and on and on. “He is the nicest human and focuses on the work and telling a story,” says Bissonnette who is known for her high kicks and flexibility. “He trusts his dancers. He doesn't talk down to us. We worked together to create the story and he found things in our skillset to showcase things we do well.”The Gingerbeard Men
She went to the emergency room, got an MRI and a visit from the hospital’s neurosurgery team. Bissonnette had a tumor. Because of its positioning and amount of blood all signs pointed to it being benign. There was no need to worry. But after her surgery her diagnosis revealed something altogether different.
Her strong support network helped, including her parents, teachers, friends and Mean Girls family, helped her get through. “I would have a crying fit saying, ‘I'm never going to be able to dance again or go back to the show. I'm going to have to change careers,” she says. “All these things made me panic.” But her parents always reassured her: “You’re going to be fine. You've always been a fighter. Give it time and let yourself heal,” they would say.
Each show gets better and better for Bissonnette. “I’m closest right now to being old Stephanie,” she says. “I still have my moments here and there where I think, I used to be better at this specific section and now am struggling to get through it. But those moments get easier each day.”
So sad that she passed today.