Operation: Recovered Smiles :)

My name is Mary "Chelene" Schafer. I am 40 year old wife and mother living with Epilepsy. In January 2001, I had my 1st of many Gran mal seizures. For over a decade I have dealt with this condition controlling my life, changing me both mentally and physically from the person I once was. As of today my seizures still consume me. The many Doctors and Neurologists I have seen have never been able to understand why I developed this condition or been able to control my seizure activity. I have gone through several surgeries due to my seizures. A hysterectomy procedure, a Vagus Nerve Stimulator implant, even total shoulder reconstruction, all because of the seizures. These epileptic fits have also stolen from me. They rob me of my memory, and my thought process. Remembering simple things such as your child's birth date are sometimes difficult for me. It is hard for others to realize the emotional toll this plays on me on a daily basis. They have also stolen my self esteem. Due to the excessive medications I have to take and the strenuous nature these seizures place on my body, my teeth have almost become nonexistent. I am so embarrassed to converse with others or go into public social situations because of my deteriorating appearance. I have so many people stare and I feel so overwhelmingly helpless because of this. My teeth are so bad, even something as chewing my food has become a painful task. That is why my husband has started this campaign. Operation: Recovered Smiles. This is his attempt to raise funds for a "dental make-over" and make me look like i once did in the picture above. I want to be able to have that restored confidence to be able to walk among others, talk, smile, even laugh, without being so horrifically embarrassed as I do on a daily basis. I am attempting to raise $8000 dollars for dental implants and recover my smile again. "You'll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile." - Charles Chaplin Thank you for reading my story. Thank you for your thoughts & prayers. Thank you for your friendship and love. And THANK YOU for your donations. May God bless you and yours. ~ Chelene