We've Hit a Small Speed Bump

First off, let me apologize for the lack of posts over the last few days.  As some of you know, I live in central Pennsylvania and things have been a little chaotic here lately.  We were very fortunate to be spared by Hurricane Sandy and we are doing great, but the cell service has been pretty spotty so it has been difficult for me to get any in-depth updates. I'm sorry to leave you hanging!

Now, on to Glenn...

We were lucky enough to have Glenn home for a few days, but right away, Mom noticed that something wasn't quite right about him.  We think going home was too much too soon and although he is doing incredibly well physically, his brain is still healing and he just wasn't quite ready to come home.  Even though we have hit this small speed bump on Glenn's road to recovery, we are regrouping and planning our next move.  The doctors are trying some new medications, which should help.  He also started chemo and radiation today, which have left him dizzy and light-headed, but also very aware and optimistic.

Because Glenn's wound is on the inside, it's hard to believe that anything is wrong.  He looks great and can still talk to you and carry on a conversation.  However, his brain is still in a very fragile state while it tries to re-wire and because of this, the hospital has restricted all visitors.  Right now, he just needs rest.

What Glenn can use is the usual:  positive thoughts, prayers, and words of encouragement.  It's easy to get discouraged with any kind of setback, so he needs to know that we are still behind him while he fights on.

Happy Birthday Addison!

There's this other girl in my life...she calls me Grampa!

Today is Addison's first birthday. What a year it has been! From the day she was born, Glenn has loved her and she has loved him.


Grandbaby 2.0 There's gotta be an app for that!


Several months ago, Glenn and I went on vacation through Canada. We wanted to find something special for Addison but nothing seemed "just right". We walked into a children's boutique and Glenn proceeded to explain that we needed something very special for a 7 month old little girl. As he takes out his phone and begins to show the store owner hundreds of pictures of "the cutest little girl in the world" she shows him a dress she had just received. Glenn looked at it and said that was what he was looking for. She slyly showed me the price tag and as I tried to suck in air and breathe again, Glenn said, "It doesn't matter what it costs. I want Addison to have this dress." And so it was.



The day before Glenn was taken to the hospital, we again had been out shopping for the perfect gift for Addison's birthday. He was like a kid in the candy store, spending as much time showing off her pictures as he was picking out her gifts. He loves that little girl so much.



Grampa get outta bed!


After the surgery, Glenn sat stoically as the doctor gave us the diagnosis and prognosis. He processed what had been said. He then asked to have Addison's and JJ's pictures brought to his room. We put them on the board at the end of his bed, and that was the first he sobbed.


The pictures became his daily motivation. Every morning he would wake up and see Addison and JJ smiling at him. He told his doctors, nurses, and therapists that the little girl with the big attitude--we call her Addi-Tude--was his reason for getting out of bed. He said he imagines Addie saying, "Grandpa, get your lazy xss out of bed!" I reminded him if she had said that her Mom might wash her mouth out with soap, but whatever motivates him! He would reflect back through the year as he has watched her as a helpless newborn then running around trying to keep up with her big brother, and with each step of progress how amazing she was to watch. We watched him progress each day with the same amazement.



As I was wrapping the presents in his hospital room, he watched and wished he could be there when she unwrapped them. Knowing his current limitations for reading and writing at the moment, I asked if he wanted me to write something in the card for him. He asked me to bring him the card and a pen. He wrote, "I love you Addison. Grampa Glenn." Another huge step he has overcome thanks to the motivation of his little angel.


I love you Addison!


Lindsay said as she has posted Glenn's pictures on the blog she has Addison on her lap. She will jump up and down and pat the screen. When Addie was at our house, she would be crying and her Mom would pick her up. She would reach for Grandpa and calm right down as soon as he would hold her. When we have Skyped, she would be walking around the room until she hears his voice and come running to see him, trying to give him kisses through the phone.

Happy Birthday Addison. We all love you. You are truly the littlest angel sent with the biggest motivation. Thank you for everything you have done for Grampa Glenn.

When Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary

It's amazing all of the little things you take for granted.  Three weeks ago, Mom and Glenn were hanging out at their house, discussing their weekend plans.  Now, they are home, but their conversations are not as lighthearted and often dip down into very serious and grim topics.  While we would give anything to go back three weeks, this whole experience has brought us closer together and made us appreciate each other even more.  And for that, I am grateful.

