Glenn McLaren's Family Fund
Donation protected
Glenn passed away on October 12th ending his 7 year battle with cancer. I have lost my best friend and husband. My children have lost a father. And you have lost an incredible friend who was full of love and life.
My heart is broken, but only because I will miss him dearly in so many ways. I can move forward knowing that my children and I will always have an angel watching over us and guiding us along. The smile that appeared on his face following death was a beautiful gift from God showing us that Glenn is with his heavenly Father and no longer suffering.
Glenn truly is at peace.
Glenn was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow, 7 years ago when our children were ages 10, 8, 6 and 4 years old. His original prognosis was only 24 to 36 months to live. He had acute kidney failure and compression fractures in his spine. After beginning initial chemo treatments and dialysis, Glenn’s condition stabilized enough for him to come home. We met with a cancer doctor in San Antonio but his treatment plan involved a donor bone marrow transplant, however this treatment option had only a 1 in 100 survival rate. This wasn’t good enough for me.
After intense research I came across the University of Utah and their Multiple Myeloma research facility located within the Huntsman Cancer Center in Salt Lake City. I convinced Glenn to travel to Utah from Texas and give it a try. After testing and evaluation, Dr. Tricot of The Huntsman Cancer Institute gave us hope. The treatment option at The Huntsman would give him 7-10 more years.
I packed up a Uhaul trailer and our 4 kids and we traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah to live so that Glenn could receive a tandem autologous stem-cell transplant that would span a 6 month period. The treatment protocol was successful and Glenn was in remission for 4 years. During this time, Glenn received chemo maintenance therapy and we had to travel to Utah every 3-6 months for checkups. Financially, this was a heavy burden for us but his health was worth the sacrifices we had to make.
In December 2013, Glenn’s cancer was back although we were unaware until January when his health declined rapidly with the flu. We rushed Glenn to Iowa for treatment for his cancer and for the flu that his immune compromised body would have to fight. After beginning antibiotics and a severe round of chemotherapy to halt the cancer cells from continuing, it was decided that Glenn would undergo another tandem autologous stem cell transplant. I traveled home to bring my kids to Iowa, where his doctor had relocated, to once again be with their dad during this process. I once again rented a place to make a home for our family. The children needed to be with us while we hoped and prayed for more time.
Glenn’s transplant only placed him in remission for 6 months. His disease was getting smarter. We now only had a few options for treatment remaining and it only involved other medication combinations. We returned to San Antonio to begin a new chemo treatment protocol that would control the disease but not eliminate it. After 3 months, Glenn’s counts were slowly rising but not spiking. Glenn left for his 3 month checkup on his own for the first time because my father had just passed away from congenital heart failure. He left with us assuming his health was status quo, but his cancer was already taking over. Within days, Glenn’s health began deteriorating rapidly. His voice had become weaker and he was throwing up and exhausted. My dad’s funeral was on September 9th and Glenn called me on September 10th at 7:30am after meeting with his doctor. He was calling me from a bathroom and his voice echoed the words I knew might come someday but never wanted to hear. Glenn was given 4-6 weeks to live.
Over the next 5 weeks, Glenn had countless visitors from high school, college, his faithful ACTS Brothers and family. He planned his funeral, we visited cemeteries and he spent time with his 4 children sharing stories and laughter with all. His faith remained strong until the end. He began to fade about 2 days before his death and fell into an uncommon silence. He was no longer eating or responding but had moments of clarity and it was during this time that he hugged each one of his children and told them he loved them.
So, now our journey continues and because we chose 12 years ago to homeschool our children, I have been a stay-at-home mom. Glenn worked all during his 7 year battle with cancer. And I remained at home teaching our children and caring for Glenn when he needed me. My transition into employment will be a difficult one. Not because I am unwilling to work but because of the loss we have experienced has left a hole in our lives. My children and I maintained a homeschooling life of togetherness. It was what enabled us to be with Glenn during his treatments in Utah and Iowa and what has formed a beautiful family.
My hope is to raise funds to give me time to find work to provide for my family. After 7 years of cancer treatments we were unable to prepare for a future financially. Our vacations were “chemo vacations” and saving for college or retirement was not even an option. My children need me now. We just need time to heal and get on our feet again. Your donation will help us to keep our house and pay the bills until I am able to find work that will bless our family.
Thank you for your help. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your generosity and consideration. It will be because of your kindness I will be able to prepare our family for the life we will have without Glenn.
