ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — On this Valentine's Day, some people across the Bay Area bought sweet treats for their loved ones while also helping a local family.

Krystn Simmons is donating a kidney to her father next month.

She's selling chocolate-covered strawberries to help cover the costs associated with the recovery post-surgery.

Her dad, Brent, has needed a kidney transplant for eight years. Organ donation is usually a long process, but the pandemic has made it even longer. Last year, Brent got COVID-19 which led to further delays. He is finally set to have surgery on March 8, along with his daughter. 

“Having bad kidneys, you just lose all your energy. You can’t walk far. And me, I’ve always been a physical person," said Brent. He went on to describe how excited he is to have the surgery and no longer be on dialysis. "Oh my God, you don’t even know. They called me this morning and said they were getting ready to book the flight and I’m like, ‘Oh, thank God. Nothing’s going to stop us this time.'”

Krystn says she didn't think twice about giving the gift of life to her dad. 

“To be here and see him excited and know we have a date, there’s this renewed spirit about it. You just feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel," said Krystn.

She says this surgery could give her dad another 20 years to live.

“In a way, it’s kind of selfish that I want to do this because I want more time with him," said Krystn.

Krystn says they're undergoing surgery at the VA medical center in Pittsburgh. She says the costs of the surgeries are covered. She's hoping to raise money to help pay for the caretakers they'll need post-surgery and the costs associated with recovering. She'll have to take more than a month off from work. 

She says that by selling these treats, she can also help people give gifts to their loved ones. 

“I want them to feel joy and happiness that they were able to give their person or their kid something so wonderful," said Krystn. 

Krystn says she's excited to start this journey with her dad and have him be able to do the things he loves again. 

“It’s definitely like winning the lottery. We’ve been waiting so long for this. Not even [winning] a million dollars could feel like this feels," said Krystn.

She plans to sell the chocolate-covered strawberries beyond Valentine's Day. She's accepting orders until February 25. You can call or text Krystn at (727) 244-8065 to place an order.