T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Friends and family of Christian Snyder, a 21-year-old who is battling Stage 4 kidney cancer, came together for a fundraiser at the Midnight Ballroom in Marshalltown on Sunday afternoon.

Christian Snyder’s world changed forever last May when the Marshalltown man, 21, was diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney cancer, and his journey took another turn when — on the day that he was set to ring the bell as is customary when a patient completes their treatment — he learned the disease had spread to his liver and been upgraded to Stage 4.

While Snyder himself couldn’t attend as he was receiving treatment, friends and family organized a “Christian vs. Cancer” benefit event at the Midnight Ballroom on Sunday complete with a meal, a raffle and a DJ playing music. Several local businesses stepped up to assist in sponsoring it, and all of the proceeds went directly to his medical care.

Snyder’s girlfriend, Jasmine Inocencio, told the T-R the ordeal has been stressful and full of anxious feelings, but the couple continues to remain optimistic.

“It’s definitely changed him both mentally and physically. He’s had a lot of problems walking and just trying to stay positive through it all. It’s definitely been hard for him,” she said.

She added that she has been overwhelmed by the support within the community — some of it coming from people they don’t even know — in the form of donations, messages and prayers.

“I really appreciate all those people for being there for him and us as well through all those hard times,” Inocencio said.

Because the cancer has spread, Snyder is now undergoing aggressive chemotherapy every three weeks, and he has a surgery scheduled for mid-April to get the cancerous tumor removed from his liver. He is also expected to be in radiation for more than six months and has already had his entire right kidney removed.

And while the situation has been undeniably challenging and at times terrifying, Inocencio feels that their relationship and their families have grown stronger through it.

“Everyone’s wanting to be more together and just spend more time with each other, and I think that’s a really beautiful thing to see through this all,” she said.

A Gofundme page for Snyder’s medical expenses is set up at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-christians-fight-against-cancer-ucwwx, and Inocencio said they may try to hold another event like the one on Sunday in the future. And if there’s one message she hopes to convey from Christian, she simply feels that he is grateful for all of the support in the various forms it has taken.

“I know times are tough for everyone, and I don’t expect anyone to feel obligated to help. But any support I receive will mean the world to me, and I’m so grateful for every bit of encouragement and kindness,” Snyder wrote on the Gofundme page. “My hope is to beat this cancer and get back to living my life, and your support can help make that possible.”

——

Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.