A Smile is Worth a Thousand Words

I've always been a smiler. I smiled in every picture, when I laughed, when I cried, when I was nervous, and when I met new people. But I honestly never knew how much, how many words, a smile was worth until I didn't have one. Last year, I had surgery to remove a brain tumor the size of a peach behind my left ear. Besides a huge scar, a deaf left ear, and facial numbness on my left side, I was also left with the inability to move the left side of my face. This means several things: the obvious, I can't smile, exude the emotion of joy, laugh to my full potential, or share the universal symbol for kindness and compassion. The not-so-obvious, my eyelid doesn't close completely, causing serious implications for my cornea and regular discomfort throughout my day,  nor can I eat or drink like a 30-year old adult. This becomes obvious when bits of food dribble out of the corner of my mouth finding a temporary home underneath my lips until my dining partner subtly lets me know that I have 'just a little something on my face.' These various conditions may seem like no big deal on a surface level, and maybe they aren't, but they affect my day on such a minute-to-minute basis that it has begun to affect me more emotionally than it does physically anymore. I never thought that at 30 years old, I would be afflicted with handicaps that make it nearly impossible to maintain composure and live a normal life.

When I learned that there was a surgery that could restore my facial function and get me looking, living, and feeling normal, I was hesitant. The emotional turmoil I have been through over the last year is almost enough to say that I don't want to go through another life-changing surgery ever again but when I really thought about it, the opportunity to smile at my friends and family, at a stranger on the street, and at the Starbucks barista who cheerfully hands over my coffee is priceless. Unfortunately, the surgery is not. I wasn't prepared for such a high price to pay, which is what brings me here. I am asking for any help you can give. I could never repay you and for that I am forever grateful and will return your kindness with the permanent grin that will be attached to my face moving forward.

Thank you for your generous donation and please, smile. Smile as often as you can, laugh, and offer the gesture to anyone that crosses your path, because you can. A smile is really worth a thousand words, and I cannot wait for the day when I have those words to share with everyone around me. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share my 1,000 words with you.