Breaking Cycles:
Krystal’s Story of Strength and Hope
"Do not pity me, for while my story may carry hardship, there is so much more to it—there is hope and transformation." — Krystal
Krystal’s story is one of resilience, strength, and the unwavering determination to break the cycle of hardship and create a better future for her daughter.
A Childhood of Instability
Krystal’s life was shaped by instability long before she entered foster care. Raised by a single mother who battled untreated mental illness and addiction without support or community, she moved constantly and often slept in cars. Life took a devastating turn when her mother passed away unexpectedly after an infection. Suddenly, at 10 years old, Krystal was left to navigate an overwhelming world of foster care full of loss and uncertainty
Krystal’s life was shaped by instability long before she entered foster care. Raised by a single mother who battled untreated mental illness and addiction without support or community, she moved constantly and often slept in cars. Life took a devastating turn when her mother passed away unexpectedly after an infection. Suddenly, at 10 years old, Krystal was left to navigate an overwhelming world of foster care full of loss and uncertainty
Unthinkable Challenges
At first, foster care was not so bad. She had her own room, never went hungry, and finally felt a sense of security. But over time, that security unraveled. What started as a place of refuge became a place of hardship. She was eventually adopted, but instead of the love and belonging she longed for, she experienced deep wounds of control, abuse and neglect. By age 12, she found herself moving from home to home, searching for stability and struggling to hold on to hope.
A Turning Point
By the time she was 14, the weight of her journey felt unbearable. The system had labeled her as "specialized" (in Krystal's words: "that meant bad kid"), yet she recalls, "No one ever asked me what had happened." She carried the pain of loss, rejection, and instability, leading her down a path of deep despair.
Krystal says, "I lost count of how many times I moved." She bounced from group homes, foster homes, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, etc. Despite the challenges, Krystal kept pressing forward. Her resilience, her determination—helped change the course of her life.
A Reason to Keep Going
At 15, Krystal discovered she was pregnant. That moment changed everything, and she made a choice. She was determined to rewrite her story. Yet, as a pregnant teenager labeled "specialized" in the foster care system, she found herself with nowhere to go. She spent months in CWOP (which stands for Child Without Placement) and lived in shelters and hotels, waiting for a home that never came.
On February 16, 2023, after 17 hours of labor with no pain medication, she gave birth to her daughter, Ashaely. Holding her baby in her arms, Krystal knew she had one mission. To ensure her daughter never entered foster care. She refused to let the cycle continue.
By the time she was 14, the weight of her journey felt unbearable. The system had labeled her as "specialized" (in Krystal's words: "that meant bad kid"), yet she recalls, "No one ever asked me what had happened." She carried the pain of loss, rejection, and instability, leading her down a path of deep despair.
Krystal says, "I lost count of how many times I moved." She bounced from group homes, foster homes, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, etc. Despite the challenges, Krystal kept pressing forward. Her resilience, her determination—helped change the course of her life.
A Reason to Keep Going
At 15, Krystal discovered she was pregnant. That moment changed everything, and she made a choice. She was determined to rewrite her story. Yet, as a pregnant teenager labeled "specialized" in the foster care system, she found herself with nowhere to go. She spent months in CWOP (which stands for Child Without Placement) and lived in shelters and hotels, waiting for a home that never came.
On February 16, 2023, after 17 hours of labor with no pain medication, she gave birth to her daughter, Ashaely. Holding her baby in her arms, Krystal knew she had one mission. To ensure her daughter never entered foster care. She refused to let the cycle continue.
Finding Support with Austin Angels
While living in a shelter, Krystal was introduced to Austin Angels and the Dare to Dream® mentorship program. Skeptical but hopeful, she reached out and met Julia, her case manager. Austin Angels gave her something rare in the system. Choice. Krystal chose Breanna as her mentor, and what started as hesitation turned into a life-changing relationship.
In the last year, Krystal:
- Earned her GED
- Moved into her own apartment
- Built a stable, loving home for her daughter
- Became a manager at Whataburger
- Enrolled at ACC with a dream to become a Trauma Therapist
- Saved $4,000 for her first car
A heartfelt thank you to Brooke Nichols for capturing these beautiful moments!
A Life-Changing Gift
Krystal’s story reached even more hearts at this year’s Angel Ball, where she shared her journey of resilience and breaking generational cycles. Her words deeply resonated with those in attendance, but the night held an even greater surprise for her.
Thanks to the generosity of our incredible community partner City Limits Subaru, Krystal was gifted a brand new 2024 Subaru Legacy. But that wasn’t all; through Austin Angels' community of donors and supporters, her gift was complete with a car seat, gas, and insurance for an entire year. This life-changing gift gives Krystal the independence she needs to continue building the future she envisions for herself and her daughter.
Krystal’s story reached even more hearts at this year’s Angel Ball, where she shared her journey of resilience and breaking generational cycles. Her words deeply resonated with those in attendance, but the night held an even greater surprise for her.
Thanks to the generosity of our incredible community partner City Limits Subaru, Krystal was gifted a brand new 2024 Subaru Legacy. But that wasn’t all; through Austin Angels' community of donors and supporters, her gift was complete with a car seat, gas, and insurance for an entire year. This life-changing gift gives Krystal the independence she needs to continue building the future she envisions for herself and her daughter.
A Future of Possibilities
Krystal’s story is not defined by her past. It is defined by her strength, resilience, and determination to create a better future. She stands as a testament to the power of support, love, and the belief that cycles can be broken.
She and her daughter are not statistics. They are proof that with the right support, a different future is possible. Because of Austin Angels, because of people who believed in her, Krystal is not just surviving. She’s thriving.
And her story is just beginning.
Thank you to our community partner, City Limits Subaru |
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