“One item on Kristina Chesterman’s bucket list was ‘to save a life,’” Fernando Villegas, a health educator for Tehama County Behavioral Health, says. “Kristina saved my life and, through her legacy and my work in suicide prevention, I can only hope that more lives will be saved in the years to come.”
Despair and Redemption
In 2012, Fernando Villegas got what he considered a death sentence. “My nephrologist told me I would need to have a port inserted to start dialysis,” Fernando recalled. “I had been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 13 and by 2012 my kidneys were failing. I asked my nephrologist if I could be considered for a transplant.”
“This may sound strange, but as an older, Latino male, I struggled with the question, ‘Am I even worthy of a transplant?’” Fernando says. “I have been involved with the Latino Outreach of Tehama County, a local nonprofit 502(c)(3), since 1999 and this underserved population battles feelings of inferiority on a regular basis.”
Latino Outreach is a community organization based in Tehama County with a mission to uplift the local multicultural community through equitable access to services such as health, education and wellness resources. It strives to connect individuals and families to services that improve quality of life, strengthen community capacity and build unity across cultures. “My time with the organization helps spread the message that all people, no matter their heritage, are, of course, worthy of life,” Fernando says. “But sometimes today’s culture can make certain populations feel ‘less than.’ In my work at Behavioral Health and Latino Outreach, I want to serve in a way that helps everyone recognize their worth. The slogan I use most often is ‘you matter.’”
The Legacy of Kristina Chesterman: Saving Lives, Creating Family
The story of Kristina Chesterman, a Chico State nursing student who was killed by a drunken driver while riding her bike in 2013, is famous worldwide. “Kristina was an old soul,” her mother, Sandra, says. “I wasn’t even an organ donor yet, but Kristina signed up to be a donor as soon as she got her driver’s learning permit.”
Fernando Villegas was the recipient of Kristina’s pancreas and one of her kidneys. “I am Type O Negative and so was Kristina – we were a perfect match. But even after the surgery, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy and, out of the five recipients of Kristina’s organs, I was the last one to connect with her parents, Sandra and Dave.
“Kristina’s parents reached out before I did. When I received Sandra and Dave’s letter, I literally fell to my knees, remembering watching and listening to the local news about the accident. They expressed a strong desire to hear from me and to get to know me. It was like Kristina was reaching down from heaven.”
“We are all family now,” Fernando says. “The donor recipients get together with Kristina’s family at least twice a year for fundraisers in honor of Kristina. We were also together recently when the Bikeway 99 Phase 5 Bridge in Chico was opened in memory of Kristina. Kristina loved adventure, but she would want people to be safe. The bridge provides safety for pedestrians and cyclists.”
“One of Kristina’s dreams was to be a nurse with Doctors Without Borders,” Kristina’s mom, Sandra, says. “Kristina loved to travel and her dream now lives on in the Kristina Chesterman Memorial Clinic in Nigeria. All the fundraising efforts have made this possible. Offering help to others, both physically and mentally, was so important to Kristina.”
Screenshot
Connection Can Be Lifesaving
Fernando has worked for Tehama County Behavioral Health as a health educator since 1999, and Kristina’s legacy has only strengthened his work. Fernando noticed a post-COVID increase in mental health crises in the younger population. “Social isolation has been a major contributor to this. This simple phrase can be lifesaving; ‘I am here for you.’ Nobody should be alone in their suffering,” Fernando says. “We are all connected.”
“Speaking of connection,” Fernando reflected, “Kristina loved hummingbirds. I am constantly attracting hummingbirds and I like to think that is because of Kristina living on through me. This gives me the strength to help people in their time of crisis.”
Meet Fernando this spring when Latino Outreach hosts their free health Fair at Woodson Elementary School in Corning. Check North State Parent’s online calendar for the date.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide or has suicidal thoughts, help is available by texting or calling 988 (California Suicide Hotline).
Posted in: This is Tehama
Comment Policy: All viewpoints are welcome, but comments should remain relevant. Personal attacks, profanity, and aggressive behavior are not allowed. No spam, advertising, or promoting of products/services. Please, only use your real name and limit the amount of links submitted in your comment.
You Might Also Like...
Paskenta Supports Its Firefighters!
Paskenta: A Town with No Water Shares an Abundance of Love and Food for Firefighters The August Complex Fire in Tehama County You know it is summertime in Paskenta, CA […]
Tehama County Youth — Getting Things Done
As a continuing, occasional feature, North State Parent is happy to spotlight exceptional local students. This month, we are introducing you to five from Tehama County. Kaiya Chamblin is a […]
New Life and a New Heritage with Lifenet Tehama
With a new-to-them building, Lifenet Tehama is starting a new legacy as a shelter for first time moms. The Heritage House will open in January at 1008 Madison St., Red […]
This is Tehama: The Mothers and Daughters of Bud’s Jolly Kone
Who puts a twinkle in the eyes of North State kids? Who put a twinkle in a young sailor’s eye, so much that he hitchhiked home from San Diego every […]
