A ‘fit and healthy’ father of two rejected pain and pain that he suffered for a year as signs of aging the diagnosis of a brain tumor and dying less than a week later, has revealed his destroyed woman.
Sports teacher Glenn Colmer, 51, was hit by a huge, sudden attack in his house in Southampton on February 18 and was taken to the hospital.
Scans revealed a mass on his brain and four days later, doctors found a high-quality glioma, one of the deadliest types of brain tumor.
He died on 28 February, with his wife, Ali, and their two children Grace, 19, and Joe, 16, and other close family at his bed.
In the year prior to his death, Mr. Colmer suffered from unusual fatigue, headache and dizzy spells.
His doctor prescribed pain medicine and suggested that he might need new glasses – and according to Ali he believed that his symptoms were simply due to his age.
Still staggering of the loss, she described her deceased husband as’ strong, active and the healthiest man [she] knew ‘.
Mr. Colmer’s family shares his story to spread the consciousness of the ‘random’ cancer – and to raise money for research into brain tumor.
Sports teacher Glenn Colmer, 51, fired pain and pain that he suffered for a year as signs of aging – before he was diagnosed with a brain tumor less than a week later and died
Ali said: ‘In the space of ten unthinkable days we started thinking that Glenn had had an attack, holding his hand as he slipped away from us.
‘You never think it will happen to your family. Glenn was the healthiest man I knew: strong and active, full of life and laughter.
“He was a brilliant husband, an incredible father, and he had this great way to make people feel better by just being with them.
“We always made jokes that he was invincible.”
The attack was the first sign that something was seriously wrong, Ali remembers.
Mr. Colmer had not woken up for long when he froze as he turned on his changing dress.
He was quiet and his left arm was locked up in place – while he stared empty.
Ali said: ‘I asked if he was fine. He replied, “No, I am not.” Moments later, Glenn collapsed and began to vibrate violently, panting to air.
Still staggering of the loss, wife Ali described her deceased husband as ‘strong, active and the healthiest man I knew’
Mr. Colmer’s family shares his story to spread the consciousness of the ‘random’ cancer and to raise money for brain tumor research
“I called an ambulance, remained calm because of him and whispered words of reassurance until help arrived.
“The paramedics responded quickly. Although the attack had passed, Glenn had visible pain, especially in his arm that was locked during the attack.
“His eyes were empty. The trauma was immediately and life -changing. ‘
Glenn, who worked as director of Curriculum for sports and protective services at the ITCHEN Sixth Form College, was taken to the hospital where he was told that he had a mass on his brain.
Four days later, he, Ali and their two children Grace, 19 and Joe, 16, said the Mass was a high-quality Glioma Hersentumor.
These are fast -growing brain tumors that are often fatal, even with treatment.
The most aggressive form, glioblastoma, can quickly progress – sometimes within a few days – that little time for diagnosis or intervention.
In the UK, around 2,200 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma-the most common high-quality Gliom-Oil Year.
The disease killed the Labor politician Dame Tessa Jowell in 2018. And in March 2022 the wanted singer Tom Parker died after a battle of 18 months with the cancer.
Glioblastoma affects between three and five people per year per year worldwide.
Although rare compared to other cancers, they are disproportionately deadly, with a survival rate of five years of less than 5 five percent.
Remembering of the diagnosis of her husband, Ali said: ‘It was terrible. My world fell apart.
“The doctor tried to explain the scan; Glenn didn’t want to look. He couldn’t do it. He wasn’t ready.
“His expression, once so full of life, humor and warmth, was robbed of him, replaced by silence and vacancy.
“His right side remained weak and the lively man who once did every conceivable sport now needed help with the most basic tasks.”
Tom Parker, singer in Boyband The Wanted, died in March 2022 at the age of just 33, after a year and half a battle with Glioblastoma
The disease is the most common type of cancer -like brain tumor in adults – and it killed the Labor politician Dame Tessa Jowell in 2018.
Glenn was fired from the hospital, but the pain deteriorated when he returned home.
“For Glenn, a man who had been so fit and healthy, it was unbearable,” said Ali. “He refused visitors. He didn’t want people to see him in this way. ‘
By February 25, Glenn’s pain was unbearable and another ambulance was called.
A new MRI confirmed a bleeding on Glenn’s brain and he lost the use of the right side of his body.
Glenn fell further in the coming days. He vomited, was unable to speak and lost the ability to swallow.
However, he continued to communicate with his family.
Ali said: “He kept on my engagement ring and the hands of the children reaching tight squeeze as if he wanted to say” goodbye “.
“He put my hand on his heart, as if he wanted to say” thank you “. Although nobody had already said it, I saw that Glenn died. ‘
Glenn was moved to the ICU and placed on a fan and his mother and brother joined Ali, Grace and Joe in the hospital.
Brain tumors can cause personality changes, communication problems, attacks and fatigue
Ali said: ‘Even when his body started to close and he could not speak, Glenn remained present. He kept sticking out, holding hand in hand, gently squeeze. ‘
A neurosurgeon later confirmed the worst: that Glenn still had a catastrophic brain and there was no hope for recovery.
Ali was then forced to make the devastating decision to remove Glenn’s livelihood – and he died surrounded by family.
Glenn spent two decades at Itchen College – in which he devoted himself to feeding young sports stars.
Among those he accompanied, former Southampton FC defender Aaron Martin, Olympic marathon runner Mahamed Mahamed, boxing champion Ryan Garner, and NBA basketball player Jeremy Sochhan.
Ali said: ‘Glenn was more than his diagnosis. He was a mentor, a joker, a passionate teacher and friend.
‘His funeral was proof of the life he lived, more than 500 people were present, including former students and colleagues from the US.
“He touched lives around the world. He showed people, feeling appreciated and inspired. ‘
Mr. Colmer died on 28 February, with his wife, Ali, and their two children Grace, 19, and Joe, 16, at his bed. Photos, Mr Colmer kissed one of his children when they were a baby
To commemorate his life and raise money for brain tumor research, Glenn’s family, friends and colleagues on 1 August organized a charity wave day on Southampton Municipal Golf Course – Glenn’s favorite.
Glenn’s son Joe will take the event and a memorial bank is planned for the 18th hole.
So far, more than £ 3,000 has been collected in honor of Glenn. Visit their Justgiving page.
Katrina Jones, head of the community and digital fundraising at Brain Tumor Research, said: ‘We are very grateful to Glenn’s family and friends for the brave his story.
‘Glenn’s sudden and devastating diagnosis emphasizes the cruel reality of brain tumors: they can strike anyone at any time, regardless of health or lifestyle.
‘His legacy as a beloved teacher and mentor lives on in the lives he has touched, and now in the vital consciousness and funds that are collected in his name.
“We urgently need more investments in research to improve the results and to offer hope to families such as those of Glenn.”
Brain tumors kill more children and adults under 40 than all other cancer – and more men younger than 75 than prostate cancer.
Yet only one percent of national expenditure on cancer research is assigned to brain tumors.
#Healthy #father #symptoms #due #glasses #brain #tumor #died #days #diagnosis