Under normal circumstances, Auburn High School students and staff would be helping Mycah Glenn select baby names or purchase items off a registry.
Instead, they are banding together to help Glenn, who learned in December that she was pregnant and then was diagnosed a few weeks later with breast cancer.
Glenn’s colleague, Katie Henry, started a GoFundMe page to help her through the process. Glenn is in her second year at Auburn, which means she does not yet have much sick or vacation leave accumulated, and because she is starting a new family – she married 2004 Auburn grad John Glenn on Oct. 10 – Henry said she will need a lot of help.
Henry said Glenn is a popular teacher at the school and is involved with the community through blood, food and toy drives, among other service projects. For those reasons, Henry said, Auburn staff members were quick to come together and brainstorm ways to support Glenn.
“The kids just love her,” said Henry, who is teaching Glenn’s leadership class along with Justin Pritchard. “They’re bombarding us with more ideas on how to support her.”
Glenn said she first found a lump in December, but thought “it was just hormones because I was pregnant.” The 2006 Auburn grad learned that lump was cancerous Feb. 2 after her ultrasound technicians ordered a biopsy.
Her leave began March 1 – she had surgery the following day – and Glenn expects to undergo chemotherapy before she delivers her baby in August. After that, Glenn said she might have to experience more chemotherapy and then radiation treatment.
“It’s a long road, but I have a ton of support and at school,” said Glenn, who noted that she cannot lift her left arm above her shoulder now. “It’s overwhelming, in a good way.”
As of Monday, Glenn’s GoFundMe page had raised $9.280 from 141 donors. Henry said the goal is set at $20,000 because “we knew how much support she would need” after seeing other staff members battle cancer.
Glenn, whose maiden name was Birge, said the outpouring of support has surprised her.
“People that I haven’t spoke with since high school have been sharing it on their Facebook page and at their churches,” she said. “Words can’t describe how grateful we are for what Auburn High, and friends and family, are doing for us.”