Glenn is home!  He and Mom are adjusting to it being just the two of them and the quiet sounds of their house.  While things are definitely different, some things, luckily, are still the same.  The best thing is that Glenn is home, which is something we weren't sure would happen, especially this soon.  It has been a month of miracles and I hope it's not over yet.

The Best News Yet!

We have been waiting for this day for two weeks: Glenn is coming home tomorrow!  He has continued to do well with his therapy, so the doctors decided to release him even sooner than this weekend, and we are beyond excited to finally have him home!

Yesterday, Glenn walked up more flights of stairs, took a tour around the hospital grounds, and today he even went on a mini lunch-date with Mom and his occupational therapist.

While Glenn is physically ready to go home, his mind is still recovering and healing.  He also is starting chemo and radiation on Monday, so he and Mom will be coming and going alot. They would love to start having visitors soon, but if you want to stop by for a visit, please email us and leave your phone number.  Mom will call you back and arrange a time when they will be home and he will be rested enough to hang out for a short amount of time.  We really appreciate all of the wonderful things that  so many people have done for our family, and especially for Glenn.  It is because of all of you that he has the strength to fight on.  Thank you!

The New Routine

Glenn has been following this new routine to a T.  We never get tired of hearing how incredible he is doing, because it gives us so much hope.  Every day he does things that we couldn't even imagine him doing yesterday.  He really is amazing.

Today was no different.  He and his therapist walked up three (that's right, THREE) flights of stairs.  Seriously, the man is taking amazing to a whole new level.  Also, Mom got certified to escort him around the hospital, so they can now go on long short walks on around the beach hospital together.  So romantic.

Although his therapy has gotten really intense and they have him working hard all day, he has been really motivated by the constant progress he is making.  He definitely is amazing!

Every Day a Little Bit Stronger

What an incredible weekend!  Glenn continues to amaze everyone with his progress and they are still planning on sending him home this weekend. 

Saturday was another Bronco Game Day and Mom bought Glenn a Blackout shirt to wear in support of his team. (It was the Blackout the Stadium game.) His days are filled with therapy sessions, so he was unable to watch the game, but he was definitely proud to be a Bronco.

Glenn's PT gave him a squishy ball to squeeze to help strengthen his left hand, which he has affectionately named "Southpaw".  He was also working on throwing the ball with "Southpaw"and, incredibly enough, Glenn can now catch and throw with his left hand (and oddly enough, better than with his right hand and better than Gary, who actually is left-handed!). By the end of the day yesterday, he was playing catch with Brennan and Jared in the hospital room, until they got too rowdy and Mom had to put a stop to it. (Some things never change.)  Also, when he was doing speech therapy, the pathologist had him reading a series of words.  They got to one word and Glenn asked, "What the heck does that word even mean?"  The pathologist looked at him and replied, "In 17 years, no one has ever asked me what any of the words meant.  I have no idea what it means."  Glenn still doesn't miss an opportunity to help people learn something new! (Luckily, Jared was there and they were able to Google the word.)
There has been one downside to all of this progress: because Glenn's muscles have loosened up, he now snores louder than ever!  We'll take it, though.  We're just glad to have him back.

Glenn lifting a wooden dowel over his head.

Glenn has almost regained full mobility on his left side and we are blown away by how well his therapy is going and how quickly he is recovering.  He is still recovering, however, so we are still being strict with the no-visitor policy.  We really appreciate everyone being so respectful of it and once he is home, that will hopefully change.  Mom is reading all of the wonderful cards, emails and comments to him and they make his day, so please keep them coming, along with your thoughts and prayers.  We are so lucky to be so loved!

Big Baby Steps

All I can say is "WOW"!  Glenn is still making incredible progress and the past two days have been the best yet.  I know I keep saying this, but Glenn is doing amazing. The doctor visited him today to tell him that all of the therapists and nurses are so impressed with how Glenn is doing.  To give you an idea, the doctor said that originally they were planning on keeping him in the hospital for 4-6 weeks.  Today, however, the doctor informed Glenn that he is going to be moved to a new room tomorrow and they are planning on releasing him next weekend.  YAY!  This all has given me so much hope that if his body can recover this quickly from something as traumatic as brain surgery, then it will give GBM a run for its money.  I truly believe that all of the wonderful notes, emails and prayers that everyone has been sending has made all of the difference.  We have all been so blessed by so many.

