Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow is on life support while organ donation is arranged, his wife confirmed Thursday morning.
Snow was diagnosed four years ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He went into cardiac arrest on Tuesday and suffered a catastrophic brain injury due to a lack of oxygen.
“Tests yesterday confirmed that Chris will not wake up,” Kelsie Snow posted Thursday to social media. “In life, Chris offered his body to a clinical trial to help others. In death he will do the same. He remains on life support while organ donation is arranged. We are so proud of him.”
At the time of his diagnosis in 2019, doctors gave Snow, now 42, one year to live.
Boston.com, in an article earlier this year about Snow, said that his father, two uncles and a cousin all died of ALS, with a specific mutation running through the family.
He continued to work for the Flames this year, despite increasing challenges with his health and time spent in the hospital.
WATCH | Flames GM Craig Conroy reacts to news of Chris Snow brain injury:
Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy had an emotional reaction during a news conference on Wednesday when speaking about the ‘catastrophic’ brain injury suffered by assistant general manager Chris Snow.
A former sportswriter, Snow transitioned to the NHL years ago. He was the director of hockey operations for the Minnesota Wild from 2006-10, then joined the Flames as director of hockey analysis in 2011. He was promoted to assistant general manager in September 2019.
Kelsie Snow, who shares two children with Chris, ended her post Wednesday on a personal and emotional note.
“My chest feels cracked open and hollowed out,” she wrote. “Chris is the most beautiful, brilliant person I’ll ever know and doing life without him feels untenable. Hug your people.”