Jim Gleason’s Medical Fund

In mid-October, Jim started to develop issues reading and comprehending words as well as producing his words through speech and writing. When such issues continued unabated for another week, Jim and his family decided to go to the emergency room in Owatonna where the doctors put him through a CAT scan in order to see what might be causing the issues that Jim was experiencing. The CAT scan revealed a tumor on his brain, which was accompanied by a swelling of the brain that was responsible for his aphasia (his communication issues).  On Monday, October 23rd, Jim went to the neurology department at the Mayo Clinic to have an MRI, which then revealed that the tumor detected previously was a high-grade glioma, also referred to as a glioblastoma, which was located on his cerebellum. The results of the MRI prompted doctors to schedule brain surgery to try and remove as much of the tumor as possible. Jim underwent surgery at the Mayo Clinic on Thursday, October 26th, during which doctors were able to remove about 90% of the tumor. After surgery, Jim spent another couple of weeks at the clinic in Rochester in the rehabilitation ward, undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy. Following his release from the clinic, Jim continued his recovery at home with his family and friends by his side helping him through this process. Once healed, Jim then began his radiation and chemotherapy treatments to try and combat what remains of the tumor and to try and slow its regrowth. Jim is undergoing  fifteen radiation treatments total, which began on December 19th and will conclude on January 10th. In conjunction with his radiation, Jim is also taking chemotherapy pills, which he will then continue with after his radiation treatments are over. This second round of treatment will continue over the next six months, after which his doctors will then look at his response to and progress with the chemotherapy and then reassess his treatment from there. Clinical trials and alternative treatments may then be considered. 

Gleason's family and friends, or “Team Gleason”, will be sponsoring a benefit, generously put on by members of the community, to help defray the anticipated medical costs of Jim’s treatments as he continues to fight this battle. The benefit will be held on Saturday, March 3rd, from 4-10 p.m. at Retrofit in Owatonna (1010 Hoffman Dr.). Tickets for the event are $10 (available at the Steele County Free Fair Office, Kottke Jewelers, KC Hall, from Fair Board members and at the door) and there will be a live and silent auction to help raise money for Jim and his family. Godfathers will be catering the the event and a cash bar will be available. Donations will also be accepted at the Steele County Free Fair Office and through this website.

Any monetary donation made is greatly appreciated, but support of any kind is extremely helpful to Jim in this battle - your thoughts and your prayers, your cards, your well wishes, your visits to Jim and all the many other forms of support shown - all are appreciated, and humbly accepted by Jim, who is unaccustomed to receiving so much help, but who is endlessly deserving of it. So thank you, for all that you do for Jim. He is forever grateful.