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For Lesley-Anne S. and Jaime S., their mother, Esther, was the center of their universe. A woman of immense style, humor, and creativity, Esther spent over 20 years as the director of human resources at a New Jersey nursing home. She lived by a simple, profound motto: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
But in October 2021, the sisters’ world was upended when a sudden seizure led to a diagnosis that no family is ever prepared for: glioblastoma (GBM).
“Her death was horrible, but it was that day of finding out what she had that was a punch to the gut,” Jaime said. “That’s when my whole world changed.”
What followed was a 16-month journey that would test their resilience, redefine their family dynamics, and ultimately forge an unbreakable bond between two sisters fighting for their mother’s dignity across 3,000 miles.
Their Roles as Caregivers
Jaime, Esther, and Lesley-Anne
When Esther was diagnosed, the sisters instinctively fell into roles that allowed them to navigate the complexities of her care while supporting their father, who was understandably overwhelmed by grief. Because of COVID-19 restrictions and the sheer intensity of the illness, Lesley-Anne and Jaime became the primary caregivers.
Living in Los Angeles, Lesley-Anne managed the big picture responsibilities and set up Esther’s care. She was the one who asked the hard questions, pushed the medical teams for the best possible care, and handled external communication with family and friends. She flew between LA and New Jersey so frequently — sometimes three times a month.
“In our family, I’m the bulldozer, and Jaime was the therapy daughter,” Lesley-Anne shared. “My mom said, ‘I don’t need the therapy dog. I need the therapy daughter.’”
Located just two miles from her parents in New Jersey, Jaime was the boots-on-the-ground caregiver. She focused on maintenance — the daily acts of love like painting Esther’s nails, brushing her hair, and moisturizing her skin. She also managed the day-to-day logistics, transportation to scans, and the constant communication required for inpatient life.
“We really tag-teamed the care,” Lesley-Anne recalled. “For better or for worse, it made us closer. We are trauma-bonded.”
Caring for Themselves
Between doctor appointments, treatment schedules, rehabilitation, and more, caregivers often put their own needs last.
“For me, those years were really hard,” Jaime said. “I felt like our lives were on hold. I felt bad because we’re supposed to be making memories and traveling with our kids.”
At one point, the sisters thought Esther would be stable for at least another month, so Jaime scheduled a family getaway for a few days.
“My family and I went down to the Jersey Shore,” Jaime said. “It was off-season, but I just wanted to see the beach. That’s my self-care, seeing the beach. I was so glad that we did that for a few days. I just needed that escape because I didn’t get much of it.”
For Lesley-Anne, therapy has helped her work through some of the trauma that came with her mother’s diagnosis and passing.
“I would encourage everyone to try therapy,” Lesley-Anne said. “We put everything on the table, and we sift through it. That process of sifting through it, recognizing your feelings, and acknowledging it will open a pathway to dealing with it and moving forward. Sometimes we can have a breakthrough in a session, and sometimes it will take months to go through something. I feel lucky that I’ve really connected with her.”
Team Esther
The name “Team Esther” wasn’t something the sisters came up with for a fundraiser; it was a name Esther herself gave to her team of nurses, aides, and doctors. Despite being paralyzed on her left side and bedridden for 16 months, Esther never lost her interest in people. She knew the life stories of every aide and doctor who treated her.
“She never treated the aides like they were just staff,” Jaime said. “They were people to her.”
After Esther passed, they began fundraising for the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) under the banner of Team Esther, a tribute to the community their mother built.
One Mission, Two Coasts
One of the most poignant moments of their journey occurred when the sisters participated in NBTS events on the same day (May 10, 2025), on opposite sides of the country.
Jaime led Team Esther at the New Jersey Brain Tumor Walk, a location that held special meaning because of Esther’s love for the beach. The event included a moving ceremony where names were announced as flowers were placed in the water.
“It was awesome to be a part of something where everybody is there for the same purpose,” Jaime said. “Everyone’s story is different, but everybody gets it.”
That same day, Lesley-Anne participated in the Southern California Brain Tumor Walk, walking while on the phone with her father for the entire duration.
“It was neat because it was us two sisters, two coasts, same mom,” Lesley-Anne said. “We were grateful to NBTS for having both walks in Los Angeles and New Jersey on Mother’s Day weekend for us to walk in memory of our precious mother.”
Their fundraising through these events is driven by a desire to advance research. They want to see data pooled globally and AI utilized to accelerate breakthroughs so that other families don’t have to endure the wait-and-see trauma of scan cycles.
Looking for Opportunities
While Jaime admits she doesn’t like the word “gift” when describing their experience, the sisters have come to see the opportunities that emerged from their mother’s illness. They became closer to their parents’ friends and leaned on each other.
Today, Jaime carries a piece of her mother with her everywhere — a tattoo of Esther’s handwriting that says “Love, Mom,” taken from a note written when Jaime was pregnant with Esther’s first grandchild. And together, both sisters carry the torch for Team Esther, ensuring that their mother’s legacy of kindness, style, and resilience continues to drive the search for a cure.
Join the Movement
Inspired by Team Esther? You can join other caregivers like Lesley-Anne and Jaime at one of our upcoming spring signature events to fuel the breakthroughs ahead.
Start your own team and walk or run to support brain tumor research, advocacy, and patient support.
