Help Hope with Prosthetic Jaw Surgery

Hope Davis is one of the toughest most determined young women I know. She was diagnosed at age 11 with Graves Disease. Graves Disease is an autoimmune disease that affects every part of your body. It causes hyperthyroidism and has been explained as having Menopause, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, and Dementia all at the same time. From this young age she worked hard to keep her disease under control. She changed her diet, faithfully took every pill and herb her pediatrician, endocrinologist, and naturopath doctor prescribed. She has had many bouts of remission over the years because of her dedication to her health.

In 2015 Hope started experiencing jaw pain shortly after having her braces removed. Her orthodontist said there was no problem. Her jaw pain became extreme, but she persevered. In 2020 Hope graduated from High School and was able to get her first job, unfortunately just a few months after she started working her health took a turn for the worse. She couldn’t walk without falling down, she lost the ability to speak, there were times she would wake up and not be able feel her legs. She would drag herself across the floor because she didn’t want anything to stop her. The doctors could not find anything wrong. They told us it was possibly connected to her Graves Disease. During this difficult time Hope’s jaw pain became unbearable. She visited a different orthodontist who took her jaw pain seriously. They did x-rays and found Hopes jaw joints were worn away. She was sent to an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon. The surgeon and orthodontist recommended the least invasive solutions to start with. She was given a mouth splint, put back in braces, and was set to have double jaw surgery after one year of the braces. She was told worst case scenario she would need joint replacement. At her one-year appointment her surgeon looked at her mouth and said, “Hope, I am one of the best in the world. I can’t help you.” Her joints were beyond repair.

Hope was recommended to a surgeon in Dallas, Tx. Her diagnosis is Idiopathic Condylar Resorption. Condylar resorption is a rare condition that causes bones in your jaw joint to break down. In addition to the ICR one side of her jaw is longer than the other, and as a result her jaw sits crooked. The surgeon recommends Hope have bilateral jaw joint replacement with prosthetics. This is a highly invasive surgery with many risks. But there is no other option. This is not a cosmetic surgery, but will allow Hope to go through life with a functioning jaw, and hopefully relieve her of her tremendous pain.

Although the doctors do not know what has caused the ICR, we have learned that it is possible that her autoimmune disease has contributed to this problem. Thankfully Hope has insurance that will help with the hospital and anesthesiologist, however the portion the insurance does not cover is around $65,000. Though Hope works as a secretary and is a soon to be published author through Devil Dog Press this is an overwhelming amount of money for any person. Please join us in supporting Hope financially, so she can focus on getting well. If you cannot support her financially, we would appreciate your prayers for her health. Thank you.