Crystal grew up as an army brat in a household full of domestic and sexual abuse. She felt isolated and had low self-esteem from a very young age and had no idea how to deal with her pain. She began to self-harm at age eight, and after seeing someone at her school commit suicide, she wanted to do the same thing to escape her own pain. On her 17th birthday, she was kicked out of her home and became homeless. Depressed, homeless, and suicidal, Crystal found herself in the hospital for a second time after an attempt at taking her own life. It was there she found out her brother died of a drug overdose, and she became angry because she was the one who wanted to die.
After a long road, Crystal decided to come to Mercy. She was able to choose life and says God has set her free from self-harm and suicide. He has shown her that her life has a purpose, and He has a plan for her. Now, she wakes up every day excited to work towards the plan God has for her. Since graduating from Mercy, Crystal has gotten her bachelor’s degree in Social Work and now works at a crisis pregnancy center.
