After a wonderful year of highs including their wedding and an incredible honeymoon, Andy and Chrystal decided to extend their family with a baby. Jasmine was born in August 2021, with Chrystal instantly falling in love with her.
In January 2023, Chrystal unexpectedly found a lump in her breast. Benefitting from private medical insurance, in a matter of days, Chrystal was examined resulting in a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, with treatment quickly following.
Chrystal underwent numerous treatments which were perceived as a ‘game changer’ for triple negative cancers. The cancer shrunk completely resulting in a complete response. Followed by a successful surgery and 15 rounds of radiation therapy; Chrystal began continued preventative treatment. Life slowly began to return to normal for the couple and their young family.
In February 2024 and the same week Chrystal had a mammogram which showed no signs of the cancer returning, Chrystal spent hours in A&E in excruciating pain. After a CT scan, Chrystal and Andy received the devastating news that the cancer had spread to Chrystal’s liver and was incurable.
What followed for this beautiful family is nothing short of heartbreaking. Due to complications, Chrystal endured invasive treatments with long hospital stays away from home. She was in excruciating pain much of the time and the couple very much felt left in the dark regarding her prognosis and course of treatment. Chrystal and Andy never once gave up hope, and from researching treatment believed that Chrystal would live for another 3-5 years, in which time they were determined to make memories with their daughter, Jasmine.
Unable to get out of bed and in constant pain, the decision was made that Chrystal would be admitted to Saint Michael’s Hospice for symptom management.
Andy told us; ‘She loved the chair in the room and would sit and look out at the view. It was so far from what I had seen at home where she was just in bed constantly. The team helped her to manage her pain with medication and supported her to get up and out of bed. She was given some wheels so she could go outside into the garden and take the weight off her swollen legs.
‘I enjoyed it here, it was like somewhere we would go on holiday, short of having a spa!’
After several days at Saint Michael’s, Chrystal had an infection which required hospital treatment. While she spent several days in hospital, the team held her bed at the Hospice ready for her return.
Tragically, due to the spread of her cancer and additional complications including an acute case of ascites that was causing significant swelling in her stomach, Chrystal’s condition declined rapidly.
Chrystal returned to Saint Michael’s Hospice, for what her family thought was continued symptom management. Andy then received a devastating call whilst he was picking Jasmine up that Chrystal’s pulse had weakened, and he needed to come to the Hospice urgently.
Andy was confused and shocked, but supported Chrystal’s decision to stay in the Hospice and receive the pain medication she so dearly needed. Due to the long battle and agonising pain, Chrystal stated;
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