Help LGBTQ Spiritual Leader Recover from Stroke
Donation protected
In July 2021, at the age of 47, Sofia suffered an unexpected and unexplained stroke. After a very invasive brain surgery to save her life, she was left unconscious, on a breathing tube, a feeding tube, and her potential for recovery was unknown. After several months, little by little, Sofia has “come back to life”---opened her eyes, moving the left side of her body and breathing on her own. She has often been described as a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Her recovery has just begun. Currently she cannot speak or walk because her brain needs continued rehabilitation services to put itself back together like pieces of a complex puzzle.
Sofia became medically stable and had a chance to come home. However, she requires 24/7 care, is high risk for falls, must have special medical equipment, remains on a feeding tube, unable to speak, needs support to move in and out of bed, and is unable to walk or stand on her own. We are Team Restore Sofia - a community of family and friends -- working to raise funds to:
Sofia became medically stable and had a chance to come home. However, she requires 24/7 care, is high risk for falls, must have special medical equipment, remains on a feeding tube, unable to speak, needs support to move in and out of bed, and is unable to walk or stand on her own. We are Team Restore Sofia - a community of family and friends -- working to raise funds to:
- Continue physical, speech & occupational therapy for Sofia to fully recover
- Pay for medical expenses
- Provide healing resources for Sofia's mental and emotional recovery.
To stay on a healthy road to recovery AT HOME, Sofia needs financial support for
•in home physical/occupational/speech therapies
•professional caretakers to continue
•ongoing medical supplies
•resources for mental and emotional support
Sofia was in training to become a pastor through Lincoln United Methodist Church. She provided spiritual guidance to Spanish speaking members of the LGBTQ+ community and was fighting for justice for the immigrant community. She was awarded the Bruce Scott Courage and Justice Award for her dedication for fighting for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community from Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church. She co-founded QYES: Queer Youth Exploring Spiritualty with her wife Alicia Vega. Our goal is to raise the needed funds to resource Sofia back to health.
Witness the power of Sofia's voice and work in this clip from news coverage of a protest she attended to fight against hate and racism.
Please donate whatever you can to get Sofia the recovery resources she needs to come back to us. Sofia is at risk of digressing and returning to institutional care where she would not receive the therapies she desperately needs to fully recover. Donations are needed immediately to keep Sofia at home where she can recover and prevent any digression in the recovery journey. No donation is too small for her road to recovery! Please give what you can and consider sharing this fundraiser with others. Donations go directly to Alicia to pay for Sofia's medical and recovery needs.
Fundraising team: Team Restore Sofia (8)
Beatrice Vega
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Alicia Vega
Beneficiary
Mona Noriega
Team member
Rachel Arfa
Team member
Norma Seledon
Team member
Evette Cardona
Team member
