On Saturday, July 1st, 2023 The Snowden family lost the patriarch of their family, a loving husband, father, and Grandfather, Michael Snowden. He was just 73 years old. He was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Leukemia on April 17th and, started his chemotherapy May 1st. Little did we know that only 60 days later we would say goodbye to him here on Earth and he would join the angels above in heaven.
In the wake of this sudden and tragic loss, friends of the family are helping to coordinate this fundraiser to assist Michael’s wife of 51 years cover funeral expenses, open medical bills, etc… It’s hard enough losing a loved one, we kindly ask for you to share whatever you can to help The Snowden Family during this very difficult time.
About Michael, written by his two sons…
Our dad was a simple man, a man of few words, but of many actions. He was the type of person that was not hard to like. Growing up, he was faced with many challenges that would build the character of a man that would do anything for his wife and kids. And later in life, this would grow as his family grew to include a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
Things didn’t come easy to him. He would fight hard to earn what he had, all while doing it with a smile and no complaints. His best friend in life was our mom, and they did everything together. This past June 15th, they celebrated 51 years of marriage together, after knowing each other since they were 16 years old, high school sweethearts. Their love was and still is unbreakable, even during the most challenging of times. Their iconic tenure of marriage leaves a benchmark that is considered an anomaly these days.
Our dad appreciated all the little things, he didn’t need the luxuries of life. He enjoyed watching sports, going to dinner, playing golf, going on cruises, investing in the stock market and spending time with his family and grandkids. His two grandchildren meant the world to him. Gianna loved hugs with grandpa and Nick loved to practice golf with him. A huge void has been left for them, but we know those two kids gained an angel to watch over them for the rest of their lives.
There will be no way to replace what we lost. His kindness was contagious, his smile eye-catching, and his love enduring.
**UPDATE**
On Memorial Day 2023, I was admitted to the hospital for a bacterial infection. I will remain in the hospital until the doctors feel I am healthy enough to go home. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. And I hope you will consider helping me in this fight by donating to my GoFundMe.**
Hello friends, my name is Mike Snowden. I am a military veteran that served in the US Navy for four years and one year in Vietnam from 1969 -1970.
I’m a 73-year-old father of two sons, Gregg and Ryan. I have two amazing grandchildren, Nicholas and Gianna and daughter-in-law, Lisa.
I have been married to my beautiful wife Randi for over 50 years. In June of this year, we will celebrate our 51st wedding anniversary.
My road of life hasn’t always been a smooth ride, but I have found ways to overcome.
I lost my parents at the young age of 14.
After graduating high school, I worked a variety of jobs just to get by. During that time, if you were not enrolled in college, you were considered by the United States government to be available to enter the draft. Since I did not have the means to go to college, I would be drafted into the military to fight the war in Vietnam.
I was not thrilled with the idea of going to Vietnam, so I joined the Navy. Little did I know, I would still ultimately be sent to Vietnam and stationed on River Boats patrolling the highly dangerous rivers of a country in turmoil. (If you have ever seen the movie Apocalypse Now, by Francis Ford Coppola, it was a very good depiction of what the Navy riverboat experience was like- not for the faint of heart)
Thankfully, I made it back alive. As a young man, being shipped off to a war that was highly unpopular with your own country, it was an experience that was mixed with extreme emotional challenges, not only abroad, but upon returning home. I counted down the days and passed the time by writing letters to Randi, who I would come home to and shortly thereafter make my wife.
A few months ago, I developed an infection that took multiple doctor visits to finally diagnose. I was very fatigued most days and my lifestyle became simply trying to get through the day. After my primary care physician reviewed some of my blood work, he surmised I might have a problem with my levels of healthy blood cells. He suggested we do some additional tests. I was given a bone marrow biopsy and the results came back that I have Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Upon my diagnosis, I thought back to my days in Vietnam and the many other vets I served with, and the diagnosis of many diseases linked to Agent Orange. For those of you that are not familiar with Agent Orange (AR), it is a mixture of herbicides that U.S. military forces sprayed in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971 during the Vietnam War for the dual purpose of defoliating forest areas that might conceal Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces and destroying crops that might feed the enemy. The orange name comes from the color-coded bands painted around the storage drums holding the herbicides.
Agent Orange was used on those same rivers I was patrolling. And of course, I wondered, could this all be related. After researching online, I found that there is a link to many diseases and cancers, caused by these herbicides used during the time I was stationed in Vietnam.
After spending some time looking into this, I applied for disability compensation from the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As it states on their website, “if you have a health condition caused by exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange during your service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Compensation provides tax-free monthly payments.” My hope was that my cancer would be covered and it would help in paying the many medical bills I have related to my treatment.
On May 25th, 2023 my claim was denied. The VA denial claimed that the Leukemia I currently have, although life threatening, is not one of the leukemias that they consider was caused by Agent Orange. Here is a quote from their denial letter “Mike did not complain of any problems while on duty in Vietnam”. Well, neither did the other 300,000 vets who have since died from AO.
I plan on appealing the decision which will take many months with no reversal guaranteed. We may even need to secure a VA benefits attorney to represent us should the case be heard before the Board of Veteran’s Appeals. The VA doctor that reviewed my medical history could not believe the claim was denied. He has reviewed over 2,000 claims, and this is the first one he has seen denied. The doctor is hired by the VA, he is independent in his analysis and was shocked by the denial.
Both my wife and I are retired and live on Social Security. I had a small part-time job at a local country club that I am unable to return to and not sure if I will be able to in the future. Although Randi and I are covered by Medicare, I will still be responsible for a large portion of the current and future medical bills related to my treatment and therapy.
My treatments consist of weekly bloodwork, blood infusions, hydration, and chemotherapy. My days are long, and I often struggle to simply drink a glass of water or walk to the kitchen, with my energy levels at all-time lows. Acute Myeloid Leukemia does not have a history of going away, but it can go into remission.
I have been told this a long road ahead to recovering, but like my past, often met with challenge, I will fight and I will beat this disease.
The anxiety alone around not having money to pay for continued treatment is enough to make a person feel bad. The chemotherapy treatments could eclipse $40,000 a year.
Any donations big or small will be very much appreciated.
I hope that you can stand by me and support me in this fight.
I will be on my knees every night praying and asking God for the strength and courage to fight this awful disease.
God bless and thank you for your consideration,
Mike
*If my VA disability claim is approved via appeal, a donation will be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - the largest non-profit for blood cancer research.
