Like many of you, I was shocked last week to hear that Stephen “Jamie” Toulouse (@Stepto) had fallen into a deep coma. Family members took to social media to say that his prognosis wasn’t looking good; that he wasn’t expected to survive.
But thanks to excellent medical care, prayer and what is surely a strong will to live, Stepto — director of hacker success at HackerOne — seems to have made it through the storm.
Saturday, his family posted an update saying he was awake and breathing without help from a tube.
“Although he is very weak, he has been requesting to see family members and speaking with them,†family friend Yesenia Cisneros wrote. “He has laughed, smiled, and adamantly demanded pizza, coke, and his iPad (we’re keeping that away for a little while so he can focus on healing and reuniting with family).â€
I haven’t communicated with Stepto directly in recent years, as he was focused on his work at Xbox Live until recently joining HackerOne. As a journalist, Xbox live wasn’t part of my beat. But when he was head of communications for Microsoft’s Security Response Center, I could always count on him to walk me through the complexities of Microsoft security. I was stoked upon learning that he was going to HackerOne.
News that he is improving is certainly something to celebrate. But it looks like he has a long road of recovery ahead. And so I ask that you donate to a fund Cisneros set up to help the family with transportation and lodging accommodations, as well as medical copays.
Keep getting better, Stepto. Infosec needs you.
