A message from former Nueva teacher Suzanne Geller:
It is with great gratitude and profound emotions that I write this note.
Many of you know about my husband and former Nueva teacher, Stephen Lessard's, brain tumor journey, whether from the beginning or learning about it recently. We are so deeply thankful for our family and friends, school communities, and his team at UCSF, who have been supporting us during this 11 year experience.
Stephen was diagnosed with a brain tumor on May 1st of 2009 after having a seizure, just three months after returning home from Ethiopia with our two-year-old son, Anemo. Our family, friends, and The Nueva School community gathered around us and advised, contacted neurosurgeons, fed, and helped us laugh... Stephen had a successful resection and went back to teaching in the fall. I joined the SF Friends School and Anemo started preschool at Temple Emanuel.
During the summer of 2011, Stephen once again had several seizures and we learned that he had a brain tumor recurrence. This time Stephen had surgery, radiation, and a year's worth of chemo. Again, the support from our family, friends, Nueva, and Friends, got us through this longer phase of the journey.
In the late spring of 2019, Stephen's routine MRI showed some brightness. The tumor had returned but this time surgery was not an option and chemo was the plan. A few months in we learned that chemo was not effective and Stephen started six weeks of radiation. The team and community at The Millennium School offered all of their support, as Stephen went on medical leave. I too had the support of my work community. When Stephen returned to the Millennium building, he only got to teach there for about a month as Covid hit. He pivoted and continued to offer meaningful curriculum and connections with his students from his computer in our living room.
He was so happy to be back and was planning his next quests during the summer when we had a Zoom call with his longtime oncologist, who shared with a heavy heart that the MRI showed tumor growth and there no longer were any medical options left to explore. One of the Millennium School founders offered Stephen a three-week healing getaway to Mexico for alternative treatments and they took this adventure together. They returned about three weeks ago.
Taking it day-by-day, Anemo and I are caring for our beloved father and husband, supported by our incredible family, friends, and school communities. Stephen is not very mobile, but still loves a good joke, intense movies, watching basketball with Anemo, hearing about my library classes, and sharing his love.
We will let you know what our needs are as they become clearer but, for now, if you want to send Stephen a card sharing your reflections, memories and jokes, or a birthday wish (he turned 52 on Friday, October 2nd), I am sure he would love to read them.
Send to:
The Nueva School
Stephen Lessard c/o Liza Raynal
131 East 28th Ave
San Mateo, Ca 94403
Or email sugeller@yahoo.com
With lots of love,
Suzanne
