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~