‘I’m scared now’: Teen reveals daily battle after terminal cancer diagnosis
Gold Coast teenager Tom Glendenning has bravely spoken of his daily battle, saying his family has gone through some “pretty dark s**t” after he was given up to 18 months to live.
QLD News
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A Queensland teenager with terminal cancer has given a raw account of his fears for the end of his life as he sets out to tick off a bucket list of thrills.
As attested by his family, the brave face that Tom Glendenning shows the world and his sanguine approach to his diagnosis makes it hard to believe the 19-year-old is also fighting a mental battle.
But when solitude falls so too does the prospect that the aches will worsen and the former-competitive life saver will lose control of his body.
“I’m scared now,” Mr Glendenning said.
“Everything is just sore and I’m taking pain killers so it’s under control right now but I can’t run like I used to and I haven’t been sprinting.
“There are times when I flashback to what I have done in my life and it gets to me that this is all going to end pretty quickly.
“But that only usually happens when I’m by myself.”
The Elanora teenager’s second diagnosis of Ewing’s sarcoma in March brought a despondency he hadn’t felt while battling his way to remission last year.
His first diagnosis came after a Pacific Surf Life Saving Club parent noticed a lump on his chest during a race in early 2020, when the then-17-year-old was completing Year 12.
Oncologists this time gave Mr Glendenning a prognosis of 12-18 months in which he hopes living out a list of adrenaline-pumping adventures will serve as a pleasant distraction.
“There’s obviously times when being terminal gets to me but I can’t do too much about it,” Mr Glendenning said.
“It’s just what life has given me and I have to run with it.
“Our family has gone through some pretty dark s--- for the past few years and the bucket list is a way for me to break free a bit.”
Solo skydiving, deep sea fishing with his dad and a day on a posh golf course are among a modest list of life experiences Mr Glendenning hopes to relish.
The ultimate goal is to see New Zealand with the teenager sharing his desire to see more of the world than the Gold Coast where he has spent most of his life.
Mr Glendenning’s health has been the focus of his single mum Kelly Wilkinson who hasn’t been able to work as much since his diagnosis.
He is also the middle-child of five boys and has never before had the funds to live out his dreams.
A Go Fund Me created by Ms Wilkinson aims to change that with more than $15,000 already raised to help Mr Glendenning to stand on a mountain of powdery snow and feel the thrill of bungee jumping.
Aside from raising funds for her kind and selfless son, Ms Wilkinson also hopes to bring awareness to the rare bone cancer her son is fighting.
“There’s not enough research for cancer treatments for his age group, the teenagers,” Ms Wilkinson said.
“Lots of people are talking about breast cancer, colon cancer and brain cancer research but there’s not enough happening for these children's cancers, especially bone cancer.
“These teenagers have direction and know where they want to go in life but they’re having that cut short.
“It’s a silent killer and it’s heartbreaking.”
Ms Wilkinson said false diagnoses in both 2020 and 2022 compounded the devastation her family felt.
It’s been tough to comprehend that the gruelling lengths Mr Glendenning went to in getting to remission have been undone.
The teenager, who had dreams of being an electrician and personal trainer, said he is confident he can manage his pain enough to tackle his new challenge- the bucket list.
TOM’S BUCKET LIST
- Skydiving without a tandem
- Wing suit out an aeroplane
- Backyard skiing
- Jet boating
- Partying on a yacht
- Deep sea fishing with dad
- Go golfing on a posh golf course with a buggy
- Snowboarding in New Zealand
- The Nevis Swing
- Jumping from the AJ Hackett Bungy
- Hot springs/ spa
- Jet boating in New Zealand
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