Let's Help Amanda Smile Again!

Hello!

I'm Felicia Lansbury Meyer, the artistic director for Durango PlayFest. That's me on the right in the photo with my friend, Amanda McCaleb.

Amanda became an important part of the Durango PlayFest family and Fort Lewis College theatre community last summer. Amanda recently experienced a devastating loss and extreme financial setback. We hope you can help us help Amanda.

Five years ago, Amanda was diagnosed with Hypophosphatasia, a rare genetic bone disease, resulting in the loss of her teeth and disintegration of part of her jawbone. She was able to save up for a costly (and painful) surgery and specialty dentures costing close to $8,000.

However, Amanda was only able to enjoy her new set of beautiful teeth for 8 months. Recently, when she stepped into a school gym to pick up her daughter from volleyball, Amanda’s locked vehicle was broken into and her bag was stolen. It contained her dentures, eyeglasses, wallet and other items such as money she’d withdrawn from savings to pay bills.

Amanda is the mother of two teenagers and is already struggling to make ends meet. Replacing the dentures is close to impossible for someone on her budget. She has been ridiculed by people who wrongly assume the lack of teeth is due to drug use. Her confidence has plummeted and she wears masks while in public now.

We have initiated this GoFundMe campaign to help Amanda pay for a new set of dentures, and we hope you can help. We often take for granted what it means to be able to smile and to interact confidently with others. The stigma of loss of teeth can affect one’s employment prospects.

Thank you for considering a gift toward this worthy campaign. Any amount would mean a great deal. Let’s help Amanda smile again.