Letter from a former student, August 2006:
There has been one man who has greatly influenced my life for the better. His optimism is highly infectious along with his smile. Not a day went by that he wasn’t happy. Everyday he thanked God to be alive, and even more so recently. This man has affected countless lives and touched many hearts. This man happens to be my Trigonometry teacher, Jeff Lewis.
Towards Spring Break time of 2005 Mr. Lewis woke up with a raging fever. Within hours his girlfriend had him rushed to the emergency room. Then, within a day, he had gone into a coma. Our class, however, was not presented with this drastic information until a week later. Yet, because of his teachings and loveable personality, we remained optimistic and prayed he would have a full recovery.
About a month later, still in the coma, gangrene began to set into his hands, feet, ears, and nose. The amputation was done immediately in order to spare his life. Again, his students did not receive this information until a week later. The class became distraught but still remained optimistic.
Another month later he came out of his coma and was expected to make a full recovery. Thankfully we did receive this news on time. Later on, we found out that he had also married his girlfriend in the hospital.
When I went to visit him, he was as happy as he was before the sickness and amputation. He told me of his plans to go back to teaching. Once again he reminded me to remain optimistic and live each day to the fullest. In order for him to live each day to the fullest he wanted to go back and teach. For him, teaching was his source of optimism.
I have followed in his footsteps and also found a love in teaching. It has become a source of optimism for me as well. I think God each and everyday for blessing my life with Mr. Lewis and valuable lessons in math, and most importantly life.
There has been one man who has greatly influenced my life for the better. His optimism is highly infectious along with his smile. Not a day went by that he wasn’t happy. Everyday he thanked God to be alive, and even more so recently. This man has affected countless lives and touched many hearts. This man happens to be my Trigonometry teacher, Jeff Lewis.
Towards Spring Break time of 2005 Mr. Lewis woke up with a raging fever. Within hours his girlfriend had him rushed to the emergency room. Then, within a day, he had gone into a coma. Our class, however, was not presented with this drastic information until a week later. Yet, because of his teachings and loveable personality, we remained optimistic and prayed he would have a full recovery.
About a month later, still in the coma, gangrene began to set into his hands, feet, ears, and nose. The amputation was done immediately in order to spare his life. Again, his students did not receive this information until a week later. The class became distraught but still remained optimistic.
Another month later he came out of his coma and was expected to make a full recovery. Thankfully we did receive this news on time. Later on, we found out that he had also married his girlfriend in the hospital.
When I went to visit him, he was as happy as he was before the sickness and amputation. He told me of his plans to go back to teaching. Once again he reminded me to remain optimistic and live each day to the fullest. In order for him to live each day to the fullest he wanted to go back and teach. For him, teaching was his source of optimism.
I have followed in his footsteps and also found a love in teaching. It has become a source of optimism for me as well. I think God each and everyday for blessing my life with Mr. Lewis and valuable lessons in math, and most importantly life.
