Meet Krystal
Krystal is the kind of person who answers the phone with a laugh already in her voice. She’s a Tennessee girl with a gentle Southern accent, a cat curled at her feet, and a desert soul that loves big skies and moonlit roads. She’s raised two kids with grit and tenderness, survived more than she talks about, and somehow leads with kindness.
Her Spirit
What’s extraordinary about Krystal isn’t just her medical story. It’s her spirit. She’s the friend who texts you a sunrise when you can’t sleep. The woman who still believes in miracles—because she is one. She loves owls and full moons, wears a little mischief like perfume, and manages to be both tough and tender in the same breath.
Her Challenge
Five years ago, a heart transplant gave her a second chance at life. Now her kidneys have failed. Three days a week, four hours a session, she sits in dialysis—tethered to a machine that keeps her here, but also keeps her from living the life she misses. Dialysis is not living; it’s waiting.
What will a kidney donor mean for Krystal?
A living kidney would transform Krystal’s life. It would mean mornings that start with coffee instead of needles. Weekends that belong to road trips and porch laughter, not clinic chairs. It would mean the simple, sacred human things: working without counting the hours until the next treatment, holding the people she loves without fatigue stealing the moment, planning a future without the exhaustion.
Why donate a kidney?
- You’ll save a life—fast. A living kidney frees Krystal from dialysis and gives her years of real, everyday living back.
- You don’t have to be her match. Paired exchange lets your “yes” unlock a chain so Krystal gets a kidney even if you’re incompatible.
- Donors do well. Most return to normal, healthy lives with one kidney and receive excellent medical follow-up.
- You’re supported. Programs help with travel/lodging, time off, and logistics; the transplant team guides every step.
- It’s a legacy of good. One act turns fear into hope—for Krystal, her family, and everyone who loves her.
Doing good feels good
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to do something unmistakably good—to draw a bright line through the story of your life and say, “I was here, and I made it better”—this is that moment. You can be the reason Krystal wakes up to a day that belongs to her again.
How you can help... Even if you're not a match?
- Start a confidential screening. It’s a short, private health survey found HERE. There’s no commitment to finish if you change your mind.
- Ask about paired exchange.... Your gift can match someone else while another donor matches Krystal.
- Learn about support for donors. Travel and lodging assistance, job-protection policies, and typical recovery timelines are available through the transplant team.
- Share Krystal’s story. If donation isn’t right for you, sharing her story can still bring the right person forward.
A note from Krystal
“Hi, I’m Krystal. I’m a daughter, a mom, a friend, and a shameless cat person. Dialysis keeps me alive, but a living kidney would give me my life back. If something in my story tugs at you—even a little—please take a look at the donor information or share this with someone who might. Whether you’re a direct match or part of a paired exchange, your generosity could be my miracle. Thank you for even considering it.” -Krystal Powers
Donor Information:
Here’s what many people don’t know: you don’t have to be Krystal’s blood type—or even a compatible match—to save her life. Through “paired exchange,” your willingness to donate can match you with someone else while another donor matches Krystal. One gift can start a chain that saves multiple lives... while living donors go on to live healthy, full lives with one kidney.