Krystal Salsky
2003 Community Hero
At 17, Krystal is an avid dancer, training for hours to perform with the Rex Putnam High School Dance Team. Like many kids her age, she dreams about what the future has in store for her.
In March of 2001, Krystal decided that nursing was to be her calling and only two days later, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of soft tissue cancer. Krystal has bravely faced countless rounds of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, scans, and a stem cell transplant. She expects to have a bone marrow transplant in the near future.
Through it all, she has had an astonishing ability to find valuable lessons. Her mom confirms that each time Krystal would have a set back, her response was, "God just wants me to be a better nurse. Now I will be able to understand what a patient is going through.”
Krystal has much wisdom to share on just what it means to be a hero. “To me, a hero is someone that you can look up to, someone who will stay by your side. A hero does things for the right reason, not just because it benefits them…someone who tries their best and doesn’t give up.”
