DIMMITT – Castro County Healthcare invites the community to help support a family, friend, and team member of CCHD next Thursday, May 10thfrom 11 AM to 1:30 PM. There will be a ‘fiesta’ fundraiser to help support Betty Oltivero during her kidney transplant journey.
CCHD will be hosting the fundraiser east of the Medical Center of Dimmitt, with the expectation of raising money to help the Oltivero family with the cost of travel to and from appointments in Dallas, and any medical cost that may arise.
“It makes me feel like I don’t only have my own family, but I have my family here at work,” states Oltivero. “This will really help me a lot.”
The Dimmitt native, Oltivero, has worked at CCHD for 13 years. For the past two years, she has been working in referrals. Before you may have seen her up front as a cashier. She continues to work and take care of her family while she awaits a transplant. Hoping that she does not get sick before she gets a call that there is a match.
“I have put my mind to saying, ‘I have to do this’,” said Oltivero. “I have my family, I have my kids, who I want to see grow up, and I just pray ‘God please give me strength’.”
Oltivero recently went to Dallas for final preparations for the transplant. Once her work up is done and everything has been processed she will move from her current spot on the kidney transplant waiting list to the top. This will hopefully help Oltivero receive a transplant sooner, but this is not always the case. It could take weeks, months or years, unless someone offers to donate and is a match with her.
“People that are interested in becoming a donor on their own can do it through organizations like ‘Be the Match’,” states Rachel Batenhorst, Clinic Director at the Medical Center of Dimmitt. “It is simple, I am a donor myself with this organization. You can be a donor for anything, not just a kidney. It is a simple cheek swab and you mail it in. You do receive some emails throughout the year to keep you posted on things, but if you are a match for someone they will call you and talk to you about it.”
CCHD will be raising money by selling enchilada plates for $7.00. It will consist of 2 beef enchiladas, beans, Mexican rice, chips and salsa. There will be on-site seating during the hours of the fundraiser (11 AM – 1:30 PM). CCHD is also offering To-Go orders that can be picked up by someone or delivered by a CCHD staff member to your workplace. If you would like to place a TO-GO order please contact Olivia Herrera at 806-647-8735 either the day before, May 9th, during business hours 8AM – 5PM or by 10AM day of the fundraiser, May 10th. Donations are welcome, and it will be cash or check only. Please make all checks out to Hands of Hope.
