Support Coya's Journey to Health

Hello, all. We are three people who love and care about our shared friend, Coya Hope White Hat Artichoker. We are writing you to ask you to join us in showing up for Coya right now. Below is a letter from Coya and then at the end of it, a request from the three of us.

Hello my relatives and beloved community. I am writing today to give you some information about what’s been going on with my health over the last month. I will also humbly ask for you as my community for support during this difficult time.

In May, I was very lovingly and daringly asked about my health and alcohol use by a group of indigenous women I deeply respect. I was surprised but knew they were sharing a genuine concern and an offer for help.

Over my lifetime I have struggled with alcoholism. It has taken many of my family members. I am adopted, in part because my parents were alcoholics. Alcohol use and abuse is an issue for most native families and mine has been no exception.

I can honestly say, I didn’t set out to become an alcoholic but I am.

After this conversation in May, I decided to seek help. I came to California on July 5th to enter an alcohol treatment program. I was there for 4 days and went thru detox. They also took me for blood tests. The results came back and concerned the on-site physician, and she set determined to go to the ER. When we got to the ER, the doctor said my blood showed a few things that concerned them and they immediately admitted me on July 10th. After a couple weeks of trying to figure what was causing a blood infection and internal bleeding. The doctors concluded that I needed a liver transplant. It was determined that I had hepatic liver cirrhosis.

I was transferred to Keck transplant center, which is one of the best in the country. I was very fortunate to qualify and be listed and waiting for a potential donor. This process can take a while and nobody has clear timelines. This has all meant that I did make a transplant list but that I medically can’t leave California unless I transfer to another list.

The ask for you all is for your support in a few ways:

1) After the surgery, I will be in the hospital for 10 days or more. I will need someone to stay with me and help me for at least two months, potentially three. I am also looking for people who can come to stay with me in LA for a week or weeks at a time. I can cover housing and potentially travel costs. I wouldn’t be able to pay folks a salary or compensation. I will do my best to cover costs while in LA and whatever I can.

2) Donations to help cover expenses for the housing, which is almost more expensive than New York. I want to ask for your physical presence and time. if you’re retired or want to spend a week in Cali with me or work remotely or for any other reason.

3) Donation of miles to maybe help offset the cost of travel for folks who can’t make it here on their own but have the time to spend with me.

My family and several folks have been lifting up prayers. I am humbly asking for your help in any way possible. I am proud to say I am 45 days sober. I have been attending regular AA meetings and see this very much as a second chance. I didn’t realize how much I wanted to live until I actually faced the reality of a much shorter timeline.

It’s a lot of information, I am open to talking with folks and sharing more and answering any questions. I want to acknowledge my aunt Anne White Hat for coming to support right away and staying with me during the hardest and scariest times. My mom is here now for as long as she can stay. If you are interested in and available to come out and spend time with me, please let me know so that we can schedule a visit.

I know it’s a lot to ask and this is big news but I really would appreciate any help or assistance you can do, especially prayers and I am super grateful for the love of my family and community.

Coya

Friends, this is one of those times, those very important times. The three of us will do what we can to spread this request to the circles who know and have been impacted by Coya and by Coya’s work.

If you are interested and available to help, please go to this form and send us your information. Someone will reach out to you as soon as possible.

Please help spread the word and let’s show up well for a relative,

Aimee Thorne-Thompson

Paulina Helm-Hernandez

Susan Raffo