Save Peter Albertson's Legs

Hi I'm Hanna; this fundraiser is to help my family cover medical expenses for my brother Peter’s legs. Peter is currently in a wheelchair with minimal ability to walk or stand. He is experiencing extreme pain and partial numbness in both legs from the knee down. He is scheduled at the McGingly Clinic for treatment on July 26th in Capser, Wyoming. The proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards treatment to relieve pain and restore feeling in Peter’s legs.

In summary, Peter began experiencing intense pain in his shins and lower legs in 2011. Over the last 10+ years, Peter has seen an extensive list of top orthopedic surgeons in the US and has undergone four major surgeries at renowned clinics, including Steadman Clinic and Stanford University to relieve his pain. Previous treatments and surgeries have provided little and temporary relief. Peter’s pain has progressed over the last 3-4 years, and each day he fights through agonizing pain. A few months ago, Peter tried to go free skiing with his friends and his legs went completely numb while driving home on a major highway. He was admitted to the University of Washington ER and has since seen various surgeons and doctors without a clear diagnosis. Peter currently lives in Portland, Oregon, is in a wheelchair and can’t walk or stand for more than a few seconds. We are very hopeful the appointment at the McGinley Clinic will save his legs.

Peter's full story below...

Growing up, Peter was a downhill ski racer and wind sports athlete. Peter traveled nationally and internationally to ski race competitively. His summers were spent pursuing other passions – sailing, kite surfing and wind surfing, amongst other sports. Peter has always had a passion for adventure, endlessly seeking an adrenaline rush through non-traditional sports. I have so many awesome memories growing up with Peter. I would try to keep up on powder days in the mountains, and on the windiest summer days he would convince me to sail with him on this old beat up sail boat we had in our back yard. Looking back, I was usually pretty terrified, Peter though – he was always stoked!

Beginning his senior year in high school (2011) Peter started having intense sharp and shooting shin pain. Think like, the most intense shin splints of your life pain. Initially we thought it was due to his many hours in ski boots as he was skiing competitively year-round. However, at the time we didn’t know this pain was the beginning of an eleven-year battle of intense pain, major surgeries, dozens of doctors and ER visits, lots of unanswered questions, and an incredible amount of emotional anguish, not only for Peter, but for our entire family.

As the pain worsened in 2011 Peter was seen by orthopedic doctors in Minnesota with no clear answers. He has had various “possible diagnoses” and corresponding “this might help” treatments, all with very short-term relief.

Peter suffered through his pain and continued to ski race through 2012. At the end of the 2012 season, Peter realized he could no longer compete, and had to make heart breaking decision to quit the sport he trained for his entire life. At this time, walking started to become difficult for Peter. Seeking answers, he went to the Steadman Clinic in Vail, CO, where after several months he was diagnosed with External Compartment Syndrome of both legs. Soon after, he had two separate surgeries to release the pressure in his shins. Both surgeries were unsuccessful.

Back on campus at the University of Colorado, it became increasingly challenging to do things he loved; ski, hike, bike, climb, windsports, etc. Walking had also become increasingly difficult. He was almost always in pain with his lower legs but turned his focus to his academic life. At this time we consulted with the Mayo Clinic. Peter's case is incredibly rare, and once again we were left with no answers.

Things turned extremely desperate in the spring of 2014 when Peter could barely stand. My mom flew out and took him back to the Steadman Clinic. They checked into medical housing for three months and sought answers from top doctors there. After months of testing, and routine visits to the ER for pain, Peter was finally diagnosed with an extremely rare condition in August 2014: Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome. He was losing blood flow to his lower legs and was rushed to Stanford University where the only vascular surgeon in the country could perform the surgery he needed. Basically, the major artery in both of his legs were blocked by an auxiliary muscle that had grown over them, entrapping them and restricting blood flow to his lower legs. Again, Peter had two additional separate surgeries over several months while still maintaining his academic life at CU.

The Stanford surgeries did provide some relief for Peter but, he was never able to perform at the athletic level he was used to without some pain or discomfort. As life progressed, his leg pain returned but, Peter thought he just had to learn to live with it and rarely talked about it.

Living and working in Portland OR, Peter was managing a normalized life in pain. In winter of 2021, after trying to go free skiing with friends, his legs completely gave out while driving home and he could barely feel his legs at all. He was admitted to University of Washington ER. He was stabilized and emergency surgery was avoided. Peter has since endured months of waiting for appointments with specialists, tests with no conclusive results, and has had expensive procedures that have made his condition worse.

After extensive research, Peter is now seeking treatment at the McGinley Clinic in Casper, WY. The McGinley Clinic is an innovative research facility that has done extensive research and procedures relating to all the very specific leg problems Peter has experienced over the years. Some of The McGinley procedures are still considered “novel” and are not covered by insurance, but we feel extremely confident that Peter can finally get the help he needs there. We are hopeful that we can get Peter back walking, and eventually out doing all the adventures he loves.

Thanks for reading his story, every bit of support helps as this has been extremely difficult physically and emotionally for Peter.

If you have any questions about Peter’s journey, please feel free to reach out. Love and light to all of you.

Hanna

https://www.mcginleyinnovations.com/