Glenn "pedaling home".

More good news:
-Glenn got dressed in his own clothes today.  He is now sporting cozy sweats and t-shirts instead of a drafty hospital gown and he feels like a new man.
-He walked up and down the entire hallway using a walker.  He has also remastered the skill of walking backwards.
-With his therapists' help, he was able to climb up and down 5 steps.  (Before we know it, he'll be planning a trip to Everest!)

Quick Tuesday Update

Tuesday was awesome!  Glenn has made a TON of progress in the last few days and Tuesday was one of the best days yet.  He was able to walk the length of a set of therapy bars and is still impressing the doctors with how quickly he is recovering.  Also, in true Glenn style, he gave his occupational therapist a little tech support with her new smartphone. She had no idea how to use it, but luckily Glenn was there to give her a quick rundown.  The man rocks!

Today has been another awesome day and there will be another update on everything later tonight!

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

The above quote is by Winston Churchill, and it has definitely been the theme of the day.  Glenn's oncologist visited today.  He had a great talk with Glenn and Mom about staying positive and what to expect in the next few days.  One of the most important things he told them was to just take it a day at a time, otherwise it all gets too overwhelming.  He also emphasized on the importance of keeping a positive attitude.

Today something that we have been looking forward to all week happened: Glenn was moved to the rehab unit!  He upgraded to a larger, quieter room that he will be in for the remainder of his hospital stay.When he was moved, he stood and was able to sit in a wheelchair for the entire trip.  Another great thing was that he sat on the edge of the bed and was able to lift his knee.  He is doing great!

Glenn and his PT Kyle

Gaby, Glenn's angel nurse

Because Glenn's brain is still healing and he really needs some rest for the next few days, we are holding off on visitors for just a little bit longer.  He and Mom are so grateful for all of the support, kind words, and help they have received during this emotional week.  We all have been very blessed by the love and prayers from so many people.  Please continue thinking of Glenn and as always keep the positive thoughts coming.  After all, attitude makes a big difference!

Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.

Today was a day.  Not a bad day, not a good day, just a day.  But, not every day can be amazing.

Glenn and his new buddy Shaggy

Glenn had a rough night.  He was sick for most of it, and as a result, he and Mom didn't get much sleep.  He has rebounded really well though and after finally getting some rest, he has been doing much better.  They did another CAT scan which showed there was still some swelling in his brain, but the doctor said that this was to be expected and he is still pleased with Glenn's progress.  They even took his staples out today, which is awesome, and we are still hoping that Glenn will get moved to the rehab unit tomorrow.  He is alert and very aware of his surroundings.  Most importantly he is still our Glenn.  He still isn't up for visitors, but he hopefully will be soon.

All in all, we're staying positive and we are still filled with hope that Glenn will win this fight!

Glenn and Jared

Saturday Update

Saturday was a good day.  It was game day for the Boise State Broncos, a day that Mom and Glenn always look forward to.  They spent the morning getting predictions for the score from those that came to his room, and they were both anticipating the game.  Glenn (the die-hard fan that he is) even had his BSU hat with him to help cheer on his team.  It's also no surprise that he ended up the winner with the closest guess for the final score- the man knows his Bronco football!

Glenn was able to stand for five minutes with the help of his physical therapists.  While he was standing, his doctor came in to check on him and was very pleased with Glenn's progress.  After making several assessments, he felt certain that Glenn will make a full recovery from the paralysis on his left side. (Awesome news!)  Also, Glenn was able to feel touch on his left hand and he can distinguish between when his thumb and his pinkie are being touched.  Lots of great progress today!

Unfortunately, he had a lot of nausea and hiccups throughout the day, which is not a good combination.  He still isn't ready for visitors, but is loving the comments, emails, and Facebook posts, so please keep them coming. We're all so overwhelmed by all of the love and support that we all have received and are so thankful to know such wonderful people!

Don't Count the Days, Make the Days Count

I've always heard that when God closes a door, He opens a window.  After today, I really believe that is true.  The fact is Glenn has a very serious type of cancer. But, there is another fact that got overshadowed yesterday: we are NOT giving up!  We have not started a countdown, we have started a fight.  And this is a fight that we are all going to give everything we have to win.

