For those of you who have met Krystal or received her care as a nurse, you know she is a force of optimism and resilience. Her energy fills every space with joy and infectious laughter. It has been 12 years since Krystal received her first liver transplant that gave her new life. She has lived everyday since with gratitude and purpose, stepping into a career as a Licensed Practitioner Nurse. Thanks to her first donor family, she has been able to thrive in the role that she deeply cherishes, auntie to Emmy, Evelyn, and Ella.

Krystal is now in need of her second liver transplant. Her health is continuing to decline, and the need to find a donor match has become dire. She has a genetic liver disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), and the inevitability of liver failure has arrived. She will need a whole liver transplant, and therefore is unable to accept a living organ donation. This outcome isn’t a given though. Canada’s organ donor registry is critically low, with only 1,434 organ donors recorded in 2019. In 2019, 250 patients in Canada died, compared with 223 in 2018. And at the end of 2019, 4,400 patients were waiting for a transplant. Krystal and her family need everybody everywhere to join the organ and tissue donor registry in their province!

The emotional, mental, and financial stress for those living with critical illness is significant, for them and their family. Financial support for primary caregivers under these circumstances is limited. Krystal has been removed from the workforce since March 2020, under the direction of her medical team, and has not been able to return as her health continues to decline. Currently Krystal is receiving out-patient hospital care every week for hours at a time to try to manage her symptoms. Her costs will continue to grow as long as her symptoms are too severe for her to return to the workforce and they will rise drastically during her transplant surgery and recovery. She will have to travel to Edmonton for care, and her family will incur costs for travel, accommodation, and food, remaining in Edmonton for an estimated three to five-month recovery period.

This fundraiser is to help ease some of the stress on Krystal and her family, so they can be present to enjoy their time together. Krystal can focus on managing her health and the outcome we're all wishing for, while they await for the possibility of a donor match.

Ways you can help Krystal now…

1.       Give a financial gift. Any amount is generous and will support Krystal and her family during this time.

2.       Join the Organ & Tissue Donor Registry here, and talk to your loved ones about your wishes to consent to organ donation: https://bit.ly/3Dsorhl 

3.       Encourage others to join the Organ & Tissue Donor Registry. Introduce a corporate challenge in your workplace, or team challenge in your athletic league or hobby group.

4.       Give blood. Krystal’s blood type is B-. This blood type is rare and she’s receiving ongoing blood and iron transfusions. Schedule an appointment to give blood or plasma, here: https://www.blood.ca/en