Caleb’s Story

Site created on May 30, 2021

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. 


Caleb is a childhood cancer survivor, considered cured of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL T-Cell). He was diagnosed at age 4 and completed 2 years of treatment in 2007. He has led a full life since treatment concluded and did not suffer any long term effects. Caleb is presently in nursing school at George Fox University near Portland, Oregon. He is a great student and was invited to be a teaching assistant last year in Anatomy and Physiology. He was asked to also TA Pharmacology starting next fall. In high school, Caleb graduated as valedictorian of his class, was active in the performing arts, played football, threw shotput and discus in track and field, and was a student council leader. He also served his church in children's ministry and worship ministry. Caleb even had the opportunity to serve in short-term missions and has been to Mexico several times. After moving with his family to northern California in 2014, Caleb continued to attend Camp One Step each summer. He has made life long friends with several pediatric cancer survivors and counselors/mentors he has met since first going at age 7. 


Imagine the shock and awe of Caleb's 2nd cancer diagnosis!! For anyone who knows and loves Caleb, this has been hard news to absorb since May 24th. Caleb had some oral surgery on May 12th. It should have been routine but there has been nothing routine about a toothache that started during finals week in late April.  Be sure to read the journal for all the details leading up to today.


Thank you for joining our Round 2 Cancer Journey. We are a close family surrounded by strong communities here in California, nearby in Oregon, and way back in Wisconsin where Caleb was born and last treated. We also have several family and close friends in Minnesota, Illinois, Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, and New York. Caleb will need lots of love and support so come to this site often, offer encouragement, and help as you can. 


As his mama says - #Steffensthrive so cancer better watch out 'cause Caleb is readying himself for battle! And if you've met a Steffen, you know we are in it to win it - ALWAYS!!  

Newest Update

Celebrations!! - May 20, 2023

Journal entry by Nancy Steffen —

A quick note to share - especially for those not linked to Caleb on social media…

Caleb and Emily were married last Sunday May 14th in Portland, OR!! It was an amazing ceremony and celebration. We are so happy for the newest Mr & Mrs Steffen! 

Next up- celebrating Survivorship 2.0 this coming Wednesday May 24, which marks 2 years since diagnosis. We remain very grateful for Caleb’s restored health!! He continues, even as an Oregonian, to have quarterly follow-ups with his oncologist and ENT at UC-Davis in Sacramento. They both shared in his excitement as he prepared to get married this month!! Thanks to the power of virtual visits, he doesn’t have to go in person each time but when he does, we’ll enjoy seeing him as he passes through Redding. 

Thanks for walking this journey with Caleb, Emily, and our family. It was wonderful to meet so many friends of Caleb and Emily at the wedding, who shared how they followed this little blog of ours. Hearing how much they cared and prayed for him as they kept updated, warmed my mama’s heart. 

Blessings, Nancy
Read More of the journal titled "Celebrations!! - May 20, 2023"
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