Help Carlos Snow; Penalties to Progress
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRWbJ11qxOU&t=127s (Video to watch Dispatch Interview 1-27-2019)
Carlos Snow went from first team All American running back at The Ohio State University to homeless. He suffers from chronic pain from multiple surgeries, alcohol dependency (Feb 24, 2017 sober date), major depression, and has been rejected by family and friends. He has been living in shelters or his car.
This fund is set up to help support Carlos Snow find permanent housing. Our goal is to raise $15,000 to help him pay for his daily living needs, food and shelter.
Thank you in advance for your support.
His Story as told by Carlos
“Played Until I Couldn’t Walk No More”
I started playing football at age 7 in the mid-70’s. It was easy to make that choice because all my friends were playing but not knowing what it was going to do to my body. The first time I really got hurt I was 11 playing football with the older guys in our neighborhood. They all wanted me to play because I was fast. Later in life I started to take this game called football seriously. I played through high school in the mid-80’s at the Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education (C.A.P.E.) in Ohio. We won two state championships: the Division IV in 1985 and Division III in 1986. That year, I also won the 100-meter dash with 10.6 seconds and anchored C.A.P.E.’s 400-meter relay resulting in a state title. Life was good.
Fast forward to college. I attended The Ohio State University where I battled injuries that led to several knee surgeries, two or three each season. Despite all of these obstacles I was named First Team All-American in 1989. I “red shirted” my junior season in 1990 when I had to replace my right hip and remove a benign tumor from my femur.
My ship was my “mind and body.” I thought they would withstand any storm that would come my way. I loved football and gave it my all every day, especially on Saturdays when my friends and family were rooting me on. Hearing my name screamed felt good.
My ship began hitting a series of reefs two which almost destroyed me when I was playing football. All the blows I took and delivered caused me to have surgery after surgery. I was in a lot of pain. In order to mask my emotional and physical pain I was introduced to prescription pain killers. When that was not enough, I added alcohol. It seemed to be helping, so I continued to use it for my crutch.
My ship was still sailing and I was still partying. I needed more drugs and alcohol after three back surgeries and more knee surgeries and then two total knee replacements. I was not done. A hip replacement, repair of my right femur for a benign tumor, and two carpal tunnel surgeries on my hand to rid me of the numbness and pain soon followed.
The party must still go on. I self-medicated with drugs and alcohol. I needed to work and be sharp. By this time my ship hit rock bottom. It felt different this time, more like I was struck by a giant iceberg. I was drowning in failed jobs and loss of friends, family and prestige. I believed I had no sense of purpose here on earth, no one to turn to, and nowhere safe to go. I lost my passion for life. I was severely depressed but did not recognize it. I lost my jobs, my health, my house, so-called friends, my girlfriend...and could barely walk.
I am homeless and living in shelters and my car. I lost my mother who was my best friend and tried to keep our family together and dad and am estranged from my family. The only thing that keeps me hanging on is my Creator and friends who have stood by me. Today with the help of the Lord, I have stopped drinking and do not use drugs. I have joined AA. Feb 24, 2017, is my sobriety date. The Go Fund Me page is a group effort to find stable housing for Carlos.
“My life began as all life does. We are born into this world to be champions, winners. We were destined to do great things, being kind to one another and being a light for people living in darkness. In my family, with God at the head of everything I learned when everything else fails God will keep me safe.”
Carlos Snow went from first team All American running back at The Ohio State University to homeless. He suffers from chronic pain from multiple surgeries, alcohol dependency (Feb 24, 2017 sober date), major depression, and has been rejected by family and friends. He has been living in shelters or his car.
This fund is set up to help support Carlos Snow find permanent housing. Our goal is to raise $15,000 to help him pay for his daily living needs, food and shelter.
Thank you in advance for your support.
His Story as told by Carlos
“Played Until I Couldn’t Walk No More”
I started playing football at age 7 in the mid-70’s. It was easy to make that choice because all my friends were playing but not knowing what it was going to do to my body. The first time I really got hurt I was 11 playing football with the older guys in our neighborhood. They all wanted me to play because I was fast. Later in life I started to take this game called football seriously. I played through high school in the mid-80’s at the Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education (C.A.P.E.) in Ohio. We won two state championships: the Division IV in 1985 and Division III in 1986. That year, I also won the 100-meter dash with 10.6 seconds and anchored C.A.P.E.’s 400-meter relay resulting in a state title. Life was good.
Fast forward to college. I attended The Ohio State University where I battled injuries that led to several knee surgeries, two or three each season. Despite all of these obstacles I was named First Team All-American in 1989. I “red shirted” my junior season in 1990 when I had to replace my right hip and remove a benign tumor from my femur.
My ship was my “mind and body.” I thought they would withstand any storm that would come my way. I loved football and gave it my all every day, especially on Saturdays when my friends and family were rooting me on. Hearing my name screamed felt good.
My ship began hitting a series of reefs two which almost destroyed me when I was playing football. All the blows I took and delivered caused me to have surgery after surgery. I was in a lot of pain. In order to mask my emotional and physical pain I was introduced to prescription pain killers. When that was not enough, I added alcohol. It seemed to be helping, so I continued to use it for my crutch.
My ship was still sailing and I was still partying. I needed more drugs and alcohol after three back surgeries and more knee surgeries and then two total knee replacements. I was not done. A hip replacement, repair of my right femur for a benign tumor, and two carpal tunnel surgeries on my hand to rid me of the numbness and pain soon followed.
The party must still go on. I self-medicated with drugs and alcohol. I needed to work and be sharp. By this time my ship hit rock bottom. It felt different this time, more like I was struck by a giant iceberg. I was drowning in failed jobs and loss of friends, family and prestige. I believed I had no sense of purpose here on earth, no one to turn to, and nowhere safe to go. I lost my passion for life. I was severely depressed but did not recognize it. I lost my jobs, my health, my house, so-called friends, my girlfriend...and could barely walk.
I am homeless and living in shelters and my car. I lost my mother who was my best friend and tried to keep our family together and dad and am estranged from my family. The only thing that keeps me hanging on is my Creator and friends who have stood by me. Today with the help of the Lord, I have stopped drinking and do not use drugs. I have joined AA. Feb 24, 2017, is my sobriety date. The Go Fund Me page is a group effort to find stable housing for Carlos.
“My life began as all life does. We are born into this world to be champions, winners. We were destined to do great things, being kind to one another and being a light for people living in darkness. In my family, with God at the head of everything I learned when everything else fails God will keep me safe.”
Organizer
Bernard Master
Organizer
Columbus, OH
