Austin Season for Caring families seek help with medical bills, supplies

Sarah Asch and Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman
·4 min read

Natalia Castillo spent the week of the winter freeze in February at home in Kyle, terrified that her house would lose power and her daughter’s ventilator would stop running. Castillo’s daughter Mariana was born in 2019 with a rare neuromuscular genetic disorder and often requires a ventilator to breathe.

“The ventilator only lasts for six hours without power,” Castillo said. “I didn't sleep for the first three nights of the freeze because I was like, 'I only have six hours to think about this.' ... I think that was one of the hardest weeks of my life.”

The Castillo family is part of the Statesman's Season for Caring program, which helps hundreds of families each year through local nonprofit agencies. The Castillo family was nominated by Any Baby Can, which helps families with kids with special needs.

Since this year's program began Nov. 28, the donors have given $96,522. The Sheth family is matching up to $500,000 in donations this year.

Matching your donation: Sheth family matching $500,000 in Season for Caring donations

Castillo, 26, said she spends a lot of time communicating with insurance companies and medical supply companies to make sure her daughter has the supplies she needs. She was recently approved for a backup generator that should keep Mariana’s ventilator running during future power outages. However, she said basic supplies like a backup ventilator and tracheostomy tubes have been in short supply throughout the pandemic.

“It's a fight because before the pandemic she used to get four circuits (the tubing for the ventilator) a month and after March 2020 she only gets two,” Castillo said. “We had to be really careful with how we treat them and make sure they don’t break or anything because this is what's keeping my baby alive.”

She said she has a love-hate relationship with the ventilator.

Read more: Natalia Castillo: Every day brings blessings for mom of fragile child

“This box is always going to be with me as part of my daughter so I’ve got a little bit of love for it,” she said. “Just to think that if I didn't have that machine, she wouldn't be here. It's just incredible.”

Like many of this year's Season for Caring families, the Castillos have medical supplies and bills at the top of the wish list.

The Castillos would like to replace the carpet in their home with hardwood flooring and expand their bathroom to make it easier to care for Mariana. They also need wheelchair ramps, therapeutic toys and an external battery for a ventilator.

To find out more about the Castillo family or to give an item on their wish list, contact Any Baby Can at 512-454-3743, anybabycan.org.

Medical help: Capital Area Dental Foundation giving care to Season for Caring families

Ashley Rivera, who has stage 4 breast cancer, has three children with a neuromuscular disorder, one of whom uses a feeding tube. They need help with medical bills for therapies, specialists and medical equipment as well as a second refrigerator for 6-year-old Caleb's feeding supplies and equine therapy to improve the children's core strength. They also would like to convert their garage into a space for storing medical supplies. (Wonders & Worries, 512-329-5757, wondersandworries.org)

Judy Silva, who is caring for her brother Ramon, who has Down syndrome and has had a stroke, needs an eye exam and glasses. They also need a wheelchair hitch and rack for their car. (Austin Palliative Care at 512-342-4768, austinpalliativecare.org)

The López Guzman family has medical bills left over from when mother Arelis and her daughters Samantha, 4, and Marlen, 13, were attacked on a city bus. (Foundation Communities, 512-447-2026, foundcom.org)

More ways to give: Crib, wheelchair, winter coats: Donors help Season for Caring families through Amazon wish lists

BJ Lentz, who has become legally blind, needs many adaptive devices to help her.
BJ Lentz, who has become legally blind, needs many adaptive devices to help her.

Musician BJ Lentz became legally blind after hitting her head in 2017. She needs adaptive technology such as voice-recognition lights, a large TV for reading large print, smart speakers and electronic glasses. (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, 512-541-4226, myhaam.org)

The Gaston-Elllis family lost their mother to COVID-19 in August. They need eye care and glasses as well as orthodontia. (Hospice Austin, 512-342-4726, hospiceaustin.org)

The Fresch family needs orthodontia. They have taken in three foster children and are about to foster 1-month-old twins who were born prematurely, in addition to caring for their three biological children. (Dress for Success Austin, 737-471-6377, dressforsuccessaustin.org)

Tahaguas Abraha and her family from Eritrea also would like orthodontia. (Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 512-386-9145, interfaithtexas.org)

Donate to Statesman Season for Caring

Now through Christmas, the Sheth family is matching up to $500,000 in donations.

Find out more about Season for Caring, read the stories of the featured families and make a donation at statesman.com/seasonforcaring. You also can find a coupon and mail in a donation on Page 12E.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin Season for Caring families need help with medical bills, more