MAN THANKFUL FOR SUPPORT DURING BRAIN TUMOUR JOURNEY

GLENN HALFYARD UNDERWENT 33 ROUNDS OF RADIATION AT CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

It was family, friends and faith that helped Orangeville's Glenn Halfyard through his two brain tumour diagnoses and treatments. The hometown man wants his supporters to know how grateful he is for all their encouragement, help, understanding and love over the last few years.

Halfyard's diagnoses include a benign tumour discovery in 2019 and then a Grade 3 cancerous tumour discovered earlier this year.

"I thought there was little chance that I'd get diagnosed so soon with another brain tumour after my first surgery," said Halfyard.

Halfyard, who usually works at Home Depot in Orangeville, is taking some time to recover from the four-year health challenge he described as a "roller-coaster of emotions" on a long road of medical procedures and treatments.

At the start in summer 2018, symptoms seemed to present as an anxiety attack.

"I was talking to a couple of other managers at work when all of a sudden the left side of my face felt numb as though I had dental freezing," Halfyard recalled. "Then my left hand started to tingle and lasted for a minute or so. This was intermittent and I thought it was some kind of anxiety acting up."

Halfyard then went home, and the anxious feelings didn't subside.

His wife convinced him to go to the hospital, where the medical team did extensive testing — save for a CT scan. The tests came back normal and he went home.

"That following May, I had another tingling face and arm episode at work and the guys called 911 because they thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke."

It was at this visit where a CT scan was performed, and the results came back with some more questions and followup appointments and procedures.

"The doctor explained that this initial tumour in my brain was the size of a quarter. A slow growing tumour called an astrocytoma," Halfyard said. "The doctor said he was 99 per cent sure it wasn't cancerous and would do surgery to remove it and in about three months I should be back to normal."

Following the surgery, everything seemed to head in the right direction until

Halfyard started to feel the facial and arm sensations again at the beginning of 2022.

This was when he was diagnosed with the second brain tumour.

To help cope, Halfyard reached out to a Facebook group called Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. There he was able to share his story and reach out to others who also had brain tumours, surgeries, and treatments.

"I was so fortunate to find a good support system in this Facebook group. It was good to talk to others going through similar experiences."

Apart from the group, Halfyard looked to his church for support and stayed resolute in his faith. Neighbours, friends, and family have all shown up in one way or another to support him and his family.

"Many people have helped us with meals or rides back and forth from Credit Valley Hospital," said Halfyard.

"Along with my wife, my kids, my parents, family members, members of my church and my work colleagues — I have felt so grateful to have had this really great network of supporters."

A few weeks ago, Halfyard received some positive news. He was told by his oncologist that his lesion is now shrinking, and that things are "going in the right direction."

Halfyard said he has also been able to share his brain tumour experience and knowledge with others in the community experiencing their own cancer fights.

"I think it's important that people share their stories with one another to show that there's support and hope out there. No matter what anyone is going through there could be someone also going through something similar so it's good to reach out, so they know they're not alone."