Glenn, 51, was fit and healthy and doctors said his fatigue and headaches were down to needing a pair of glasses
A “fit and healthy” dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour after collapsing at home – and died just six days later. Glenn Colmer, 51, suffered a sudden seizure at his home in Southampton on February 18 this year. He was rushed to hospital where a CT scan revealed a mass on his brain – and just days later, on February 22, he was diagnosed with a high-grade glioma.
The “much-loved” sports teacher, who his devastated wife Ali described as “strong, active, and the healthiest man [she] knew”, tragically died on February 28. Now, Glenn’s family are sharing his story to spread awareness of the “indiscriminate” cancer – and raise money for Brain Tumour Research.
Ali said: “You never think it’s going to 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 dad, and he had this amazing way of making people feel better just by being around them. We always joked that he was invincible.
“But brain tumours don’t care how healthy, kind, or loved you are. They’re cruel and indiscriminate. And in the space of ten unthinkable days, we went from thinking Glenn had had a seizure, to holding his hand as he slipped away from us. I want to share his story and raise awareness, because this shouldn’t happen to anyone.”
In the year leading up to his death, Glenn had been suffering with fatigue, headaches, and dizziness and so visited his GP. Doctors however merely prescribed him with medication and glasses, which alleviated the pain, and so he thought his symptoms were just to do with his age.
Things continued as normal until February 18, when Glenn, who had just woken up, froze while putting on his dressing gown. He was silent, and his left arm was locked in place – as he stared blankly ahead.
His wife Ali said: “I asked if he was okay. He replied: ‘No, I’m not.’ Moments later, Glenn collapsed and began violently shaking, gasping for air. I called an ambulance, staying calm for his sake, whispering words of reassurance until help arrived.
“The paramedics were quick to respond. Although the seizure had passed, Glenn was in visible pain, particularly in his arm which had locked during the seizure. His eyes were vacant. The trauma was immediate and life-altering.”
Glenn, who worked as the Director of Curriculum for Sports and Protective Services at Itchen Sixth Form College, was taken to hospital where he was told he had a mass on his brain. Four days later, he, Ali, and their two children Grace, 19, and Joe, 16, were told the mass was a high-grade glioma brain tumour – in a moment which changed their lives forever.
Ali said: “It was horrendous. My world fell apart. The doctor tried to explain the scan; Glenn didn’t want to look. He couldn’t. He wasn’t ready. His expression, once so full of life, humour, and warmth, was robbed from him, replaced with silence and vacancy.
“His right side remained weak, and the vibrant man who once did every sport imaginable now needed help with the most basic tasks.”
Glenn was discharged from hospital but the pain worsened as he returned home. ” For Glenn, a man who had been so fit and healthy, it was unbearable,” Ali said. “He refused visitors. He didn’t want people to see him this way.”
By February 25, Glenn’s pain was excruciating and another ambulance was called. A new MRI confirmed another bleed on Glenn’s brain and he became fully paralysed on his right side. Over the next few days, Glenn declined further. He was vomiting, became unable to speak, and lost the ability to swallow.
However, he continued to communicate with his family. Ali said: “He kept reaching for my engagement ring and the children’s hands, squeezing tightly as if to say ‘goodbye’. He placed my hand on his heart, as if to say ‘thank you’. Though no one had said it yet, I could see that Glenn was dying.”
Glenn was moved to the ICU and placed on a ventilator, and his mum and brother joined Ali, Grace, and Joe at the hospital. Ali said: “Even as his body began to shut down and he was unable to speak, Glenn remained present. He kept reaching out, holding hands, squeezing gently.”
A neurosurgeon later confirmed the worst: that Glenn had suffered another catastrophic brain bleed and there was no hope of recovery. Ali was then forced to make the devastating decision to remove Glenn’s life support – and he died surrounded by family.
Glenn spent two decades at Itchen College – during which time he dedicated himself to nurturing young sports stars. Among those he mentored were former Southampton FC defender Aaron Martin, Olympic marathon runner Mahamed Mahamed, boxing champion Ryan Garner, and NBA basketball star Jeremy Sochan.
Ali said: “Glenn was more than his diagnosis. He was a mentor, a joker, a passionate teacher and friend. “His funeral was a testament to the life he lived, over 500 people attended, including former students and colleagues from as far as the USA.
“He touched lives across the world. He made people feel seen, valued, and inspired.”
To commemorate his life and raise money for Brain Tumour Research, Glenn’s family, friends, and colleagues have organised a charity golf day on August 1 at Southampton Municipal Golf Course – Glenn’s favourite. Glenn’s son Joe will tee off the event, and a memorial bench is planned for the 18th hole.
So far, more than £3,000 has been raised in Glenn’s honour. Katrina Jones, head of Community and Digital Fundraising at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are deeply grateful to Glenn’s family and friends for bravely sharing his story.
“Glenn’s sudden and devastating diagnosis highlights the cruel reality of brain tumours: they can strike anyone, at any time, regardless of health or lifestyle. His legacy as a much-loved teacher and mentor lives on in the lives he touched, and now in the vital awareness and funds being raised in his name.
“We desperately need more investment in research to improve outcomes and offer hope to families like Glenn’s.”
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer – and more men under 75 than prostate cancer. Yet, just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to brain tumours.
For more information on brain tumours, visit, https://braintumourresearch.org/
To donate to Glenn’s fundraiser, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/give-4-Glenn-Colmer