Wings and Aji are finally safe in their beautiful new home. And newly married. But things never are that happily ever after. This country, if you’re not part of the privileged few, can grind you down.
Back in 2010 when GulfWatchers covered the Deepwater Horizon disaster, we learned that BP had (and still has, as far as I know) a policy blithely referred to as “run to fail.” This meant that rather than maintaining and repairing equipment, they’d just beat the crap out of it until it collapsed, and then they’d replace it.
Feels like that’s what happens to us, sometimes. Especially if you’re Native American.
Aji, as you may already know, has been having huge health issues. These issues have incurred many costs: ambulance rides, tests, tests, hospital stays, tests (including a heart catheterization), tests, doctor consultations, and tests. Also too, tests.
And that means bills. As-yet-unseen bills. Soon-to-be-delivered bills. Bills you’re afraid to open. Bills you have to open. Bills you wish you’d never opened. Bills that make you want to run like hell to a country with no extradition.
In addition to the above expenses so recently incurred, Aji is now on oxygen: another cost, and a continuing one. You’ve all helped them build their safe and sound home. That’s an amazing thing you did. Now can we kick in to help cover Aji’s medical bills?
It’s what we do. America doesn’t provide loans for someone building a house on tribal lands — because the bank doesn’t then have the option to foreclose. America doesn’t provide help for un- and under-insured people (again, particularly if you’re indigenous and therefore considered “less than” and yet, ironically, some kind of interloper in this nation). And while they can’t repossess Aji herself, they can break Aji and Wings financially. And you know they will. Gleefully.
It would be lovely, if you’re in a position to, if you decided now’s the time to purchase some of Wings’s extraordinary work, or even commission a piece for yourself or someone you know would love it. But any contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference and helps defray the impact those bills will have.
Wings’s work is traditional, timeless, and filled with spiritual significance. Treat yourself and read the descriptions of these pieces at his site:
There’s so much more to be found at Wings’s site. And if you fall in love with an item marked “sold,” you can commission Wings to make another for you.
Contributions can be made at Wings’s PayPal site. And never worry that you can’t offer enough: every bit helps. As JoanMar’s grandmother always said, “Many a mickle makes a muckle.”
Equally important as purchases and contributions are shares. Shares of Wings’s site, shares of Aji’s blog, share of this post, shares of any information you can impart to others.
*We have a $500 match offered from an incredibly kind and generous person. Matching funds are cash for cash only — all contributions go toward meeting the match. When we reach $500, the match kicks in and we’ll have sent Aji and Wings a total of $1000. That amount should be a start, at least, toward handling their impending medical bills.