‘Operation Tin Man’ raises $27,000 for woman’s heart transplant

A group of Benicia residents has banded together to help their friend, a woman who needs a heart transplant.

Calling their effort “Operation Tin Man” — inspired by the Tin Woodman character in L. Frank Baum’s book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” who joined the adventure to the Emerald City hoping the wizard would reward him with a heart — the group has raised $9,000 toward the goal of getting Tiffany Bennett Robbennolt her transplant.

Robbennolt, the mother of two sons who now lives in Magalia, is the daughter of Dennis Bennett, a Benicia man who died at 36 of cardiomyopathy, a heart disease. She was 9 when she lost her father.

During her second pregnancy five years ago, she, too, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, said David Batchelor, one of the organizers helping to raise money for Robbennolt’s transplant.

“As a nurse’s assistant, Tiffany has helped people for a living,” Batchelor said. Now Robbennolt is the person who needs help.

“Doctors are now telling her she has no chance for survival without a heart transplant in the next few months,” he said.

But her family has additional expenses, such as housing near her treatment, deductibles and medical costs, that could exceed $100,000.

The first Tin Man fundraiser, Oct. 17 at First Baptist Church, raised about $9,000 through a silent auction and other activities.

Batchelor, chief executive officer of LifeMed, said he became involved in part through the “Real Benicians” Facebook page.

“I, like everyone in this story, grew up in Benicia and have several generations still living in Benicia, some in the same neighborhoods,” he said.

On that page, readers can learn about such people as Bennett and his early death from heart disease.

Now, Batchelor said, “We all have a chance to prevent the same tragedy from happening to his daughter. This is a story about ‘Benicians Helping One Another’ through difficult times.”

Benicians chipped in for the Tin Man fundraiser, he said, among them Benicia firefighters, who joined other residents who gave time, products and services for the silent auction and drawings.

Among the contributors were Kinders, Stella & Dot, Cakebread Cellars, All Bay Animal Hospital, Charlie’s Attic, Mosaic Market and Contemporary Portraiture.

Those attending shopped at the bake sale and bought food from the A Taste Of Chicago food truck. Other activities were a photography booth, a dunk tank, face painting, live music and bounce houses.

“I guess my thought is, if we could all help, even a little, that a lot of ‘littles’ could make a serious impact on the stress and outcome burdened by one family,” Batchelor said.

Tawanda Dinsdale, Robbennolt’s mother, started the Go Fund Me account two months ago, and so far it’s brought in more than $27,000.

“Without great friends and family, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” Dinsdale said.

The medications that have been keeping her daughter alive for the past eight years no longer are able to keep her healthy, and Dinsdale said her daughter needs a transplant in the next three to six months, as well as money for other expenses associated with the treatment and surgery.

She said her daughter has changed medication, but is experiencing unpleasant side effects. Despite that, she said, Robbennolt is maintaining “a great attitude.”

Those interested can donate online through the Go Fund Me account at http://www.gofundme.com/dhe0h0.