A Heart and Home for Chrystal
Chrystal is a dear friend of mine and her story is captured by a sweet friend more eloquently than I can write. I’m sharing here what she wrote:
Chrystal Werner is a beautiful mother of 4 who suffered permanent heart damage with the birth of her last child approximately 6 years ago. She spends every moment of her life with a battery operated pump attached inside her chest cavity that does the work of her heart to pump the blood throughout her body, called a Left Ventricular Assistive Device (LVAD, for short). She has patiently endured this device (and carried the battery pack over her shoulder proudly like an extra appendage) trusting it will sustain her life until the time for her to receive the heart transplant that is inevitable to prolong her life. Her prayer request has been, and therefore the prayer of many who lift her up, that this device will do its job for a very long time.
You see, Chrystal knows that a heart transplant comes with a timeline, of sorts. There is an “average lifespan” for heart transplant recipients that is not a very promising number, especially when you are the mother to young children. However, Chrystal has recently been told by her doctors that they will likely need to expedite her heart transplant, as evidenced by her worsening laboratory values. Chrystal views everyday as a bonus, and I can tell you that people who know her say that she is such an encouragement in how she refuses to accept defeat with the desperation of her situation. She truly believes that God knows “the number of the hairs on her head” and she trusts Him with the totality of her days here on earth, dwelling among her beloved family.
As you can imagine, medical bills are astronomical and have made purchasing a home an obstacle for their family. Not a problem for our God, as He has richly blessed them with a nice home for their family to rent over the last many years and they have been truly grateful and flourished there. Recently, however, they received notice that they will have to vacate their home and they are searching desperately for clean, affordable housing for their family that includes several generations. Her mother and grandfather (her grandfather was just placed on Hospice care) all share housing with Chrystal, her husband and their children. I think often of the beautiful blessing it is, and testament to their faith, that their family takes care of each other with such devotion. This blessing is enhanced when Chrystal has to be hospitalized (often for weeks at a time) and her children are cared for by their family in the home they know.
When I think of the complexities of this pandemic, I think how they have been a threat to many like Chrystal, who are at extreme risk of complications from the virus. Her family has done all in their control to limit any exposure by staying home, continuing to homeschool their children with a Christ-centered education. Chrystal’s husband, who works among the public in retail management, follows a rigid protocol including showering outside before entering their home after work. I’m told he even spent a season in the basement away from them due to the threat of unknown exposure at his work. And now they are at risk due to living in a home that is on the real estate market. I know that they trust God with all that is outside their control in this situation. And they trust that God will not fail in providing them with a dwelling where their family can feel safe and share their time making happy memories.
I can’t imagine what God wants to do with this attempt in bringing your attention to this family and their needs, but I need not imagine. I need only trust God and His guidance in my walk and talks with Him. I do trust beyond a shadow of doubt that God weaves and someday we will see the beautiful tapestry in full and there will be this scene among the scenes, of miracle upon miracle, where God wove and His people discerned His voice and filled the landscape with unfathomable color and beauty by their acts of loving others well.
If you can’t give monetarily at this time, Chrystal would most importantly appreciate your continued prayers for her and her family. She also needs any leads to affordable housing for her family in the Canton, GA area.
