Glenn Garner is one of life’s true gems.
Deeply dedicated to his faith, Garner is a devoted husband to an amazing wife, Peggy, a doting father, and friend to many. Ever-the-optimist he possesses an upbeat grasp of the ups and downs and ins and outs of life presents, attacking every challenge with a contagious spirit and eternal faith.
He is simply a battler, a smiling, each day-is-a-blessing fighter in every sense of the word.
Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Scott McManus, PT, DPT, and Kyle Deets, PTA, have lived and shared Garner’s grit, his ferocity and determination. As much as Garner respects, admires, and appreciates the two therapists for their knowledge, compassion, and skill, they are equally impressed with all that is the 78-year-old Garner.
Together, the trio has been nothing short of phenomenal. Less than a year ago, Garner was told he would never leave a wheelchair or at best, get about via a walker for the rest of his days. Today, he walks using a cane – for balance – but has the wherewithal to move about cane free.
“It’s a blessing when you have someone who was – when they came in – ready, willing and motivated to do whatever was needed to get better that day,’’ McManus said of Garner. “That’s Glenn. For someone that had so much happen in a year, there is so much positivity when it comes to Glenn. You just don’t see that all the time. And the reason he is where he is because of his drive and his optimism. He is the most positive person I have ever met, not even close. Glenn had every reason in the world not to be that way, but that’s not him. He makes you a better person.’’
In the summer of 2025, Garner dealt with leg pain so severe he said he felt his legs were on fire. Previous diagnostics signaled neuropathy. An MRI of his spine also came up inconclusive.
A veteran, Garner made an appointment with the Davenport, Iowa-based VA clinic, hanging his hopes on one more look to see what the issue was with his legs.
An X-ray produced an answer, albeit a scary, life-changing answer. It revealed Garner had cancer in the bones of both legs, leaving them so brittle his next steps could produce devastating breaks. His left knee was so damaged that it needed replacing immediately.
“I was on my way to Iowa City for surgery immediately (after the appointment), told that walking on those bones would be dangerous,’’ said Garner, the longtime owner-operator of East Moline, Il. -based Quad City Sharpening. “So brittle they could break. They did a left knee replacement on Friday and on Monday they repaired my right leg.’’
Garner says rods were inserted to fix the tibia in both legs, while a bevy of plates of screws were inserted for lower leg stability.
“The doctor who did the surgery – who I am grateful for – told Peggy he did a number on me,’’ Garner joked. “He did great. I’m just fortunate everything was caught in time.’’
After a three-week hospital stay in Iowa City, a two-week rehabilitation center stop and a heart issue that cost him three days in ICU, Garner – in late September 2025 – found himself at Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Avenue of the Cities clinic.
There he fell under the watchful eyes of the gifted and compassionate McManus and Deets, whose optimistic, dedicated, patient-first personalities played perfectly with Garner’s determination and desire to get better.
“A friend from church – who is in the (physical therapy) business – recommended Rock Valley Physical Therapy,’’ said Garner, offering tremendous praise for McManus and Deets, and the impact they had on bettering his life. “I knew right away I was in the right place. Scott was amazing and Kyle, when he stepped in when Scott was out, did a great job. I’m so fortunate I had them.’’
After a thorough evaluation, McManus, knowing Garner was motivated and determined, said the first order of business was to get him out of the wheelchair.
“It’s wonderful when you get someone who when they come in doesn’t question what you are doing because they are so motivated to get better,’’ McManus said. “Glenn’s biggest thing was getting out of the wheelchair, and we got out of the wheelchair. We walked a lap around (the clinic) with his walker and you could see we could do more. Anything from there was good/gravy.’’
Using a bevy of strengthening exercises, McManus, Deets and Garner made tremendous strides together. Proof was Garner’s sit-to-stand work, his walking with a walker, with a cane and then about the Rock Valley clinic cane free. In the preliminary stages of rehab, it was a chore – and accomplished only when he used his hands to rise – for Garner to stand from a seated position. He accomplished four such reps on his first day of therapy. A solid start, mind you, but there would be a dramatic improvement in the nearly three months he was under the care of McManus and Deets.
By the time Garner was discharged from care, in 30 seconds he was able to do 10 sit-to-stands without the use of his hands. His first walk, 10 feet around a cone and back, took 23 seconds using a walker. Upon discharge, with the use of a cane, that same down-and-back walk took just 11 seconds. Today, Garner can also master the steps leading into his home, get in and out of his van, and navigate the shopping chores at places like Costco and Sam’s Club.
Amazing…On so many fronts.
“What I saw was Glenn’s confidence growing with each visit,’’ McManus said. “At first it was a bit of a struggle, but as we progressed things got progressively easier. With great strides in PT comes confidence.’’
Deets echoed those sentiments, noting where Garner had been, and where he finished.
“Someone coming in in a wheelchair, there can be a preconception of a long way to go,’’ Deets said. “And that was the case with all that Glenn had been through, but that changed in a hurry because of his attitude and desire.”
“As therapists, we can only start from square one,’’ Deets added. “We can get those muscles moving with exercises in this case – using the walker first and moving to a cane after. Anything we can do to get those muscles working we were going to do. And Glenn was willing to do all that we asked of him. He was great to be around and to work with.’’
While lauding McManus and Deets, the Garners noted that deep faith played a positive role in Glenn’s recovery, adding that friends and worship mates from Pathway Church QCA, have been vital in his recovery.
“From visits, to food, prayer, to stopping by to make sure any chores around the house could be done,’’ Peggy Garner said of the amazing fellowship provided by everyone involved at The Pathway. “God has been there through this. Scott and Kyle have been amazing. They are proof that there are reasons certain people have been placed in Glenn’s life with this challenge. We also believe that God has played a vital role in Glenn’s recovery.’’
When you are active for the better part of seven decades and through no fault of yours, things change drastically – not for the better – it can weigh heavily on anyone. Glenn Garner says his relationship with Rock Valley Physical Therapy has been life changing.
“Little by little, Scott saw I was gaining confidence,’’ he said. “That’s when I graduated from the walker to the cane. I never thought that day would come before I got to Rock Valley. I had to go through a pain management situation recently and I walked – without a cane – across the room. The nurse there called it a miracle. They thought that would never happen.”
“Scott and Kyle were also safety conscious with me, using a belt to hold onto while walking behind. They knew when I needed a rest and some water. They had a great feeling for pushing me and when not to. That’s special, not too many people can do that. This has really been a success story.’’
Yes, it has. On all fronts.
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller