Calgary Flames Assistant General Manager And Family Throw Out First Pitch At Fenway Park in Honor of Fight Against ALS

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Michael Fleetwood

Sportsnet via NESN

There are many times in the world of sports where individual people can transcend the game to become an example for others, an inspiration in personal struggles. On Thursday, Calgary Flames Assistant General Manager Chris Snow became one such individual when he threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, on “Lou Gehrig Day” throughout the league.

Lou Gehrig, a legendary player for the New York Yankees whose struggles with Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (simply known today as Lou Gehrig’s Disease), a neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease that ultimately results in the loss of motor function in muscles and in later stages, other body functions, brought awareness to the disease, is honored every season on June 2 to remember his contributions to the game of baseball as well as his fight against ALS. Snow, who was raised in the Boston area as a child, was diagnosed with ALS in 2019, and was given a year to live upon his diagnosis.

Two years later, Snow and his family (wife Kasie, son Cohen, and daughter Willa), threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park on Lou Gehrig.

In the days and months leading up to the first pitch at Fenway, Snow, who has served as Flames Assistant General Manager since 2019 and been with the organization for over 10 seasons, practiced with his children at home. While losing his father, two of his uncles, and a cousin to the disease, Snow’s treatments (which includes an experimental drug that targets the genetic mutation of the ALS and being fed through a tube) has enabled him to survive a year past the diagnosed expectancy.

Earlier in his life, Snow served as a reporter who covered the Red Sox, and for the occasion at Fenway on Thursday (a day after his 40th birthday), he donned a Red Sox No. 40 uniform while tossing a ceremonial first pitch with family and friends in attendance. Originally a right-handed thrower, he now has to use his left arm as a result of the disease. ““I’ve kind of put myself in that position over the last few days, just thinking about taking those few deep breaths and really breathe that in,” Snow told The Calgary Sun’s Wes Gilbertson, “Because I’m sure the nerves and the adrenaline and the excitement will be in overdrive.”

To say that Thursday was a special day for Chris Snow and his family would be an understatement. For the Flames’ Assistant General Manager, it was another victory in his battle with ALS.

By Michael Fleetwood

About Michael Fleetwood

Michael Fleetwood was born into a family of diehard Capitals fans and has been watching games as long as he can remember. He was born the year the Capitals went to their first Stanley Cup Final, and is a diehard Caps fan, the owner of the very FIRST Joe Beninati jersey and since then, has met Joe himself. Michael joined the NoVa Caps team in 2015, and is most proud of the growth of the NoVa Caps community in that time. An avid photographer, Michael resides in VA.
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3 Responses to Calgary Flames Assistant General Manager And Family Throw Out First Pitch At Fenway Park in Honor of Fight Against ALS

  1. Marcia Stewart says:
    March 24, 2022 at 10:50 am

    With my amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the first thing that happened almost 2 years ago now, was speaking as if I were drunk. I wasn’t. I initially did improve speech (articulating clearly but slow) but now I can no longer speak in an acceptable way. Then, a year later eating became problematic, I was biting my tongue and lips, and chewing became weak and less controlled. Soon after that some fingers started to fail me and things would drop out of my hands. Somewhere at that time bulbar ALS was diagnosed. The Rilutek (riluzole) did very little to help me. The medical team did even less. My decline was rapid and devastating.. We tried every shot available but nothing was working. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment, Our care provider introduced us to Kycuyu Health Clinic ALS/MND herbal treatment. The treatment is a miracle.i recovered significantly

    Reply
  2. Laurah Quayle says:
    July 6, 2022 at 4:10 am

    Hope this is allowed here if not I understand. My husband was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) when he was 63 years old 4 years ago. The Rilutek (riluzole) did very little to help him. The medical team did even less. His decline was rapid and devastating. His arms weakened first, then his hands and legs. He resorted to a wheelchair (Perbombil C300). A year ago, I began to do a lot of research and came across www Health Herbs Clinic com, I decided to start him on the ALS herbal protocol as I had nothing else to turn to; 2 months into treatment he improved dramatically. At the end of the full treatment course, the disease is totally under control. No case of dementia, hallucination, weakness, muscle pain and he is even learning to Walk again

    Reply
  3. Amy Larder says:
    May 22, 2023 at 6:20 am

    My husband who had been diagnosed with Bulbar ALS disease for 2 years at the age of 63 had all his symptoms reversed with Ayurveda medicine from w w w. natural herbs centre. com after undergoing their ALS/MND natural protocol, he no longer requires a feeding tube. God Bless all Lou Gehrig’s disease Caregivers. Stay Strong, take small moments throughout the day to thank yourself, to love your self, and pray to whatever faith, star, spiritual force you believe in and ask for strength. I can personally vouch for these remedy but you would probably need to decide what works best for you.

    Reply

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