Brian Snow's Memorial Fund
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Sgt. Brian Snow’s AML Journey
Sgt. Brian Snow of the 245th Engineer Company Bristow Ok., began his battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in early September 2015. Initially he had a high fever that lasted for several days. Despite his efforts he was unable to get the fever to break. When his wife Eulalia arrived home from being out of town, she demanded Brian go to see a doctor. Brian’s doctor in Muskogee OK quickly determined that Brian was very ill. Brian was admitted to the VA Hospital in Muskogee for further testing.
On September 9th 2015, the doctor’s initial suspicions were confirmed. Brian was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Brian made his mind up at that time that he was going to fight and win this battle.
Dual plan of attack-Chemotherapy and stem cell transfusion
The plan was to treat the disease was a combination of chemotherapy to place the AML in remission, and identify a potential stem cell donor. Over the next 4 months Brian received chemotherapy treatments, while the hospital began their search for a stem cell match. The hospital started by testing Brian’s full-blooded siblings, brother Jeffrey Snow, and Susannah Johnson. It was quickly determined that Jeffrey was a match! What an answer to prayer!
The VA scheduled the stem cell transplant process for Jan 1 2016 in Nashville, TN. The plan was for Brian to arrive first to start blood work and overall heath check. Jeffrey would arrive a week later to begin the stem cell harvest process. After Jeffrey arrived, the results to Brian’s blood work were inconclusive—the doctor’s couldn’t determine if the AML was in remission. This put a halt to the procedure until the blood work came back negative. Brian was then sent home for further tests and or treatment.
On Jan 18th, Brian received the test results that the AML was in fact in remission allowing him to move forward with the transplant process. The procedure was scheduled for Feb 1. Brian arrived in Nashville to start the health check, and Jeffrey arrived soon after. Jeffrey also went through a series of tests to ensure he was healthy enough to proceed with stem cell harvest process. On Feb 21, Jeffrey received medication to help his body produce extra stem cells. On Feb 24, the stem cells were harvested from Jeffrey and then sent through a testing process. On Feb 25, Brian received the stem cell transfusion. Jeffrey and wife Elizabeth were released to return home while Brian and Eulalia remained in Nashville for another 3 months. They were released to go home on May 29th.
A new start with his brother’s help
Over the next month and a half, Brian’s health improved. At a scheduled check-up on July 18th, Brian learned his platelets were down—so the hospital ordered another bone-marrow biopsy. Brian and Eulalia were then released to fly home. Upon arrival in Tulsa, they had received a call from Nashville that the Leukemia had returned at 60 percent invasive. The VA recommended they begin immediate chemotherapy treatments.
On Aug 27, Brian was sent home to start series of maintenance chemo treatments which consisted of daily shots for 7 days and off for 21.
Breathing became difficult
Nearing mid-October, Brian began having problems breathing. On Oct 16th, he was admitted into the Muskogee VA hospital to determine the source of his breathing issues. Initial diagnosis was a potential fungal infection in his left lung, but further testing was required. On Oct 19th, Muskogee recommended that Brian be transferred to the OKC VA hospital for a higher level of care. Brian arrived in OKC on the 19th for further tests and to treat his lung condition. On Oct 23rd, Brian’s breathing declined which required him to transition from a nose fed oxygen tube to a forced oxygen mask. At this point, Brian’s family lost communication due Brian’s immobility and breathing difficulty.
On the morning of Oct 26th, wife Eulalia learned that Brian had to be intubated due to his inability to breathe on his own. Eulalia and brother Shane arrived at the hospital to visit Brian and investigate Brian’s condition and treatment. In addition to being intubated, Brian was given multiple sedation medications to allow him to be comfortable and minimize movement during this time.
Over the next 2 weeks, the doctors continued to determine the cause of Brian’s lung condition. Nothing grew from the lung biopsy, which led the team of doctors to surmise that the lung disease was Brian’s body rejecting the stem cell transplant. In light of the grim prognosis, the team of doctors continued to treat the lungs with strong antibiotics and steroids.
During this time Brian suffered an event that caused his blood pressure to drop dangerously low, and heart rate to race above 500. The doctors and nurses were able to quickly stabilize Brian’s vitals. Additional testing revealed an increase of heart enzymes, pointing to a potential heart attack. Testing also showed that he was fighting a new infection—with an unknown source.
Over the next couple of days while continuing treatment, the team of doctors met and concluded that treatment should end and palliative care take over to make Brian comfortable.
On Nov 10th, additional family members arrived to shower Brian with their love before the nursing team came in to extubate and remove the ventilator. At approximately 6:00 PM the ventilator was replaced with a forced oxygen mask and medication was given to ensure Brian was not anxious or in any pain.
Over the next 15 hours there was someone at his side holding his hand, talking, singing, and praying with him. On Veteran’s Day Nov 11th at 09:00 AM while listening to Bill Gather’s version of “An Uncloudy Day”, Brian entered Heaven to dance with his Lord and Savior.
Brian was a fighter until the end. But he knew his home truly is in heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And we rejoice that he is home now with him.
Brian and Eulalia’s saving’s was wiped out during this battle with AML. We are seeking help with funeral and burial expenses for Army National Guard Sgt. Brian Snow. Any donation you can make will be helpful and appreciated. Our goal is approximately $5,000 to pay for these expenses.
