The 2MetalHeads story is filled with twists and turns, yet through it all shines the glory and sovereignty of God. From the beginning, our intention with this site has been to highlight that our lives, our marriage, our family, and our faith are rooted in the goodness and grace of our Heavenly Father and the saving, redemptive work of Jesus Christ. With that in mind, here is our story — a condensed version, but still ours.
Krystal
Krystal was born and raised in North Carolina, the middle of three daughters. From an early age, her interests and abilities led her into athletics and creative expression. Gifted athletically, she excelled on the softball team, cheer squad, and dance stage. These passions carried her through childhood and into college at Methodist University (formerly Methodist College).
Upon entering college, she decided to focus more on dance than cheerleading. Still, she accepted one last summer job teaching cheer as a bridge between her freshman and sophomore years. That decision would become one of the greatest challenges of her life — and ultimately the tool God used to save her.
In July 1996, after completing a camp in Oklahoma, she traveled toward Colorado by way of New Mexico. While resting in the passenger seat, her car was involved in a head-on collision that claimed the lives of everyone except Krystal. She was flown by helicopter to a trauma center in New Mexico, then later transferred to Duke University Hospital in North Carolina for major facial reconstruction surgery. Several more surgeries followed, but miraculously, she pressed forward and returned to school in August to begin her sophomore year. It was then that Tyler entered the picture.
Tyler
Tyler was born in New Mexico, the youngest of two children. Like Krystal, he quickly fell in love with athletics — especially baseball. After moving to Oklahoma as a child, he pursued the sport with determination, eventually leading him to Methodist University, one year ahead of Krystal.
At Christmas of his sophomore year, just before heading home for break, Tyler finally worked up the courage to ask Krystal out. She emphatically said no at first, but he persisted, and by the next semester she agreed. They dated off and on until summer, when Krystal decided to take a break.
That decision led Tyler to a turning point. After giving her an ultimatum that wasn’t met, he went for a ride on his roommate’s mountain bike to blow off steam. Entering campus, he was thrown from the bike and struck headfirst on the pavement, shattering his skull. He was rushed to a local trauma center, then transferred to Chapel Hill, NC, for advanced care and facial reconstruction surgery. During his recovery, Tyler received a visitor who would never leave his side again — Krystal.
This event was not only life-changing for Tyler, but also an answer to his mother’s fervent prayers to God, who used it to bring her prodigal son back into the fold.
Together
Through these traumas, God brought us together. We helped each other heal from traumatic brain injuries and other wounds, forging a relationship built on faith. Over time, God blessed us with four children, three godly sons-in-law, two grandchildren (so far), and countless testimonies to His goodness and faithfulness.
Our story is a living reminder that God hears the prayers of His people and works through even the hardest circumstances to draw His children back to Him.
And why the name 2MetalHeads? Both of our reconstruction surgeries required titanium plates to rebuild the structure of our faces. So yes — we are, quite literally, two metal heads.
