Healing, Presence, Strength
Green Monk Life was inspired by Steve’s desire to share with family and friends the journey and perspective that emerged after his brain cancer diagnosis. That experience shattered the familiar and demanded a new way of seeing and living. What followed was a series of profound challenges: a brain biopsy, radiation and chemotherapy, brain surgery to place a shunt, and another hospitalization due to complications from blood clots in his legs and lungs. Through it all, the suffering, strength, and change reshaped his body, mind, and spirit.
What continues now is healing — a quieter, ongoing process of living with intention, adapting with patience, and meeting each day with presence and grace.
Green reflects the medical journey and the resilience it required, forged under radiation and pressure.
Monk reflects the inner liberation that followed: letting go of old limits, seeing beyond former barriers, and learning to live with clarity, simplicity, and presence.
Even the shaved head became more than a necessity of treatment. It became a symbol of surrender, renewal, and awakening — a quiet outward reflection of the transformation taking place within.
About the Green Monk Life
Steve’s Journey
I
Steve’s own words-
“It all started on one fateful day that changed my universe. I woke up and realized that everything around me was different and not making any sense. I was moving my right hand , and my left hand moved. I was trying to find the bathroom in my own house and couldn’t get there. I was going in one door and coming out another and things were moving and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. My main focus was how to keep my body safe and not get into a helicopter and fly. It felt like I was in an episode of “Twilight Zone “ or “Outer Limits”. I had an arm coming out of my head and I was bending the universe with my two hands, being at multiple places at same time and I could do anything I wanted. I thought I was in one place and I wasn’t, thought I was with people I knew but I wasn’t. I found myself being able to do and see things that I didn’t know were possible. It wasn’t until later I realized I wasn’t there at all. “
What happened next , wife’s account-
On 10/27/25 , I was at work and noticed that Steve’s location on the app Find my Friends, was not normal for him. It appeared he had been circling our town, going on and off freeway and driving down unfamiliar streets. I grew concerned and jumped in my car and tracked him down. I located him and encouraged him to pull over. He was apparently disoriented but not accepting my assistance. He attempted to walk away from me down the road and refused to come with me. I eventually got him to agree to follow me home. We fortunately made it home in our cars without issues. I called up his sister and niece and they were also very concerned. They convinced him to let me take him to the ER. He is someone who doesn't go to doctor’s and has never sought medical treatment in his life unless as required annually for his pilot medical. It was a blessing that he agreed to go.
Tehachapi ER- After a long wait they ran a CT and saw a very large tumor mass. We requested to be transferred to UCLA for further treatment and not to their preferred Bakersfield hospital. Our request was rejected and we walked out the next afternoon AMA(against medical advice ).. We were then picked up at Tehachapi hospital by his niece Natasha’s husband ,Seth. Seth came from LA and then drove us 2.5 hours to get o UCLA to begin the whole process over.
UCLA ER and Hospital- After a long grueling wait in hallway beds and holding areas, he was finally admitted and got his own room. He went in for a brain biopsy the following day. After stabilization of his brain swelling, he was discharged. The following couple weeks were full of consults ,in order to select the right team to move forward with treatment. He chose the team at Cedars Sinai. His tumor was quite large, grade 4 , inoperable butterfly glioblastoma ,across a sensitive area called the Corpus Callosum. Since his tumor was so aggressive his only option was immediate treatment with SOC (Standard of Care). No time to explore other paths. Therefore, our next step was straight to radiation and chemotherapy.
CEDARS - Radiation -
Steves own words-
“I walk into a sterile room everything clean and quiet. They put a plastic mask built purposely for my brain to protect sensitive areas of my brain, just a piece of thin plastic. I lay down in a bed and a cannon laser looking device super quietly moves around my head and zapping it ,but I don’t feel anything until it’s over. Then I am exhausted and I felt like a rag doll, like a towel on the floor.. It sucked out all my energy, felt like my soul was yanked out of my body. This is the only thing I would change about this experience, I would never step foot in a radiation room. I think it took my soul , my life energy. I feel it fried my brain. You can’t describe radiation and how horrible it really is. There is a real reason why they make a big deal out of ringing the bell at the end of the radiation therapy. This radiation also gave me an association with the “HULK “because he got blasted with radiation. I connect because we both went through a horrible event.”
