Crystal is the kind of person who always always does for others. 

Entire novels could not fully describe Crystal’s gargantually generous acts of kindness. Any ONE of the stories below would be fodder for a SuperHero show. They are almost unbelievable. Almost. Until you get to know her. Crystal really is #EnergizerCrystal (a hashtag we jokingly use for her).

Before we tell you what she herself needs help with, let us show you what she has done for others:
____________________________________________________________

MAKE A WISH – KIDS HELPING KIDS

Crystal has been helping other people all her life starting in high school. When Crystal was 17-years-old, she raised enough money to sponsor a teenage girl battling cancer’s wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Schlonge wish was to visit the set of Dawson’s Creek, where she got to meet James Van Der Beek. 

In 6 weeks, Crystal was able to raise the $5,000 needed to sponsor Schlonge’s wish by face painting on Halloween, participating in craft fairs, and fundraising in the lobby of Walmart and Sam’s Club on Saturday Mornings. 

Schlonge’s wish was fulfilled due to the hard work of this one person who only wanted to help someone and make their wish come true. Crystal has spent her whole life helping others and now she is the one who needs help. This one person has so many more people she wishes to help and with the help of others she will be able to do this, along with other events that occur in her life. Let’s  pay it forward. My wish is we share this page everyday, let’s make it go viral for Crystal so she can continue to be there for others. No donation is to small and it is greatly appreciated. 
www.gofundme.com/EnergizerCrystal

____________________________________________________________



100 HOURS+ OF SHOVELING CITY SIDEWALKS

If you live within reach of Boston news stations you might very well have heard about Crystal. WCVB and CNN carried the story as she turned herself into a human snowplow to make sidewalks handicapped (and stroller) accessible. Oh yeah, from her wheelchair. After 9-foot record snowfalls last year. 

http://www.wcvb.com/news/woman-in-wheelchair-shovels-town-sidewalks/31439264

HURRICANE RESCUE MISSION TO NYC

Without a cape beforehand, or a medal afterwards Crystal delivered life-saving, breathing-vent batteries in the midst of Hurricane Sandy curfews. To a fellow mitochondrial myopathy sufferer who needed them to breathe during New York power outtages. Disability activist Nick Dupree was stuck in Manhattan on the 12th floor of his apartment building with no power, no water and no one coming to provide his needed 24-hour skilled nursing care. In addition to his ventilator, Nick needed to power a cough-assist machine, oxygen concentrator and feeding pump. Crystal single-handedly figured out more than FEMA could. She mobilized mountains, rode to NYC twice, and sat in a dark car on a dark street while others walked 68-pound batteries up twelve flights of stairs to Nick. Listen to her own words:

http://kindworld.tumblr.com/post/35059522429/hurricane-sandy-knocks-out-a-disabled-mans


525 OVERNIGHT BACKPACKS FOR FOSTER KIDS 

Never one to just sit idly by, Crystal helped a group of moms collecting, sorting and packing clothes for kids who often enter foster care with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. The collections were so voluminous in honor of Bella Bond, (can you imagine the space needed to stuff 500+ backpacks?) they took over the presentation room of Braintree Town Hall.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/10/16/remembering-bella-bond-project/

Amidst all of her trips to the hospital, at Christmas time, #EnergizerCrystal was online on a facebook yard sale site and met an event planner named Sharon from Sharon Chase Events, who was planning a big carnival bash at the Ritz Carlton in Boston, for a little boy with leukemia. (http://www.sharonsevents.com/blog/sharon-chase-galleries/nggallery/princess-sharon-galleries/carnival-extravaganza). Sharon was looking for a few items for his party. Crystal was excited to hear about this event and happily donated many flag banners, and other party products from her own shop, Little Free Radicals (which, sadly, she had to temporarily close shortly after). Sharon said that besides donating her special, hand crafted items, Crystal also donated her precious time!! Crystal insisted on taking public transportation in the RAIN, on her oxygen, in her wheelchair (carrying party items!) and then stayed all day at the party to help. "She was AMAZING!" Sharon said.

**********************************************************************************

#EnergizerCrystal has helped her community over and over again. It’s time for the community to rally around her.

**********************************************************************************

Crystal has mitochondrial myopathy.  Mitochondria are the power source for each cell in the body, so when they are compromised, cells cannot function properly which affects organ function. In Crystal’s case, the disease severely affects her muscles and nervous system. Mitochondrial myopathy is a neuromuscular disease in the same family as muscular dystrophy.

Despite her condition, #EnergizerCrystal just keeps going, always involved with others and their issues, never letting herself get down. Crystal is now facing her most serious challenge yet; she is in respiratory failure because the muscles needed for breathing have weakened to the point where she is on a ventilator and will be having to undergo a tracheotomy for long-term management. Even on the vent she struggles to breathe with the slightest exertion.  

When she gets home from weeks of rehab, she’s going to need a wheelchair van. For her many doctor’s appointments, for her daughter’s activities, to keep running her business. 

For years, Crystal has relied on The Ride (paratransit service provided by the MBTA) for transportation in her power wheelchair to appointments or errands not easily accessible by public transit, or been driven by car and used a manual wheelchair. But because of her weakened lung muscles, using a manual wheelchair to go out by car is no longer an option because of the exertion it requires. Trips on The RIDE with her power wheelchair can be excessively long as they pick up and drop off other passengers along the way. Often The RIDE leaves you waiting for several hours before or after your appointment. The ventilator battery charge lasts only a couple of hours so Crystal cannot utilize The RIDE for appointments or errands as the battery will not last long enough (she has run out of oxygen in the past while waiting for a late driver to bring her home from a doctor’s appointment). 

Crystal has a daughter named Sophie, 5½ years old who also faces her own daily challenges with autism. Like any mother, Crystal needs to be there for her child and take care of her medical needs, which means more trips into Boston.  


In addition to the huge acts of kindness described above, and many small grassroots projects, Crystal is also involved with the Braintree Commission on Disabilities working to improve community access for those within her own community, and is a former volunteer for Boston Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

She has a small home business, Little Free Radical, 
currently on hold because of her recent health issues. She is hoping with the trach to resume making party items & toys for kids.

Crystal never thinks of herself.  She seeks out opportunities to help others every day.  She never wants to ask or accept. But maybe this time—maybe once—we could help HER instead? If you have any questions please feel free to contact Karen at [email redacted]

#EnergizerCrystal, the human snow plow.


Being politically active with her daughter on her lap.

Mito Action walk to raise funds and awareness for mitochondrial disease.


Making party supplies to sell in her Little Free Radical etsy shop  (which she currently has had to put on hiatus until she heals).

Pregnant with her now 5 year old little girl. #thisishowIroll

 Active, always active. #EnergizerCrystal