Family and friends raising funds for hospitalized Atascadero woman
Katy O’Hern (left) with Collin O’Hern at French Hospital.
Fundraising effort seeks $15,000
–Atascadero resident Katy O’Hern has been stuck at French Hospital for over a week in the hospital, since July 25, with a mixture of bizarre symptoms and no confirmed cause for her illness.
She was brought into the hospital’s emergency room by her longtime partner Joseph “JoJo” Subia on Saturday, July 24, where she was given fluids and anti-nausea medicine before being discharged. Her symptoms worsened the next day on Sunday, July 25, and she was readmitted to the hospital.
Doctors have narrowed down her possible illness to Septic Colitis or Pyelonephritis, but on July 27 when she was scheduled for a gastroscopy to confirm she exhibited symptoms resembling a stroke. The rapid response team moved her into the intensive care unit, where she has been since then and experienced two more incidents that resemble a stroke.
O’Hern works at a family business that produces wine-related supplies. Her and Subia also spend a lot of time raising their kids with the youngest still just entering high school and the oldest studying biomedical engineering at California Polytechnic State University. Her partner Subia has stopped working to be there for her during this health crisis. Both of them dedicate a lot of time to the local community by volunteering in sports and youth programs, like how Subia coaches club soccer and boxing, both of which his oldest son takes part in.
From left to right (back): Joseph “JoJo” Subia, Maddox Subia, Joseph “JJ” Subia.
From left to right (front): Collin O’Hern, Katy O’Hern, Kiana Subia.
“Katy has been a rock to her family,” said her partner’s mother Jenni K. Cisco.
She is also an artist in her spare time specializing in acrylics as a medium with her work featured at Atascadero’s Kennedy Clubs location.
One of Katy O’Hern’s artworks, an abstract piece on acrylic.
A fundraiser was created by her partner’s brother to help cover the medical bills, future therapies and other expenses that may arise. The family hopes to have a specialist give a second opinion on her condition soon. They have raised over $8,000 towards a goal of $15,000.
Anyone interested in donating may do so at the fundraiser page.
CORRECTION: We regret to inform you that there were errors in the original published article, such as O’Hern’s age and the caption of the header photograph. These were pointed out to us by a concerned family member and have been changed to better fit the facts. Email [email protected] with any other corrections that may be needed, thank you very much.
Last edited 11:24 a.m.