Sgt. Brian Snow of the 245th Engineer Company Bristow Ok., began his battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in early September 2015. Initially he had a high fever that lasted for several days. Despite his efforts he was unable to get the fever to break. When his wife Eulalia arrived home from being out of town, she demanded Brian go to see a doctor. Brian’s doctor in Muskogee OK quickly determined that Brian was very ill. Brian was admitted to the VA Hospital in Muskogee for further testing.
On September 9th 2015, the doctor’s initial suspicions were confirmed. Brian was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Brian made his mind up at that time that he was going to fight and win this battle.
Dual plan of attack-Chemotherapy and stem cell transfusion
The plan was to treat the disease was a combination of chemotherapy to place the AML in remission, and identify a potential stem cell donor. Over the next 4 months Brian received chemotherapy treatments, while the hospital began their search for a stem cell match. The hospital started by testing Brian’s full-blooded siblings, brother Jeffrey Snow, and Susannah Johnson. It was quickly determined that Jeffrey was a match! What an answer to prayer!
The VA scheduled the stem cell transplant process for Jan 1 2016 in Nashville, TN. The plan was for Brian to arrive first to start blood work and overall heath check. Jeffrey would arrive a week later to begin the stem cell harvest process. After Jeffrey arrived, the results to Brian’s blood work were inconclusive—the doctor’s couldn’t determine if the AML was in remission. This put a halt to the procedure until the blood work came back negative. Brian was then sent home for further tests and or treatment.
On Jan 18th, Brian received the test results that the AML was in fact in remission allowing him to move forward with the transplant process. The procedure was scheduled for Feb 1. Brian arrived in Nashville to start the health check, and Jeffrey arrived soon after. Jeffrey also went through a series of tests to ensure he was healthy enough to proceed with stem cell harvest process. On Feb 21, Jeffrey received medication to help his body produce extra stem cells. On Feb 24, the stem cells were harvested from Jeffrey and then sent through a testing process. On Feb 25, Brian received the stem cell transfusion. Jeffrey and wife Elizabeth were released to return home while Brian and Eulalia remained in Nashville for another 3 months. They were released to go home on May 29th.
A new start with his brother’s help
Over the next month and a half, Brian’s health improved. At a scheduled check-up on July 18th, Brian learned his platelets were down—so the hospital ordered another bone-marrow biopsy. Brian and Eulalia were then released to fly home. Upon arrival in Tulsa, they had received a call from Nashville that the Leukemia had returned at 60 percent invasive. The VA recommended they begin immediate chemotherapy treatments.
On Aug 27, Brian was sent home to start series of maintenance chemo treatments which consisted of daily shots for 7 days and off for 21.
Breathing became difficult
Nearing mid-October, Brian began having problems breathing. On Oct 16th, he was admitted into the Muskogee VA hospital to determine the source of his breathing issues. Initial diagnosis was a potential fungal infection in his left lung, but further testing was required. On Oct 19th, Muskogee recommended that Brian be transferred to the OKC VA hospital for a higher level of care. Brian arrived in OKC on the 19th for further tests and to treat his lung condition. On Oct 23rd, Brian’s breathing declined which required him to transition from a nose fed oxygen tube to a forced oxygen mask. At this point, Brian’s family lost communication due Brian’s immobility and breathing difficulty.
On the morning of Oct 26th, wife Eulalia learned that Brian had to be intubated due to his inability to breathe on his own. Eulalia and brother Shane arrived at the hospital to visit Brian and investigate Brian’s condition and treatment. In addition to being intubated, Brian was given multiple sedation medications to allow him to be comfortable and minimize movement during this time.
Over the next 2 weeks, the doctors continued to determine the cause of Brian’s lung condition. Nothing grew from the lung biopsy, which led the team of doctors to surmise that the lung disease was Brian’s body rejecting the stem cell transplant. In light of the grim prognosis, the team of doctors continued to treat the lungs with strong antibiotics and steroids.
During this time Brian suffered an event that caused his blood pressure to drop dangerously low, and heart rate to race above 500. The doctors and nurses were able to quickly stabilize Brian’s vitals. Additional testing revealed an increase of heart enzymes, pointing to a potential heart attack. Testing also showed that he was fighting a new infection—with an unknown source.
Over the next couple of days while continuing treatment, the team of doctors met and concluded that treatment should end and palliative care take over to make Brian comfortable.
On Nov 10th, additional family members arrived to shower Brian with their love before the nursing team came in to extubate and remove the ventilator. At approximately 6:00 PM the ventilator was replaced with a forced oxygen mask and medication was given to ensure Brian was not anxious or in any pain.
Over the next 15 hours there was someone at his side holding his hand, talking, singing, and praying with him. On Veteran’s Day Nov 11th at 09:00 AM while listening to Bill Gather’s version of “An Uncloudy Day”, Brian entered Heaven to dance with his Lord and Savior.
Brian was a fighter until the end. But he knew his home truly is in heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And we rejoice that he is home now with him.
Brian and Eulalia’s saving’s was wiped out during this battle with AML. We are seeking help with funeral and burial expenses for Army National Guard Sgt. Brian Snow. Any donation you can make will be helpful and appreciated. Our goal is approximately $5,000 to pay for these expenses.
Organizer and beneficiary
Shane Barnes
Organizer
Owasso, OK
Eulalia Snow
Beneficiary