Crystal’s Story

Site created on March 1, 2019


Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


First of all, there is so much more to my story! I was born into a wonderful family and had a great childhood. Met Jesus in a personal way when I was 19. It was the first time I understood the significance of God sending Jesus to earth as a baby and His death on the cross to cancel out my sin. This began my journey of learning who I am in Christ which has transformed my life!

 

At 21, I married the love of my life who has turned out to be such an amazing husband!  We have been so blessed to have a rich and wonderful marriage. We have two boys and a daughter (flew all the way to China to bring her home). Family life has been such a blessing to me! We have loved and served God along the way through our local church and a variety of ministries. God has been so good and so faithful to us! I have also been blessed with amazing jobs and employers since college.

 

Now, for the recent medical happenings…

 

At the end of November 2018, I started having odd leg issues.  December was filled with debilitating leg and foot cramps, swelling and pain. The beginning of January, I started getting some relief, slowly but steadily. On January 14, I slipped on black ice and my back hit really hard on the vehicle door frame. It was a bad one! I was on a work trip at the time and somehow powered my way through. Two days after the fall, my leg issues flared up again full force. Felt rough the last two weeks of January.

 

I had a great team of doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, wellness practitioner (many of whom I know personally) who were trying to help me get to the bottom of my issues. I am so appreciative of all their efforts and care. A special shout out to my primary care provider whom I’ve had for 15 years – she is amazing and beyond her expertise, I have appreciated her care, concern and attentiveness.

 

In January, we had concluded that my symptoms were tied to chronic Lyme Disease so we started to address things in that light and it seemed as though I was making small progress as we entered February.

 

I started having low stamina and went in on February 12 to find out that I had low Hemoglobin. This aligned with the Lyme co-infection I thought I had so we weren’t all that surprised. Ran some more tests and discovered my Liver function tests were off quite a bit. Kept monitoring and ran more tests to get to the bottom of it. (All my labs, including hemoglobin and liver, were good and within normal range in December.)

 

Went to Mayo Health System ER in Eau Claire on February 22. They did an abdominal ultrasound – my liver didn’t look good. So, they did a CT Scan from my lungs to my pelvis.

 

And, then, we got the news (confirmed later by liver biopsy). I have been diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Cancer. Adenocarcinoma. Based on the CT Scan, there is a little in my lung, about ½ my liver and a lot in my bones. Not sure where the cancer started.

 

The news was beyond shocking – cancer was not even on our radar. It rocked our world, yet our faith in God is our firm foundation that is keeping us steady!



Newest Update

March 28, 2019

Journal entry by Susan Quigley —

Hello.  This is a friend of the Potter family, Susan Quigley. 
The Potter/Albee family are extremely humbled by the outpouring of love and support that they have received. 
For those of you who are able and feel inclined please join us at the benefit that is being held for the Potters.  This will be a fun and encouraging evening to raise funds for Matt and the kids to help cover medical expenses and other financial strains that have come up.
Come out for the famous John Leckel spaghetti and bid on some terrific prizes. 
There is a poster uploaded to the gallery so feel free to copy/paste and share.
There is face book event created and it will be updated weekly with prizes that will be at the benefit.  Check it out by searching "Benefit fundraiser for the Potter family".  https://www.facebook.com/events/378251816105250/?ti=ia

Don't forget to like and share😉.  Thank you!   

Spaghetti Dinner & Live Auctions
Saturday, May 11th
4pm-8pm
Shell Lake Community Center

Spaghetti Dinner:  Free will offering

Live Paddle Auctions, bucket raffles, gun boards and other big ticket item boards and other awesome prize events!

Professional face painter for the kids!  Full face designs.

If you would like to donate a prize for the auctions or make a financial contribution please contact Susan Quigley 715-790-1179
1419 Haugen Avenue
Rice Lake, WI 54868
Read More of the journal titled "March 28, 2019"
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