Steve’s Story

Site created on January 20, 2019

Hello and welcome to my CB page. We hope this page allows us to stay connected.  We will update this page as appropriate, and love to see all your messages. My treatment plan started in early January 2019 and chemo, radiation and surgery are scheduled into early spring. 

Late summer 2018, I began to have a burning sensation in my lower esophagus, with a pain in the lower rib cage area that generated to the left. After several scans and a biopsy, on December 20th we heard the dreaded word “Cancer.” I have had many appointments to confirm, evaluate and plan a beginning course of treatment. I have had an IV port and feeding tube placed. I am ready to do battle with this beast, CANCER the toughest bull I will ever ride!

Monday, January 28, 2019, I will begin treatment at Regions Cancer Care. My first treatment schedule includes one of several chemo treatments on Monday coupled with daily radiation. After six weeks of radiation treatments, I will rest to gain back some strength, then in a couple of weeks I will have surgery. A retest will be next, with additional chemo treatments, if needed. My goals include a charter fishing trip this summer with family on Lake Superior and fly fishing trip to the Brule with my fishing buddy in fall.

Please hold us, myself and family, in prayers. Cards and texts are very welcome. My energies will be focused on beating this beast, and  riding this bull to the 8 second buzzer, so visits will be kept to a minimum. If you would like to stop for a short visit, please - schedule with Nancy (651-592-5298), keeping in mind that Minnesota flu and cold season are in full swing. If you are sick, or have been in contact with a sick person, please send a note and opt to schedule a visit later.

Thank you for all the kind words and support! Nancy and I are blessed to have very supportive people in our lives. Be sure to click on the Journal tab above to see the latest updates on our journey. Feel free to visit the connected Go Fund Me link, found under the Ways to Help tab above. God has been very good to us and we continue to rely on Him.

Newest Update

Monday, June 6, 2022

Journal entry by Nancy & Steve Reistad —

It is with a heavy heart that I have finally come to the point of needing to write this post. Our family has lost our fight with cancer. Steve died on Friday, June 3 at 2:20pm. I am waiting to confirm a late June date for our Celebration of his life. This date and his obituary will be posted on the Grandstrand Mortuary of North Branch web site soon.
***Please check this site towards the end of the week. (www.grandstrandfh.com)
Steve was able to pick his time to go after saying goodbye to friends and family. His children spent time and were all present up until 3 hours before his death. He requested noon to start the withdrawal from oxygen because "All cowboys set High Noon for their gun battles." Friends and family were told "to meet him at golden bench inside the gate and if he wasn't there, wait for him because he ran to Starbucks."
Read More of the journal titled "Monday, June 6, 2022"
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