Support Glenny's Fight Against Encephalitis

Glenny Montanari is the definition of sunshine in person form; she always has a smile on her face. As a lifelong resident of Ridgefield, if you don’t know her personally, you’ve likely seen her behind her desk in the office at Scott’s Ridge Middle School or selling tickets for a game at Ridgefield High School. Nothing brings her more joy than being with her family, especially her four grandchildren, Caroline, Cayden, Charlie, and Kaia. Being their GaGa is her favorite job. She is incredibly independent and strong-willed and the first to offer a helping hand. She is the type of person where you feel like you’ve instantly made a friend when you meet her.

On April 28th, what started out as a trip to the ER for weakness in her left leg and severe leg cramps quickly turned into a situation nobody could have imagined. What was originally thought to have been a mild stroke was followed by fevers, the inability to use either leg, and confusion.

On Friday, May 2nd at 5 pm, her condition declined significantly and very rapidly after a lumbar puncture, and she was rushed to the ICU to be intubated and placed on a ventilator, where she remains currently. While in the ICU, results came back that Glenny did not have a stroke and is battling viral encephalitis caused by HSV1, which is a life-threatening condition that causes swelling in the brain. The cause of her encephalitis is treatable with antivirals, but she has faced many setbacks. She has developed pneumonia and a collapsed lung requiring two chest tubes. On Mother’s Day, she became septic and her kidneys began to fail, resulting in her needing continuous dialysis. While we are all hoping she will be able to be woken up soon and the doctors are hopeful to try and wake her in the next week or so, it is still unknown what Glenny’s cognitive function will look like when she wakes up and long term. This will be a long road to recovery, and long-term care may be needed.

Unfortunately, Glenny did not have a power of attorney in place, so Kelsey and Courtney are unable to access her banking information to keep on top of the day-to-day bills that come in for Glenny, not to mention the mounting hospital bills that will come and aftercare facilities.

Kelsey and Courtney continue to be in the hospital with her daily, sitting at her bedside, working remotely while their children are in school, and their spouses Ryan and Inqi manage all the in-between. Glenny’s “village” is overwhelming, and they have been cheering her on for recovery. She also has her prayer chain that has formed not just locally but in several different states. She is a huge believer in the Power of Prayer.

The outreach from friends and family has been overwhelming and is a true testament to the impact she has made in people's lives. Kelsey and Courtney can’t possibly put into words how much this has meant during such an unimaginable time.

Positivity wins, and Glenny, aka Mom, their Queen Bee, is fighting the good fight.

Any donations that are not needed and still remain will be donated to The Mary Ellen and Samuel Klein, MD Critical Care Unit at Danbury Hospital. We thank you all for your continued support and ask that you keep our mother in your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.