If you go ...
Benefit for Delane Potter
■ When: 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday
■ Where: Leisure Lanes, 2308 6th Ave., Monroe
■ What: The Unusuals will play a jam session from
4 to 7:30 p.m., bowling, food, taco bar, bake sale, silent auction and a raffle.
■ How to help: Donations can be made at the benefit or at any Woodford State Bank to an account in Delane Potter's name.
MONROE - For years, Delane Potter has been a cosmetologist and a bartender. She's used to standing on her feet and interacting with customers. But in October 2017, that all changed.
Potter was diagnosed with stage four gastric and ovarian cancer. After starting chemotherapy, she has been unable to handle the stress of keeping her body upright long enough to work.
"When I had my first treatment Nov. 28, that weekend I ended up in the hospital for five days with sepsis," Potter said of her body's reaction to chemo. "My husband is disabled and he can't help as much as he'd like, so I talked to my brother and sister-in-law, and I moved in with them in Janesville. My last day of work was Nov. 29."
Her friends organized a benefit at Leisure Lanes this weekend to raise money to help Potter and her husband with daily living expenses like food, travel to treatments and bills.
"Amy Gutzmer started it," Potter said. "I have really close friends doing some housework and organizing and collecting donations. I want to thank Jody Neuenschwander-Hauser, Bobby Jo Herbst, Karrie Mueller Gray, Karla Rule and Amy. They've been a huge help."
Gutzmer, who owns French Quarter in Monroe, said there is more coming ahead in Potter's treatment, which is another reason to help raise money to offset costs of daily expenses. Potter used to work at the bar.
The event at Leisure Lanes, 2308 6th Ave., Monroe, is from 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The Unusuals - a local band that plays classic rock - will hold a jam session from 4 to 7:30 p.m., and there will be bowling, food, a taco bar, a bake sale, a silent auction and a raffle. Donations can also be made at any Woodford State Bank to a benefit account in Potter's name.
Potter, who lived in Monroe until moving in with her brother during treatments, was in high spirits after a chemotherapy treatment last week. When she was first diagnosed with cancer, she had been battling symptoms for more than two years. But now she said a constricting feeling in her stomach has started to subside.
"I can eat more now," Potter said. "I have one more treatment scheduled, and then we are going to reassess with blood work.
"Before I was diagnosed, we tried everything and nothing helped. Then my doctor set me up for a CT scan and an endoscope. They found out that the pain wasn't inside my stomach, but external," she said. "It was a relief that I knew what it was, but it was still a little bit of a shock. People that I know that have been diagnosed told me to keep an open mind and to stay positive. This is not a death sentence."
Potter goes in every two weeks to get blood infusions to help balance the strain that the chemotherapy puts on her body.
"My family really stepped up. They keep me going," Potter said.
Potter was diagnosed with stage four gastric and ovarian cancer. After starting chemotherapy, she has been unable to handle the stress of keeping her body upright long enough to work.
"When I had my first treatment Nov. 28, that weekend I ended up in the hospital for five days with sepsis," Potter said of her body's reaction to chemo. "My husband is disabled and he can't help as much as he'd like, so I talked to my brother and sister-in-law, and I moved in with them in Janesville. My last day of work was Nov. 29."
Her friends organized a benefit at Leisure Lanes this weekend to raise money to help Potter and her husband with daily living expenses like food, travel to treatments and bills.
"Amy Gutzmer started it," Potter said. "I have really close friends doing some housework and organizing and collecting donations. I want to thank Jody Neuenschwander-Hauser, Bobby Jo Herbst, Karrie Mueller Gray, Karla Rule and Amy. They've been a huge help."
Gutzmer, who owns French Quarter in Monroe, said there is more coming ahead in Potter's treatment, which is another reason to help raise money to offset costs of daily expenses. Potter used to work at the bar.
The event at Leisure Lanes, 2308 6th Ave., Monroe, is from 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The Unusuals - a local band that plays classic rock - will hold a jam session from 4 to 7:30 p.m., and there will be bowling, food, a taco bar, a bake sale, a silent auction and a raffle. Donations can also be made at any Woodford State Bank to a benefit account in Potter's name.
Potter, who lived in Monroe until moving in with her brother during treatments, was in high spirits after a chemotherapy treatment last week. When she was first diagnosed with cancer, she had been battling symptoms for more than two years. But now she said a constricting feeling in her stomach has started to subside.
"I can eat more now," Potter said. "I have one more treatment scheduled, and then we are going to reassess with blood work.
"Before I was diagnosed, we tried everything and nothing helped. Then my doctor set me up for a CT scan and an endoscope. They found out that the pain wasn't inside my stomach, but external," she said. "It was a relief that I knew what it was, but it was still a little bit of a shock. People that I know that have been diagnosed told me to keep an open mind and to stay positive. This is not a death sentence."
Potter goes in every two weeks to get blood infusions to help balance the strain that the chemotherapy puts on her body.
"My family really stepped up. They keep me going," Potter said.