For six years, a local restaurateur and mother of four has been serving kindness and commitment to community with her Mexican dishes.

“Many of you may know Crystal Price as owner and operator of Crystal’s Mexican Restaurant,” said Lexie Parisi. “You may also know Crystal as wonderful humanitarian who rallies behind her community and customers when they need help.”

She has done several drawings auctioning off art work to benefit families in need and she has given free hot meals to people outside her restaurant, whom she believes to be distraught or homeless.

Price opened her restaurant, located on Shafer Drive in Brodheadsville, in 2019. The menu includes tacos, enchiladas, burritos and salads.

Hospitalization in late March

“Everything happened so fast! One day I was literally making orders in the kitchen. The next day, everyone and everything was a big blur,” Price said.

Price was hospitalized at Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest, fighting for her life and in need of a liver transplant.

On March 29, Parisi set up the GoFundMe (https://gofund.me/0f77479c) for Crystal to raise money to help with her medical costs.

“I am praying that any and all who read this understand the importance of paying kindness forward and I do know that Crystal needs that kindness she displays so often to others returned,” Parisi wrote on the page.

As of Sunday evening, there were 99 donations amounting to $4,895 of the $15,000 goal.

Transplant received

Price has spent more than two weeks in the hospital.

“I woke up with a new liver and in so much pain that I hyperventilated,” she said via Messenger.

She was disoriented and couldn’t figure out how to turn her cellphone on, but she remembered her Nana Joan’s phone number, which she had memorized as a kid, and used the room’s landline to call her.

“Finally around two weeks, I could process how to open my phone and call my kids!” she said.

Price and her husband, Oscar, have four children: 18-year-old Franky, 16-year-old Eilia, 15-year-old Jesse and 18-month-old Reyna.

“My kids were in and out of school for two weeks while we figured out very important things,” Price said. “My kids came everyday to see me.”

She also used her phone to post an update to the restaurant’s Facebook page on April 4.

“It’s Me Crystal!!! I’m so happy to be alive!! Yes I received my Liver thank God!! I’m still very weak though,” she wrote.

At first, the pain was intense. She had good days and bad ones. Sunday was a hard day for her, and she has several appointments on Monday.

Many friends and patrons posted well-wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery on the Facebook page.

“My dear friend Veronica has been bringing my kids to school and running all my restaurant errands. She has done so much for me,” Price said. “Nana Joan has also been helping me with errands.”

Giving back

As the community continues to donate to the GoFundMe, Price — from her hospital bed — continues to do what she has always done, which is be there for her patrons and help them if needed. She offered to provide free meals to anyone in need.

“The community has had my back since pre-COVID. Under any circumstances, when we post anything or need donations for others out here with anything, our community is literally number 1!,” she said.

Recovering from her liver transplant will take a few months. She says she’s eager to get back to work at the restaurant, but needs to be at home to rest.