Eric Snyder
Donation protected
This GoFundMe is for the benefit for Eric Snyder. He is in for the fight of his life with fungal meningitis. Eric was twice sent home from the hospital after twice being misdiagnosed. Fungal meningitis is very rare in healthy people, and it's 100% fatal if not treated quickly. He's currently at LGH in Lancaster, PA and has a team of neurologists and infectious disease Dr's working to get him on the road to recovery. This is not a short road...he's been in the hospital for 13 days and not expected to be released within the next week. Once released he will require rehab, oral meds and an IV transfusion every month for at least a year. Even though Eric has youth and health on his side, it's impossible to gauge when he will be able to return to work and life as he knew it. All the money this GFM raises will be for medical and living expenses so that Eric can concentrate on getting well.
The following updates are from his mom, Laurie MacAllister. Laurie has been by Eric's side for the last 13 days and been the biggest and best advocate you could ever want. She's a force to be reckoned with and I think the hospital staff has grown to love her as much as we do.
Dec 5:
Morning:
So since the “cats out of the bag” per say, here’s an update.
Eric received another spinal tap yesterday to remove more fluid from his brain. When I got to the hospital at 10 he was sleeping but by the time 11:00 rolled around the pressure was so intense that I immediately started a crusade to get that taken care of.
Neurology came up and he was taken down stairs for his procedure.
His fluid was at 60~25 is normal.
Once he woke he was feeling hungry and I ran the hospital getting him ANYTHING he wanted to eat because I knew we had a small window before it wouldn’t be good again.
They don’t like to do a lot of spinals because they worry about infection at the tap sight.
Infectious disease came later and said there will probably be more until they can get this meningitis under some control.
Last night they put a PICC line in because his veins are collapsing in his arms because of the constant round the clock IV’s he’s being given.
It took 2 hours to put in the PICC.
His kidneys are having some trouble now because of the high doses of medication so now he receives a flush before medication and after to “push” it through his kidneys.
He’s still dealing with limited eyesight, hearing and motor skills.
We were able to have small conversations yesterday which was wonderful and at this point I’ll take anything I can get.
Dec 6th:
Yesterday was a rough day.....
Eric’s brain is still really inflamed.
LGH suggested moving Eric to Philadelphia. After a lengthy phone call by his primary doctor Philly stated that unfortunately they have no beds because of COVID. The neurology team there assured LGH that they’re doing everything that Penn in Philadelphia would be doing. There suggestions for Eric were as follows.
1) A drain in his head
2) A drain in his spine
3) Daily spinal taps
They suggested starting with #3 because of the 3 it’s the less invasive.
He went for another tap yesterday which helped with the build up and pressure. If these don’t work LGH will have to resort to 1 and 2 which will require him to be in the ICU.
They did another CT scan just to check and recheck everything.
Today he will be moved from the 6th floor to the 4th. It’s more of a neuro floor where he’ll receive more around the clock monitoring for his tap sight.
They worry about infection at the sight.
They tried to give him IV fluids because he’s only eating after a tap but it’s not enough. Unfortunately the hydration fluids built up fluid in his head and they needed to stop the treatment immediately.
His eyesight, hearing and confusion is continuing because of the swelling of the brain from the infection.
I’ll continue to give him all my strength to fight.
Thank you to everyone for praying and well, just being with us.
Peace & Love
A mom.
Dec 8th:
Day 12
My boy walked yesterday!
First time on his feet in 11 days.....
He was shaky but determined to stand on his own two feet.
His pain from the infection and swelling has gone from an 11 to an 8 to a 5 and now a 2. That’s a good sign that the swelling has gone down and the anti fungal medication has finally broken the barrier and reached the brain.
They will be scheduling another spinal tap to see how much swelling and virus still remains in the spine and brain.
His speech is stilled slurred, eyesight still affected but his hearing is a little better. Still can’t eat because the medication makes him feel sick but he’s drinking Ensure just to get some protein in.
