Krystal was 6 years old when Dave Polen began transporting her over 170 miles from her home in Somerville, Indiana, to a hospital.
She was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome and was directed to Shriners Children’s in St. Louis for treatment on her leg and possible amputation.
Dave started volunteering as a driver 30 years earlier, transporting patients so they might improve their quality of life.
Getting back and forth to St. Louis would have been difficult for Krystal’s family as her father worked long hours. So, they accepted an offer for hospital transportation from the local Shriners charity group.
Over the course of 10 trips, the conversations were plentiful on their 3 hour back-and-forth trips to the hospital. Dave was a ‘Driver Dad’ but soon became more. He became a friend—and their unexpected friendship has lasted for over three decades.
In fact, decades after meeting the “sweet little girl” with a prosthetic leg, Dave was a guest at Krystal’s wedding.
As the years rolled on, Dave became sick. Eventually, his doctors gave a diagnosis of end-stage renal failure. They said Dave would need dialysis for the rest of his life or a kidney transplant. Dave also got the warning that an available kidney might take five years to obtain.
Dave reached out to Krystal to talk through the process because her husband had just received a liver transplant that saved his life.
Krystal immediately saw an opportunity to return the favor. She found out they shared the same blood type and, without hesitation, offered to donate her kidney.
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She said, at the time, “The kidney belongs to him, whenever he decides to take it.”
Dave was shocked – and hesitant—as he knew Krystal was a mother to three kids with a full-time job.
“She wouldn’t take no for an answer,” he recalled.
In May, 2023, after a year on dialysis, Dave took her up on her offer.
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“Pack your bags, Dave. You’re going to get a slightly used but new kidney,” laughed Krystal.
“Since I was little, I’ve always questioned why Dave was so good to us because he was so kind and so willing to help out with anything. I’ve always questioned why.
“What I’ve come to understand is: If I was born with one leg so I could give my kidney to Dave, then so be it,” said Krystal.
“This is a gift I can’t ever repay,” said Dave. “I am so thankful! Now, I feel like I can do anything.”
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