Putting My Mouth Back Together Again

You may have seen one of my speeches. In case this is your first time encountering my story, here is a link to an interview I gave not too long ago. 

If you don't have time for the videos  or interviews, I will sum up the purpose of this Go Fund Me.

Despite insurance, like a lot of people, I'm being crushed by out of pocket medical expenses. 



Every single day is a balancing act between rent, food, and health care costs.

I have to make impossible choices. 

A few years ago, I needed an expensive dental procedure. Unfortunately, it was at the same time a speech therapy payment was due. Charlie’s speech was emerging. I was afraid we would miss a window of opportunity in her development if we cut her therapy. I chose to make her therapy payment and put off my dental procedure. The decision cost me dearly. 

Due to the delay, an infection spread throughout my mouth and jaw. I went to the emergency department because the swelling in my mouth obstructed my airway.  After a course of IV antibiotics, I was discharged. The next day, I had all of my teeth pulled, the infection drained, and parts of my jaw scraped away in a six hour procedure under local anesthesia.

Because of my brutal mouth surgery, I'm in chronic pain and unable to eat solid food comfortably. Mostly, I eat smoothies, soups, mashed potatoes, a lot of Ensure, etc. I miss eating with friends, my favorite foods (apple slices or salads), and foods with texture. I miss feeling full and not feeling hungry all the time.

This year, I hoped to have reconstructive work completed on my mouth. It would allow me to comfortably eat solids again, prevent further bone loss, and address the chronic pain issues. However, I recently discovered it needs to be more extensive than initially planned and will cost about $10,000.

As a single mom with regular medical expenses, I have no idea how I'm going to come up with that money. That is why I'm giving this Go Fund Me a shot.

Whether you give a little or give a lot, it will help change my life for the better. Thank you for taking the time to read and share this.