Tom’s Story

Site created on September 28, 2023

Shortly after I returned from Cameroon in early July, I started feeling these unexplained waves of nausea and a total lack of appetite. My first thought was that I had brought an unwelcome critter back from Africa – some kind of parasite. Shortly after that, I went to my family doctor. He and his team discovered that a blood test indicated something might be wrong with my pancreas. Since then, I have been through a series of tests and procedures. I have been told my pancreas is a mess. At this point they don’t think it is cancer but specialists have not yet ruled it out. Either way I am moving toward a very serious surgery that will either remove my pancreas completely or a significant portion of it.

I am humbled, and very grateful that so many people are praying for me from here to Cameroon and beyond.

Over the years as a pastor, I have so appreciated CaringBridge, which has helped me to pray up-to-date prayers for loved ones who are suffering from unexpected trials. And now it’s my turn to ask you to continue to pray up-to-date prayers for me and my family here and my Cameroonian family in Yaounde. love you all!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Tom Steller

NOTE FROM TOM:  Some encouraging news and specifics to pray for . Some of you may have heard that I have been given a totally unexpected honor. I will be receiving an honorary doctorate of divinity on May 17 at the Bethlehem College and Seminary graduation. https://bcsmn.edu/steller-doctorat This blows me away! Now the question is, will I be healthy enough to attend. Met with my cancer doctor yesterday and quite apart from the graduation they have chosen to reduce the intensity of my chemo. They were concerned that it was making me feel increasingly like roadkill. So this hoped for relief will be a great blessing. Please pray! It has been a very rough season. God has sustained me through your prayers! My cancer team also has plans to regulate the chemo so that I should be in pretty good shape on May 17. They assure me that these plans will in no way affect the outcome of the chemo treatment. Your continued prayers are so deeply appreciated and means so very much. The light at the end of the chemo tunnel has brightened a bit.
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