Day one 10/27/25 Tehachapi ER- NOT a happy guy. He just wants to go home.
Tehachapi ER - after CT results.. Large Tumor...
On the way to UCLA ER.
In the ER overcrowded hallway, suffering and waiting.
Admitted finally, but in a holding area in UCLA ER waiting for his hospital room. The insane amount of noise, the overstimulating visuals , the brain pressure, were more than he could take.
Brain biopsy time UCLA
Recovering from the brain biopsy in his private room.
Leaving UCLA - lots of hugs
lots of love
Leaving UCLA - heading home to Tehachapi- niece, wife and father in law
Back to LA to begin consults with the wife and niece
waiting on MRI CD (with sister) to take to Cedars consult
Enjoying "The Ivy" restaurant after appointments. Thank YOU to "The IVY"!
Amazing food and special family time.
Special Santa Barbara/ Montecito overnight with his family, (his sister, niece, cousin) before we head back to LA for another consult.
Santa Barbara stroll
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara moments
Back to Tehachapi with visit #1 from the Walter Family- Chris, Catherine, Adelyn, Avery and Amelia
Niece love- Adelyn, Avery and Amelia
Enjoying his much loved evening espresso with Nila the kitty
Santa Monica beach walk after a treatment session
Santa Monica reflections after a hardcore radiation session
more reflection and rest
wanted a haircut but didn't really need it!
Hanging out in our West Hollywood rental after another radiation session.
All smiles on Thanksgiving. Waiting to enjoy the delicious meal and desserts prepared by his sister and niece.
CEDARS ER-12/4/25- waiting waiting waiting for a room- complications from the tumor
Another Surgery- shunt placed in brain to reduce fluid/hydrocephalus
Incision in abdomen where the shunt from the brain drains into
Recovering from the shunt surgery- back at rental condo in West Hollywood. Smiling again.
Just hanging out, next day is another radiation treatment.
lots of resting and recovering
Christmas morning coffee Alfreds West Hollywood.
Christmas with our daughter Makaela
The three of us!
Christmas smiles!
Loving his new sweatshirt!
Close longtime friend for almost 40 years- at least 4 visits to see Steve during this time.
A Japanese good fortune healing card given to him from his good friend Ben.
THE FINAL 20th radiation treatment
Certificate for completing the radiation
EMPHATICALLY RANG THAT BELL!!
Mask- signed by the techs
The hulk has emerged. Don't make him mad!
Reminders of HULK connection
Overnight trip to Coronado Island- celebrating completion of 20 radiation sessions
Coronado Hotel Selfie
Beach in front of Hotel Coronado.
At home in Tehachapi and having a special visit from long time friend Blake
Good times
Walter family visit #2! They adore their uncle Steve.
Makaela and Adelyn enjoying quality time with Steve.
Niece Adelyn love.
Kitty therapy- she loves him.
More Kitty therapy
Reading another book.
Rest is healing.
Lots of rest,
The suffering is real.
Getting ready to start OPTUNE,
studying his "Optune" manuals
He surprisingly enjoyed this.
Almost done. ( the bump on the right is the permanent shunt in his brain)
It's time to shave that head!!
LETS DO THIS!
Waiting to have Optune placed. Sitting in front of his new drum set.
Arrays placed
All set
The suffering a real every day event
Music therapy
Image of his back, post chemotherapy and Avastin infusions- Large patchy bruising (purpua). All over his body.
Avastin Infusion time at Cedars, then back to relax at Ventura beach house.