HELP MACKENZIE GET HER PROSTHETIC JAW

Hi,

My name is Tiffany, and I am raising funds for my 16-year-old daughter, Mackenzie. In September 2022, while wrapping up the High School Softball season, Mackenzie was in the batting cages and was hit in the face. Her jaw locked up quickly and was rushed to the dentist, he refused to touch her. Went to the ER and was told there was no fracture, and it wasn’t dislocated. Scheduled with an Oral Surgeon, in which we spent 2 months of only having consultations before I found a new Oral Surgeon that specializes in TMJ. She’s had 2 Arthrocentesis procedures and 2 rounds of Botox. She has been to Physical Therapy, a Neurologist, and a Chiropractor. Nothing has helped! Her jaw has started to fuse, and she can only open her mouth 13mm.

Mackenzie has lost about 30 lbs getting to where we are today while living off protein shakes and soft foods. She had to become a homebound student because she was going to doctor’s appointments 3 days a week and she was in so much pain, she must take pain meds. Also, had to start seeing a Therapist to help her get through this mentally. She was so depressed with not being able to hang out with friends, eating normal food and doing regular teenage stuff. I think the most devastating thing to her is the thought of never being able to play softball again. Her dream was to attend and play for OSU.

It has finally been determined that the only way forward is to do surgery with a Prosthetic Jaw. Dr said this is no longer a question, this is needed for quality of life! Mackenzie was so happy to finally hear this and is looking forward to going back to a normal life.

We have done all the scans and measurements to have the prosthetic made. Now we are being told, we will have to pay $28,000 upfront before that could be done. We will then have to pay another $25,000 on the day of surgery. This doesn’t even include the $12,000 in Orthodontics that is also needed. I have called other Oral Surgeons in the State and even resorted to calling doctors in Chicago, Illinois and Nashville, Tennessee to no avail. Paying $65,000 just isn’t doable for our family, especially up front and I don’t know how to tell Mackenzie, that we can’t afford the surgery that she needs to survive.

Please, if you can, give what you can. Thank you.