Glenn Hill Finds Strength and Purpose in the Face of Chronic Illness
After a lifetime of service in law enforcement, technology, and industrial security, Glenn Hill’s retirement was abruptly interrupted by a serious illness. What began as overwhelming fatigue and a troubling eye irritation, quickly escalated into a diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, formerly Wegener’s).
GPA is a form of vasculitis that can restrict blood flow and damage vital organs and tissues. It typically affects the sinuses, lungs, and kidneys but can involve any organ. GPA can worsen rapidly, so early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent organ damage or failure.
In December of 2022, Glenn, 70, experienced severe fatigue. He couldn’t walk 10 feet without having shortness of breath. In January 2023, while drilling a hole for an electrical wire, a piece of debris fell into his right eye.
“While I removed the debris, the resulting irritation would not heal,” Glenn said. “Pain, swelling, and redness worsened. I had nasal symptoms that included blockage, bleeding and the passage of blood clots occurred.”
A trip to the emergency room at Massachusetts General along with an MRI, revealed a disease process in the right eye orbit. Biopsy of the right eye orbit tissue confirmed GPA.
Like many patients, Glenn had never heard of vasculitis and his diagnosis brought with it a wave of fear and uncertainty. While he spent three days on a gurney in a hallway at Mass General, a research doctor approached him and suggested he consider attending the Vasculitis Foundation (VF) Boston Conference scheduled for three weeks later.
“Before the doctor made his suggestion, I had concluded a diagnosis of GPA was life-limiting with a guaranteed poor outcome, whereby the last thing I would want to do is to be with other sick patients.”
Glenn discovered nothing could be further from the truth. Attending the conference proved to be a pivotal moment.
“It inspired me to shed fear, look beyond the diagnosis and to become an advocate not only for myself, but also for other patients living with vasculitis,” he said. “Now, with my GPA in remission, and with full fidelity to medical advice, I look forward to vasculitis staying in the rearview mirror.”
Glenn lives with his husband, John. The pair have been together for 38 years and were married in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 2003. They currently live in Norfolk, Massachusetts.
Although he has a tumor on his spine that has caused severe neurological impairment, making it difficult and painful to undertake the activities of daily life, his outlook remains remarkably positive. Glenn’s journey underscores the importance of knowledge, community, and the power of maintaining a positive perspective when facing chronic illness.
Glenn offers valuable advice to others living with vasculitis.
“Face vasculitis with courage, determination, and hope. With advances in medical science, the outlook for vasculitis patients has never been better, and is improving all the time.”
He stresses the importance of active participation in care, building partnerships with physicians, and prioritizing self-care. 
“Patients who actively participate in their care, and who are also well-informed about their vasculitis, are better positioned for the long-haul journey that is vasculitis,” he added. “Since vasculitis is often a relapsing illness, be realistic with expectations, and if relapse occurs, it’s not an automatic catastrophe, but rather, just the nature of vasculitis.”
The main challenge for Glenn is careful medical monitoring, including infection prevention and regular lab tests to detect any evidence of active disease. He now navigates a complex network of medical specialists, including rheumatology, ENT, and ophthalmology, requiring regular check-ups and vigilance. A secondary challenge is to stay well-informed and up to date on advances in medical practice that can lead to better outcomes.
Glenn lives by two mantras: “Now more than ever, we are truly living with vasculitis,” and “Vasculitis is like a smashed bug on the windshield of life,” he noted. “Yes, it’s annoying, but I can still see where I’m going.” These quotes reflect his determination to live a full life despite his diagnosis.
