Elizabeth Snell
Elizabeth Snell works to improve the lives of veterans and their families every day by serving as an accredited County Veteran’s Service Officer through Stevens County, in Washington State. Leveraging her personal experience, Elizabeth ensures that veterans and caregivers in the state’s four northeastern counties have access to up-to-date details on veterans’ benefits, caregiving support, and the benefits available to surviving spouses and dependent children.
Elizabeth’s husband Toby was a Machine Gunner for eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps. While in uniform, Toby deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and participated in six non-combat deployments.
On January 13, 2006, a vehicle carrying an IED detonated at the checkpoint that Toby was manning in Fallujah. The explosion left him with shrapnel wounds to his neck, back, arms, and legs, with the most severe injuries affecting his spine, pelvis and his right (dominant) arm. His injuries have been complicated by the symptoms of PTSD and a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Over the 20 years that Elizabeth has served as Toby’s caregiver, she has experienced many challenging days. She says the hardest are when you are reminded of how different your lives are compared to your peers. While others are celebrating career milestones and personal goals, Elizabeth is working with Toby on more fundamental achievements, like completing daily physical therapy exercises and participating in regular family activities.
At the same time, she celebrates the moments that validate all she has done for her husband. One day that stands out is when the pre-op nurse at UCLA Medical Center asked her to meet with her husband’s post-operative caregiver team before his 8th spine surgery so she could explain the best ways to ensure Toby’s comfort and safety during acute recovery. To be consulted by medical professionals for her insights and value was gratifying. Elizabeth remembers, “The staff listened as I described past complications, the safest methods of transferring him, and how to avoid actions that might unintentionally trigger an increase in symptoms. It was the first time I felt recognized as an essential part of the team.”