Phillip Gleason's fight with Cancer
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In an instant, life can change whether we’re prepared for it or not.
Sunday, May 3rd, everything changed for Phillip Gleason and his family. While working security at University of Louisville hospital, Phillip collapsed and a week later woke up having no idea how came to be in a hospital bed.
Phillip was raised as a Military brat and has lived all over the country with his parents, Howard and Kim Gleason. His family has called the Elizabethtown, KY area “home” since his dad being station at Fort Knox in 2001. Phillip’s dad retired from the U.S. Army in 2005 and shortly after, Phillip graduated from John Hardin High School in 2009.
The Gleason family is no stranger to the hospital and the fear it can hold. His mother, Kim, just fought through her own battle of cancer. His father, Howard currently works two jobs to help conquer medical expenses the family occurred from the previous family heartbreak.
Just when the family thought everything was going great, life changed, and they found themselves being thrown a curveball.
Sunday, May 3rd, Phillip went into cardiac arrest while working his daily shift. He was rushed to the ER where he was immediately put on a ventilator and ended up being placed in a medically induced coma. The hospital called Howard and Kim letting them know that Phillip’s life was in danger and that he was not expected to make it through the night. Without them even knowing, they were covered in prayer.
Miraculously, Phillip’s body fought back, and he was considered stable enough Tuesday to be moved to Jewish Heart and Lung hospital for evaluation. It was then that they learned a mass had formed in Phillip’s heart that blocked blood flow between chambers. The Doctor went on to share that tumors were also found in Phillips brain, liver, diaphragm, and lungs.
May 6th, Phillip went through a 6-hour surgery to reconstruct part of his heart and remove the football size tumor located directly behind it. Part of his left lung and diaphragm were also removed at the same time. Phillip stayed sedated and on ventilator to recover from the surgery, but the Doctors were able to remove 98% of the cancer. At this point, they couldn’t get everything from his liver and brain.
Phillip was woken up for the first time in 5 days on May 8th. His body was still not strong enough and he stayed on the ventilator. This made it even harder for him to get answers to the questions he so desperately needed – what happened? He had no idea how serious his medical diagnosis was.
May 10th. Mother’s Day – a day where we, as children, honor the women who brought us into this world and would do anything to keep us safe and healthy. This Mother’s Day, Kim saw her son through Facetime, due to Covid-19 hospital policies. It was through this video chat she learned that her son had been removed from the ventilator and he was able to breathe on his own.
Phillip is still in the hospital, alone. His family can’t visit. There are no celebrations of the state reopening, no plans to go out for their first meal as a family. But for Kim and Howard, knowing Phillip is alive and breathing is all they need to feel comfort and joy during Mother’s Day weekend.
Phillip has lost 45 pounds in less than 2 weeks. Next week he will undergo brain surgery to remove the cancer in his brain and will then be moved for 2 weeks of physical therapy. Once recovered chemotherapy will begin to address the cancer in his liver.
Phillip’s fight is not over and he’s not giving up. The expenses for him and his family will be overwhelming; they won’t be able to do this on their own. Tragedy can strike at any minute, and in an instant, our worlds can change. When that happens, it can take village to make it through the tragedy. I am asking you to be part of that village and to be part of the Gleason family village.
Help us, help him to fight this fight. #PhillipsFamily against Cancer.
*All funds raised will go directly to expenses Phillip and his family will face in the immediate and distant future surrounding his fight with cancer.
Sunday, May 3rd, everything changed for Phillip Gleason and his family. While working security at University of Louisville hospital, Phillip collapsed and a week later woke up having no idea how came to be in a hospital bed.
Phillip was raised as a Military brat and has lived all over the country with his parents, Howard and Kim Gleason. His family has called the Elizabethtown, KY area “home” since his dad being station at Fort Knox in 2001. Phillip’s dad retired from the U.S. Army in 2005 and shortly after, Phillip graduated from John Hardin High School in 2009.
The Gleason family is no stranger to the hospital and the fear it can hold. His mother, Kim, just fought through her own battle of cancer. His father, Howard currently works two jobs to help conquer medical expenses the family occurred from the previous family heartbreak.
Just when the family thought everything was going great, life changed, and they found themselves being thrown a curveball.
Sunday, May 3rd, Phillip went into cardiac arrest while working his daily shift. He was rushed to the ER where he was immediately put on a ventilator and ended up being placed in a medically induced coma. The hospital called Howard and Kim letting them know that Phillip’s life was in danger and that he was not expected to make it through the night. Without them even knowing, they were covered in prayer.
Miraculously, Phillip’s body fought back, and he was considered stable enough Tuesday to be moved to Jewish Heart and Lung hospital for evaluation. It was then that they learned a mass had formed in Phillip’s heart that blocked blood flow between chambers. The Doctor went on to share that tumors were also found in Phillips brain, liver, diaphragm, and lungs.
May 6th, Phillip went through a 6-hour surgery to reconstruct part of his heart and remove the football size tumor located directly behind it. Part of his left lung and diaphragm were also removed at the same time. Phillip stayed sedated and on ventilator to recover from the surgery, but the Doctors were able to remove 98% of the cancer. At this point, they couldn’t get everything from his liver and brain.
Phillip was woken up for the first time in 5 days on May 8th. His body was still not strong enough and he stayed on the ventilator. This made it even harder for him to get answers to the questions he so desperately needed – what happened? He had no idea how serious his medical diagnosis was.
May 10th. Mother’s Day – a day where we, as children, honor the women who brought us into this world and would do anything to keep us safe and healthy. This Mother’s Day, Kim saw her son through Facetime, due to Covid-19 hospital policies. It was through this video chat she learned that her son had been removed from the ventilator and he was able to breathe on his own.
Phillip is still in the hospital, alone. His family can’t visit. There are no celebrations of the state reopening, no plans to go out for their first meal as a family. But for Kim and Howard, knowing Phillip is alive and breathing is all they need to feel comfort and joy during Mother’s Day weekend.
Phillip has lost 45 pounds in less than 2 weeks. Next week he will undergo brain surgery to remove the cancer in his brain and will then be moved for 2 weeks of physical therapy. Once recovered chemotherapy will begin to address the cancer in his liver.
Phillip’s fight is not over and he’s not giving up. The expenses for him and his family will be overwhelming; they won’t be able to do this on their own. Tragedy can strike at any minute, and in an instant, our worlds can change. When that happens, it can take village to make it through the tragedy. I am asking you to be part of that village and to be part of the Gleason family village.
Help us, help him to fight this fight. #PhillipsFamily against Cancer.
*All funds raised will go directly to expenses Phillip and his family will face in the immediate and distant future surrounding his fight with cancer.
Organizer and beneficiary
Hunter Blake Harp
Organizer
Louisville, KY
Howard Gleason
Beneficiary