He knows he has a long way to go but is now determined to get back to where he was.
I will continue to be with him every day 10 hours a day to make sure he’s taken care of. I’m sure when he makes it to rehab the staff will throw a party knowing (I’m) gone!
Thank you for all your prayers and good thoughts across the miles.
Peace & Love
A mom.
The following updates are from his mom, Laurie MacAllister. Laurie has been by Eric's side for the last 13 days and been the biggest and best advocate you could ever want. She's a force to be reckoned with and I think the hospital staff has grown to love her as much as we do.
Dec 5:
Morning:
So since the “cats out of the bag” per say, here’s an update.
Eric received another spinal tap yesterday to remove more fluid from his brain. When I got to the hospital at 10 he was sleeping but by the time 11:00 rolled around the pressure was so intense that I immediately started a crusade to get that taken care of.
Neurology came up and he was taken down stairs for his procedure.
His fluid was at 60~25 is normal.
Once he woke he was feeling hungry and I ran the hospital getting him ANYTHING he wanted to eat because I knew we had a small window before it wouldn’t be good again.
They don’t like to do a lot of spinals because they worry about infection at the tap sight.
Infectious disease came later and said there will probably be more until they can get this meningitis under some control.
Last night they put a PICC line in because his veins are collapsing in his arms because of the constant round the clock IV’s he’s being given.
It took 2 hours to put in the PICC.
His kidneys are having some trouble now because of the high doses of medication so now he receives a flush before medication and after to “push” it through his kidneys.
He’s still dealing with limited eyesight, hearing and motor skills.
We were able to have small conversations yesterday which was wonderful and at this point I’ll take anything I can get.
Dec 6th:
Yesterday was a rough day.....
Eric’s brain is still really inflamed.
LGH suggested moving Eric to Philadelphia. After a lengthy phone call by his primary doctor Philly stated that unfortunately they have no beds because of COVID. The neurology team there assured LGH that they’re doing everything that Penn in Philadelphia would be doing. There suggestions for Eric were as follows.
1) A drain in his head
2) A drain in his spine
3) Daily spinal taps
They suggested starting with #3 because of the 3 it’s the less invasive.
He went for another tap yesterday which helped with the build up and pressure. If these don’t work LGH will have to resort to 1 and 2 which will require him to be in the ICU.
They did another CT scan just to check and recheck everything.
Today he will be moved from the 6th floor to the 4th. It’s more of a neuro floor where he’ll receive more around the clock monitoring for his tap sight.
They worry about infection at the sight.
They tried to give him IV fluids because he’s only eating after a tap but it’s not enough. Unfortunately the hydration fluids built up fluid in his head and they needed to stop the treatment immediately.
His eyesight, hearing and confusion is continuing because of the swelling of the brain from the infection.
I’ll continue to give him all my strength to fight.
Thank you to everyone for praying and well, just being with us.
Peace & Love
A mom.
Dec 8th:
Day 12
My boy walked yesterday!
First time on his feet in 11 days.....
He was shaky but determined to stand on his own two feet.
His pain from the infection and swelling has gone from an 11 to an 8 to a 5 and now a 2. That’s a good sign that the swelling has gone down and the anti fungal medication has finally broken the barrier and reached the brain.
They will be scheduling another spinal tap to see how much swelling and virus still remains in the spine and brain.
His speech is stilled slurred, eyesight still affected but his hearing is a little better. Still can’t eat because the medication makes him feel sick but he’s drinking Ensure just to get some protein in.
He knows he has a long way to go but is now determined to get back to where he was.
I will continue to be with him every day 10 hours a day to make sure he’s taken care of. I’m sure when he makes it to rehab the staff will throw a party knowing (I’m) gone!
Thank you for all your prayers and good thoughts across the miles.
Peace & Love
A mom.
Organizer and beneficiary
Nicole Swallen
Organizer
Port Chester, NY
Eric Dubz Snyder
Beneficiary