was told a tumor had been removed. The next day, I heard the words that would change my life forever: GIST—gastrointestinal stromal tumor. In a matter of hours, I went from feeling healthy and strong to facing the greatest challenge of my life.

Over the next seven years, I endured two more major surgeries and tried several different medications. Those years were heavy and exhausting. My days were often filled with anger, anxiety, and depression, and there were moments when I truly didn’t know how I could keep going. I knew something had to change.

That change began when I leaned fully into my faith, my family, and my friends. I learned—sometimes painfully—how to let go and let God. Little by little, my anger softened, my anxiety loosened its grip, and the darkness of depression began to lift. I still lived with GIST, but it was stable, and life felt good again. Until one day, it wasn’t.

In July of 2023—eleven years after my diagnosis—I was told I had reached the end of the road. There were no more treatment options available to me. Then, in August, I found myself on a plane to OHSU in Portland, hoping to qualify for a clinical trial that had just one remaining spot. I was surrounded by prayers from so many people, and I was accepted into the trial. I truly believe that was answered prayer.

I have now been part of this clinical trial for almost three years. In April of 2026, my tumor had shrunk enough to be surgically removed—something I had been told in 2023 would never be possible. Today, I am considered NED: no evidence of disease. I still travel to OHSU every four weeks for treatment, and I do so with a grateful heart.

If I can leave you with any encouragement, it would be this:

Don’t go through life alone—faith, family, and friends are priceless gifts.
 Have faith in a higher power (for me, that is Jesus Christ).


And never give up… NEVER.

My story isn’t just about survival—it’s about hope, perseverance, and the power of faith when everything seems impossible.