Please Help Andrew To Smile Again

Hello Social Media Friends! Let us introduce ourselves to all of you. We are “The Brindley” Family. We are originally from England UK but now reside here in Ontario, Canada. We emigrated from the UK along with our Daughter back in 2007.

 

It has been an interesting adventure to say the least, with many ups and downs along the way. Immigration Red Tape, Job Losses, Disability, ongoing Health Issues, Bereavements, Hospitalizations with an Aneurysm, COVID-19, and Financial Challenges, to name just a few of the things we have dealt with during our time here. I myself have had 3 Heart Attacks, several admits to hospital, and 4 Surgeries in just the past 4 years. I woke up one chilly October morning in 2017 completely blind in my left eye. The sight will never return as I have a disease of the arteries in my head, for which there is no cure. I am currently recovering from a major surgery that I underwent in November. I will be out of action for up to 12 weeks again.

 

Enough about me though. This is a huge favour that I am asking you all for. I am trying to raise funds for my Husband, Andrew. He has silently been suffering for the past 7 or 8 years without ever complaining. He is my absolute rock, and he is such a trooper! He seldom asks for anything for himself. He works so hard for us just to make ends meet every week. He is always there for us, and he manages to make us laugh every day, even on the not so good days.

 

Andrew developed extensive tooth decay several years ago along with multiple dental abscesses and gingivitis in his gums. At that time, being new residents to Canada, funds were extremely tight and none of his treatments to repair his teeth have ever been affordable, or covered by the Canadian Healthcare system. Private Healthcare providers have also refused to cover the costs of his much needed treatment. Both entities deem that the dental work to replace his missing, broken, or  decayed teeth, provide Implants or supply him with even a new set of dentures as being a “Cosmetic” procedure, and therefore a luxury.

 

Isn’t that’s just crazy? Unless you have been involved in a facial trauma or physical attack that caused the dental damage, and which resulted in treatment or repair taking place at a hospital, then you are not entitled to any help. Period.

 

Every year, we have seen dental professionals in order to try to “Get it done this year” but always with a new inflated price tag and still no way to get the cost covered. Every year he leaves the clinics disappointed. I know that secretly he hates to smile and show his teeth or lack of. I also know that it has been very embarrassing for him on many occasions over the years. Those jokes from friends and relatives hurt sometimes, job interviews were always particularly hard for him, and as much as it doesn’t bother me what his little face looks like (I guess I must love him) I know that it has always bothered him that he doesn’t look how he would prefer to look for me. I would have to say over the years, It has depressed him on occasion and made him a little self conscious in himself.

 

The reason that I am creating this “Go Fund Me” today is not to just give him his happy smile back, (you know, that dashing one that caught me 23 years ago) but rather to help Andrew improve his daily functionality of just being able to eat and enjoy his meals. There are so many things that he can no longer enjoy at dinner time as he simply cannot chew them properly. More often than not, everyone has long finished their dinner at the dining table but he is still only half way through his plate of food. It is so sad and frustrating at the same time.

 

So, this brings me on now to today. January 8, 2022. He woke up yesterday morning, with yet another painful Abscess in his mouth. Terrible discomfort, difficulty to consume anything and facial swelling. Another trip to the Emergency Dentist was on the horizon for today, oh joy!

 

After several examinations in the chair, dental X-rays, prodding, poking, a bottle of gigantic Antibiotics and a long discussion, we now have discovered that things have deteriorated further.

 

With the current pandemic that we are in, like everything else right now, of course the cost for treatment this year compared to last year has now Sky rocketed yet again. The new cost to remove all of his deteriorating and broken teeth, cleaning out and lancing his gums, plus fitting a full set of dental implants is going to cost at least $6,744.

 

This figure also does not include all of the additional visits that he will need to attend for both pre-surgical assessments or post-operative assessments, that will also notch up significant costs. This figure is merely to remove all of the bad things lurking in his mouth, and to clean and supply a set of new pearly whites.

 

So, after a night of pain last night and lack of sleep, he received yet another slap in the face today and came home disappointed. Once again, treatment is out of our reach.

 

We are a one income family, using every single penny that we do have spare toward putting our daughter through University, and then subsequent Law School in another Province for the next few years. The cost of living is also rapidly rising right now and is set to get much worse over coming months. Suddenly being able to magic up enough funds to fix Andrew’s issue is just not possible for us, neither now or in the foreseeable future. 

 

Deciding to go public and set up this Go Fund Me page to ask good people for money, people whom we don’t even know and who owe our family absolutely nothing, really is not a step that we ever envisioned  having to take. Growing up, I was always taught that you will never know unless you “Ask” So this is why we are now politely asking you all, wishing and hoping.

 

We are asking you to find it in your heart and budget, a way to make even the smallest donation to our “Go Fund Me” campaign. Every dollar that you donate in good faith will go 100% toward covering the cost of Andrew’s Dental Treatment. Every single cent donated will help us tremendously. No one should have to suffer not being able to smile properly, or not be able to eat a family meal comfortably.

 

Having infected teeth can also impact your health immensely, both mentally and physically. Continued deterioration without the proper treatment can result in numerous serious Health issues. Abscesses, Gingivitis, Chronic Pain, Major Infections etc, which can travel to other areas wreaking havoc on other organs within the body. Dental Infections over time can travel to areas such as the Heart, Lungs and Digestive Tract, stomach or even the brain posing serious risks to the patient. This is one of my biggest fears long term for Andrew. Over time, I fear that  he may become very sick if his issue is not treated sooner rather than later.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to you for taking the time to read this long article. I truly hope that you can understand the need for me writing it today. I cannot watch him suffer any more.

 

We acknowledge that times are quite tough for so many  People right now, and there are certainly people in this world who are in far greater need than us. If you are able to contribute something today, no matter what the dollar amount, that would be wonderful and very much appreciated. If you feel that making a donation  is outside of your budget or list of priorities right now, then we completely understand. There will be no hard feelings here!

 

Regardless of the financial decision that I am asking you to make here today, I would like to ask if it is not too much trouble, that you at least share this page with all of your friends and family across your Social Media Platforms. By sharing this page across your Social Media, it will ultimately spread our cause both far and wide, which in turn will only improve our chances greatly of hitting our target amount that we need to raise.

 

We have all just entered into the year  2022. Please help me to make this year a special one for Andrew. Let’s make this the year to bring home for him “A New Year, A New You”

 

Very best wishes to you all for YOUR year ahead, from our family to yours!

 

Cheers,

 

Jo