Support Veronica's Recovery from two Surgeries
Donation protected
INTRO
I am raising funds for Veronica Ramirez who has to undergo 2 consecutive surgeries on both wrists and right elbow and will be healing for the next 6 months unable to work. Veronica is a community based artist who has not only created myriad opportunities for participatory community altar making experiences through her earth based mandalas, but she has also dedicated her life in volunteer service to co-create several projects here in the SF Bay Area including 1) a dynamic community center dedicated to art and ecology, 2) an affordable co-housing project for people working in service to the world, 3) tirelessly supporting, in her advocacy work, a community of un-housed neighbors of Oakland. She has dedicated herself to these community engaging projects by supporting herself with independent contract work and dog boarding gigs, and now could really use our support during this healing process. Veronica was trying to solve this financial situation on her own but I feel like there is a larger group of people who love and appreciate her and the work that she has done for the greater community, so I am launching this fundraiser on her behalf.
MEDICAL STUFF
Veronica suffered from a fall last September that broke her left wrist and complications in her healing process have developed De Quervain's disease (radial styloid tenosynovitis) which continues to create pain and discomfort preventing full use and is one of the surgeries that is scheduled for the next 6 months. The right wrist and elbow are much more dire, it turns out, with a diagnosis of severe carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel, which was found out after she asked her Orthopedic doctor to take a look at it since it had been tingling and numbing more constantly. He ordered a nerve test last December and phoned her in early March to tell her that this threatens the permanent use of her dominant right hand if surgery (for nerve release) was not to happen within 6-9 months of that test. Due to Veronica’s long term Type 1 diabetes and polyneuropathy, recovery time for any injuries can take up to twice as long as people without diabetes, which for her is 4 months for surgery recovery.
SUPPORT ASK
Although Veronica’s health insurance will cover most of the costs of the surgery itself, she is still responsible for about 10% of the cost through her co-pay and will also need help with her monthly expenses during the recovery period. Additionally, she will need physical therapy and acupuncture at some point post surgeries and will have limited appointments through her coverage, tbd. Currently Veronica’s monthly expenses are approximately $2,500 each month so 4 months of support would total $10,000 and 6 months would be $15,000.
Please consider making a financial contribution however small or significant toward Veronica’s recovery support fund, and share this fundraiser to help get the word out.
VERONICA’S VOLUNTEERISM AT A GLANCE
Learn More About These, Mostly Local Projects
2008-2012—Sustainable Living Roadshow
2011-Present—PLACE (People Linking Art, Community & Ecology)
2013-Present—North Oakland Restorative Justice Council
2012-Present—Golden Gate Co-Housing (aka Shared Living Resource Center)
2020-2022—North Oakland Mutual Aid (NOMA)
2020-Present—Wood Street advocacy (Wood Street Commons)
SACRED ACTIVISM
1989-Present—Earth Altarscapes (formerly: Earth Peace Mandala)
Organizer
Jonathan Youtt
Organizer
Emeryville, CA