Dena's new smile
Donation protected
My name is Dena Kirkland (Shipman) and I was born on July 31, 1956 in Washington, DC. I have lived in the DC area most of my life however I went to College at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC where I graduated in 1980 with a BFA in Theater Design and Production. From there I lived in the South including Atlanta GA and Alabama. I worked as a Production Manager for many places. The Atlanta Ballet, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Alliance Theater, Habitat for Humanity and I was part of the first cultural exchange between the US and at the time the USSR, a production of "Driving Miss Daisy". In 2000 my health took a turn for the worse and I returned home to the DC area in 2004. I have lived on Social Security Disability since 2001. I have continued to work in the theater as my health permitted since my return.
In 2008 I started helping as a Production Coordinator at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts a performing arts high school in Washington, DC. I continue to help out as much as I can at Duke Ellington School of the Arts to this day.
Unfortunately in November of 2012 I was hit by a car while crossing the street at the school. The photo you see is me in the ICU at George Washington University Hospital the day after my accident. I fractured my skull, broke my jaw and my left leg was broken in several places. I spent a month in GWU Hospital and another month in a rehab hospital and 5 months in a wheelchair unable to walk. I can remember telling the Trauma Surgeon that I was already 100% disabled before the accident. He said great now you are 150% disabled! Thanks, Doc!
I went to physical therapy for over a year to learn to walk again. Along with that I have continued to recover. I have lost over 100 pounds and quit a 30 year smoking habit. Medicare paid for most of the bills related to my accident over $350,000. However I received no financial compensation from the person who hit me with their car. His insurance limits were so low and my accident expenses were so high that NO compensation was available. Through the help of family and friends I made it this far.
As you may or may not know Medicare does NOT cover teeth. After the accident due to nerve damage I have no feeling on the left side of my face. Slowly over the past years the teeth on the left side of my face have started falling out. I am unable to chew anything and mostly live on protein powder. My SSD payments leave me without any savings in fact I must rely on family and friends to make it through each month. With out them I would be homeless as well.
All this is to tell you why I need help. My credit is ruined by my inability to pay my percentage of the medical bills after the accident. Medicare will only pay 80% of medical bills and of course there is a deductible. I just want to be able to smile or maybe eat an apple. I know fixing my teeth will be painful, I can still feel the right side of my face, but not as painful as not being able to show them. Please help me. I'm about to be 60 years old and all I want is teeth. Thank you for any help you can give. I promise it will not be waisted. I will post a picture of the biggest toothy grin you have ever seen!
In 2008 I started helping as a Production Coordinator at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts a performing arts high school in Washington, DC. I continue to help out as much as I can at Duke Ellington School of the Arts to this day.
Unfortunately in November of 2012 I was hit by a car while crossing the street at the school. The photo you see is me in the ICU at George Washington University Hospital the day after my accident. I fractured my skull, broke my jaw and my left leg was broken in several places. I spent a month in GWU Hospital and another month in a rehab hospital and 5 months in a wheelchair unable to walk. I can remember telling the Trauma Surgeon that I was already 100% disabled before the accident. He said great now you are 150% disabled! Thanks, Doc!
I went to physical therapy for over a year to learn to walk again. Along with that I have continued to recover. I have lost over 100 pounds and quit a 30 year smoking habit. Medicare paid for most of the bills related to my accident over $350,000. However I received no financial compensation from the person who hit me with their car. His insurance limits were so low and my accident expenses were so high that NO compensation was available. Through the help of family and friends I made it this far.
As you may or may not know Medicare does NOT cover teeth. After the accident due to nerve damage I have no feeling on the left side of my face. Slowly over the past years the teeth on the left side of my face have started falling out. I am unable to chew anything and mostly live on protein powder. My SSD payments leave me without any savings in fact I must rely on family and friends to make it through each month. With out them I would be homeless as well.
All this is to tell you why I need help. My credit is ruined by my inability to pay my percentage of the medical bills after the accident. Medicare will only pay 80% of medical bills and of course there is a deductible. I just want to be able to smile or maybe eat an apple. I know fixing my teeth will be painful, I can still feel the right side of my face, but not as painful as not being able to show them. Please help me. I'm about to be 60 years old and all I want is teeth. Thank you for any help you can give. I promise it will not be waisted. I will post a picture of the biggest toothy grin you have ever seen!
Organizer
Dena Kirkland
Organizer
Silver Spring, MD
