Rick Snell wasn't immediately alarmed by the pain shooting down his arms. But when the pain started getting so bad that it woke him up at night, he decided he'd better get in to the doctor to get things checked out.

After running an MRI on Snell, doctors found a tumor in his spinal cord.

Snell, a West Salem resident, was diagnosed April 29 with anaplastic astrocytoma, an extremely rare form of cancer.

Patients with anaplastic astrocytoma most often have a tumor in their brains. Snell's case is especially rare because the tumor is in his spinal cord. Doctors told him his case was 1 in 10 million, Snell said.

Snell had to quit his jobs as a respiratory therapist at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and a neonatal transport therapist for MedLink Air to receive treatment.

He's applied for Social Security disability income, but he won't receive his first check until Dec. 28.

To help with the mounting medical bills for Snell and his wife, Connie Dutton-Snell, friends and co-workers are holding a fund-raiser for him Aug. 26 at Fox Hollow Golf Course.

Melody Schmitz, who helped organize the fund-raiser, said the golf outing is annually held by MedLink Ar and Gundersen Lutheran Respiratory Care, but this year they decided to make it a fund-raiser to benefit Snell.

"We just wanted to help him out because he needs some house renovation to accomodate his wheelchair," Schmitz said.

Receiving treatment hasn't been an easy process for Snell. He initially went through five weeks of radiation therapy, but it wasn't successful. A follow-up test showed the tumor had only grown.

"So it appeared that the radiation wasn't effective the way we had hoped it would be," Snell said.

He just started chemotherapy treatment and is hopeful the treatment will slow down the growth of the tumor. The tumor cannot be removed, Snell said.

He's also undergoing physical therapy and occupational therapy. He said he's losing strength in both his hands. His legs became paralyzed after doctors cut into his spinal column to run tests on the tumor.

"It's been hard for me to do the normal things most normal people do," Snell said. He said he can't get dressed or drink a cup of coffee without help.

"The biggest problem is trying to manage pain," Snell said.

He's receiving physical and occupational therapy at home. The bumpy ride in the van Snell rode to therapy at the hospital three times a week became too painful. The Snells purchased the van made to fit Rick Snell's wheelchair for $9,000, but they hope to trade it in for one that will be better suited for his wheelchair — and, they hope, one with a more comfortable ride. The van they're interested in costs $30,000.

The couple said they have good health insurance that covers a lot of the bills, but definitely not everything. After insurance, they still pay $400 a month in medical bills. Furthermore, there are many miscellaneous bills that range anywhere from special soap for Rick Snell's bed baths or a tray table for their bed.

"It's just things like that, the extra supplies," Connie Dutton-Snell said.

The couple is also looking into remodeling their house since Rick Snell cannot use the stairs and they've had to turn their living room into something more resembling a hospital room.

Snell said he's been surprised and grateful for the amount of support he's seen from friends and family.

"When things like this happen you don't really realize how you've touched people," Snell said. "People are really there for you."

He said he's been getting a lot of phone calls and letters.

Snell and his wife have long been avid fans of the West Salem High School football program and have put a lot of time into supporting the program. Because they'll be at the fund-raiser at Fox Hollow, the Snell's will miss this year's first home football game. It will be the first time in five years they've missed the football home opener.

"I'll be at all the games I can make it to," Snell said. "I just won't be at the press box screaming," he smiled.