“I had some real problems breathing, I just couldn’t control it,” said former Deputy Chief Glen Olson. “I called 911 and took a red light ambulance run down to University. We got there and somebody came out and said we don’t have a bed, you’ll have to find another hospital.”
They did find a bed and Olson was immediately admitted. He had worked with the Centennial Fire District for 30 years before retiring a few years ago. He was still keeping busy training firefighters with the Anoka County Fire Training Academy when COVID put him in the hospital in mid November. Doctors put him in a medically induced coma for two months.
“There was a couple of times it sounded like I wasn’t going to make it,” said Olson. “My daughter got a phone call from the hospital, ‘we need to know what to do, because he’s going to flatline at any moment now.'”
But things got better and now Olson is taking his first steps without the help of a walker. He says every day is a little bit better.
“I’m weak, I’m working on trying to get the muscles going again. When I was coming around, the legs didn’t do what I wanted them to do. So I kind of had to learn how to walk again. I was able to stand for 5 seconds which was a great accomplishment, apparently,” Olson said.
The welcome home is one he won’t soon forget. Centennial Chief Jerry Streich narrated the arrival from the hospital on a cell phone.
“A bit of inspiration a bit of hope and success,” said Streich. “In public safety fashion, we’re going to give him a nice surprise home.”
Park in front of Olson’s home was a long line of fire trucks and police cars from all over the area. Olson had worked with many of the firefighters and even trained a few of them. They all turned out to welcome him back from the fight of his life.
“We rounded the corner and I see police cars, then I see fire trucks from one corner all the way down to the other corner. It was like tears down my cheek,” said Olson. “It was just amazing.”
Olson credits support from friends and colleagues, prayer, and the skill of the medical community for getting him through this.
“Welcome home chief. We’re so happy you’re home,” said Chief Streich.
Olson says he expected to see a fire truck or two waiting to greet him at home. But the sight of several departments and police winding all the way down the street was a moving gesture he won’t forget.