Blessings, Irene
My heart is broken, but only because I will miss him dearly in so many ways. I can move forward knowing that my children and I will always have an angel watching over us and guiding us along. The smile that appeared on his face following death was a beautiful gift from God showing us that Glenn is with his heavenly Father and no longer suffering.
Glenn truly is at peace.
Glenn was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow, 7 years ago when our children were ages 10, 8, 6 and 4 years old. His original prognosis was only 24 to 36 months to live. He had acute kidney failure and compression fractures in his spine. After beginning initial chemo treatments and dialysis, Glenn’s condition stabilized enough for him to come home. We met with a cancer doctor in San Antonio but his treatment plan involved a donor bone marrow transplant, however this treatment option had only a 1 in 100 survival rate. This wasn’t good enough for me.
After intense research I came across the University of Utah and their Multiple Myeloma research facility located within the Huntsman Cancer Center in Salt Lake City. I convinced Glenn to travel to Utah from Texas and give it a try. After testing and evaluation, Dr. Tricot of The Huntsman Cancer Institute gave us hope. The treatment option at The Huntsman would give him 7-10 more years.
I packed up a Uhaul trailer and our 4 kids and we traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah to live so that Glenn could receive a tandem autologous stem-cell transplant that would span a 6 month period. The treatment protocol was successful and Glenn was in remission for 4 years. During this time, Glenn received chemo maintenance therapy and we had to travel to Utah every 3-6 months for checkups. Financially, this was a heavy burden for us but his health was worth the sacrifices we had to make.
In December 2013, Glenn’s cancer was back although we were unaware until January when his health declined rapidly with the flu. We rushed Glenn to Iowa for treatment for his cancer and for the flu that his immune compromised body would have to fight. After beginning antibiotics and a severe round of chemotherapy to halt the cancer cells from continuing, it was decided that Glenn would undergo another tandem autologous stem cell transplant. I traveled home to bring my kids to Iowa, where his doctor had relocated, to once again be with their dad during this process. I once again rented a place to make a home for our family. The children needed to be with us while we hoped and prayed for more time.
Glenn’s transplant only placed him in remission for 6 months. His disease was getting smarter. We now only had a few options for treatment remaining and it only involved other medication combinations. We returned to San Antonio to begin a new chemo treatment protocol that would control the disease but not eliminate it. After 3 months, Glenn’s counts were slowly rising but not spiking. Glenn left for his 3 month checkup on his own for the first time because my father had just passed away from congenital heart failure. He left with us assuming his health was status quo, but his cancer was already taking over. Within days, Glenn’s health began deteriorating rapidly. His voice had become weaker and he was throwing up and exhausted. My dad’s funeral was on September 9th and Glenn called me on September 10th at 7:30am after meeting with his doctor. He was calling me from a bathroom and his voice echoed the words I knew might come someday but never wanted to hear. Glenn was given 4-6 weeks to live.
Over the next 5 weeks, Glenn had countless visitors from high school, college, his faithful ACTS Brothers and family. He planned his funeral, we visited cemeteries and he spent time with his 4 children sharing stories and laughter with all. His faith remained strong until the end. He began to fade about 2 days before his death and fell into an uncommon silence. He was no longer eating or responding but had moments of clarity and it was during this time that he hugged each one of his children and told them he loved them.
So, now our journey continues and because we chose 12 years ago to homeschool our children, I have been a stay-at-home mom. Glenn worked all during his 7 year battle with cancer. And I remained at home teaching our children and caring for Glenn when he needed me. My transition into employment will be a difficult one. Not because I am unwilling to work but because of the loss we have experienced has left a hole in our lives. My children and I maintained a homeschooling life of togetherness. It was what enabled us to be with Glenn during his treatments in Utah and Iowa and what has formed a beautiful family.
My hope is to raise funds to give me time to find work to provide for my family. After 7 years of cancer treatments we were unable to prepare for a future financially. Our vacations were “chemo vacations” and saving for college or retirement was not even an option. My children need me now. We just need time to heal and get on our feet again. Your donation will help us to keep our house and pay the bills until I am able to find work that will bless our family.
Thank you for your help. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your generosity and consideration. It will be because of your kindness I will be able to prepare our family for the life we will have without Glenn.
Blessings, Irene
Organizer
IreneandGlenn McLaren
Organizer
Cibolo, TX