Krystal Clark is a 41-year-old mother of four incarcerated at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Michigan. She is dying — and Governor Gretchen Whitmer has the power to save her.

For nearly a decade, Krystal has reported mold growing inside the prison. In 2023, doctors confirmed what she had been saying all along: mold had taken root in both her ears and her lungs. The specific fungus identified — Aspergillus — causes severe respiratory illness and can be fatal, especially in people with underlying health conditions. Krystal also has Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a serious heart condition that makes her infection far more dangerous.

The consequences have been devastating. The left side of Krystal's face has gone slack from nerve damage. She now needs a walker to move around. Breathing has become a daily struggle. A medication prescribed to treat her infection was delayed by a month due to cost barriers, and her follow-up care has been repeatedly interrupted.

State Rep. Dylan Wegela, who visited Krystal in March 2026, said he personally saw black mold growing out of both of her ears. "After meeting with Krystal, there is no mistaking that the conditions at Huron Valley are killing her," he said.

Krystal is not eligible for parole until May 2027 — but advocates, lawmakers, and medical evidence all point to the same conclusion: she cannot wait that long. Michigan law gives the governor the authority to grant medical clemency, and nine state lawmakers have already written to Whitmer urging her to act.

Governor Whitmer: grant Krystal Clark medical clemency now. The state put her in these conditions. The state has a responsibility to get her out before it's too late.