On Monday, April 13, my husband Joe Snyder (Big Country) and I woke up never expecting our lives to be forever changed. Joe had been having major headaches, similar to migraines, for over a week, along with some dizziness. On Wednesday, April 8, I took him to the ER to get checked out. The doctor ran bloodwork and a chest scan to rule out a heart attack. His bloodwork showed high blood sugar, and we were told he was diabetic. We were sent home with a prescription and told to follow up with a doctor.

Days later, the headaches and dizziness got worse. On Monday, April 13, I took him back to the hospital. This time, the doctor took his head pain seriously and ordered a CAT scan, which the first doctor had not done. The news came back fast and unexpected. The doctor and nurse walked in, and I could see the reaction on their faces. They told us the CAT scan showed fluid on his brain and numerous masses. Joe was immediately transported to the University of Penn. There, he underwent numerous PET scans on his entire body and head. By Tuesday, we had verification that he had masses on his brain, one of which was blocking a vent that drains excess brain fluid, causing swelling and pain. They also found two masses on his adrenal glands.

On Friday, Joe had emergency brain surgery to add a shunt to drain the fluid. True to his sense of humor, he even asked the doctor to fix his hernia while they were at it—and they did. On Monday, they biopsied his adrenal gland to see where the cancer started. The results arrived yesterday: it stemmed from skin cancer and has spread.

We are now facing a long road ahead, with Joe out of work for an unknown amount of time. Funds raised will help us cover medical bills and living expenses while we focus on his recovery. Any support—whether through donations or sharing our story—would mean the world to us as we navigate this difficult time.