Glenn is a rockstar!  He has been doing better than expected from the very beginning.  His surgery went faster than expected, he only spent one day in the ICU (after brain surgery!) and has been making amazing progress during his stay in the neurology unit.  Everyone is really impressed with his progress.

Today's update:
*Glenn has been able to keep food down and his coloring looks great. (Jared told me that all he had to do was dip the turkey in the gravy and Glenn ate it right up. Sounds good to me!)

The best part of rehab

*If everything continues to go well, Glenn will get moved from the neurology unit to the rehab unit, where he will begin rehab, as well as radiation and chemotherapy treatments. He will spend at least four days here and then he will be reassessed every few days until he is ready to go home. Yay!
*He has more involuntary movement in his left arm, which is a great sign because it means the neurons are firing.
*During physical therapy today, the PT helped him stand for about 3 minutes. This is a really great sign!
*One of the best things that happened today was when Glenn figured out how to work the remote.  It controls the window blinds, the lights as well as the TV.  He was having so much fun turning the lights on and off and on and off, and then opening the blinds and then closing them over and over.  Finally, he started flipping through every single channel on the TV.  Mom and Jared looked at him with bewildered looks, wondering, "What is he doing?"  Glenn just looked back at them and grinned and said, "I can be annoying even from here."  I'm so glad to see that he hasn't lost his sense of humor!

Although he is making fantastic progress, Glenn still isn't ready to have visitors.  He is, however, reading this blog and loves to hear all of the wonderful comments everyone is leaving.  Keep them coming! (If you want to leave a private message, you can always email us as haarfamily99@gmail.com)

As always, keep Glenn and Mom in your prayers and don't lose hope.  The best thing we can do is stay positive and do whatever we can to beat this crappy disease.

~Lindsay~

The Journey Begins...

 I don't really feel like the word journey is appropriate.  It implies adventure and excitement.  This is neither of those things.  This just sucks.  This is more like a nightmare that you would give anything to wake up from, where all of your saddest thoughts and your darkest fears are just eating away at you.  This is life when someone you love has cancer.

It all started about a month ago.  Glenn had a few little "episodes" where he was feeling really disconnected and kind of froze up for a few minutes.  It didn't seem too serious, so no one really thought anything of it.  Then, on Monday, October 8, Mom knew it was something serious.  Glenn had acted really strangely the night before and his behavior had worsened that morning.  Fearing it was a stroke, they rushed to the ER, where Glenn underwent a series of tests to find out what was happening.  We didn't even see it coming.  The MRI had revealed a 5cm tumor in the right frontal lobe of Glenn's brain and surgery was scheduled for the next day to have it removed.  We were all in shock.  Not Glenn!  Not our Glenn!

Jared flew in the next morning to help out and provide support.  (He has been amazing throughout this whole ordeal!)  After much prayer and positive thinking, Glenn underwent surgery after 2 pm.  The surgery went really well and went much faster than anticipated, and he was wheeled off to the ICU for recovery.  After a few hours, he was still groggy from the pain medication, but was able to move his left side a little and he was able to speak and answer questions.  The man is a champ! Now came the wait for the biopsy results...

The next day, October 10, Glenn was still doing great.  He was talking a little and began physical therapy while we all waited for the oncologist to give the results.  Sadly, they were devastating.  She said that Glenn has Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), which is a horrible, very aggressive cancer with almost no chance of survival.  She did say that the results were not definite, but we should be prepared for the worst.  Today, October 11, was the worst.  Additional testing confirmed that Glenn does have GBM, Grade IV, and that we will only have him for a mere 2-12 more months, 18 if we're lucky.  How do you respond to something like that?  Our hearts are broken. 

Glenn is hanging in there, like the wonderfully stubborn man that he is.  He is eating a little and we are hoping he will get to go home soon.  As of now, he is going to undergo daily radiation and chemotherapy to combat this vicious disease and we are all clinging to the slim, slim chance that he will be able to beat the odds and stay with us for much longer than is expected.

Right now, all that can be done is prayer and positive thinking.  Please pray for our family and especially for Mom and Glenn.  They are heading down a long and difficult road, where the outcome will most likely be tragic.  Please let them know that they are not alone in this and that you are thinking of them.

For more information about this terrible disease, check here.

~Lindsay~