A Smile - A Simple Smile Creates its Own Message without Words
We all have that friend, the one that you cannot imagine a time in your life when she/he is not there…the one who knows your real hopes and dreams, and who you can count on for anything. For me, this person is my best friend and sister, Andrea Christl. I have many memories with Andi, and after all these years you have no idea how hard it is to get her to ask for help. She is one of the kindest and most courageous people I have ever known. I think Maya Angelou sums it up best: “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” Well, Andi has had more practice than most of us will ever experience in our lifetime.
My name is Tara and I have seen firsthand what my sister has endured in an escalating struggle of cardiac complications, which have caused countless other problems in her life. Despite all the surgeries and procedures Andi has been forced to endure (which forced her to make many adjustments in life); she is still somehow able to maintain a positive outlook. Andi’s unfortunate journey dates back to 1988 when she was being treated for shortness of breath and severe weight loss, diagnosed as asthma. But it wasn’t until a trip to the Emergency Room when she finally received an accurate diagnosis: one of her heart valves was closing! Before surgery could be performed, Andi developed pneumonia, delaying surgery until later that year. The surgeon planned to replace the failing mitral valve; however, he was able to repair it instead.
Since then, Andi hasn’t been able to catch a break with her health issues. She is on multiple lifelong medications, and has had ovarian cysts and endometriosis removed via multiple surgeries, tubal ligation surgery, pain management injections to help relieve pelvic pain, a hernia operation due to multiple abdominal surgeries, a second heart surgery to replace the failing mitral heart valve with a mechanical valve, a hysterectomy, and root canals and teeth extractions. Andi has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and tension headaches, has suffered a stroke (transient ischemic attack), had a third heart surgery to replace the tricuspid valve that was failing, developed atrial fibrillation/tachycardia (which has resulted in having numerous cardioversions – shocking of her heart back into rhythm), and suffered a second stroke (thalamic stroke). She is also currently agonizing with vertigo symptoms, and has been through vestibular therapy, which hasn’t been successful.
Andi’s cardiac issues and her countless medications have taken a toll on her teeth. She has long battled through efforts to maintain a healthy smile. However, she is now losing that battle: fourteen teeth have already been lost, and those remaining have decayed under the gum lines. A gap between the gum line and top teeth has formed because her teeth are dropping. Other teeth are cracking and chipping. Where there are no teeth, the jaw bone is receding due to the lack of tooth roots. All of this is causing a tremendous amount of constant pain. As you can imagine, her food choices are severely restricted, and her once-proud smile no longer brightens a room due to self-consciousness.
Next Step: Another Surgery
Dental surgery is Andi’s last resort because her teeth are no longer salvageable. Any remaining teeth will be removed. Since some of the jaw bone has already receded, and there is nothing on which to secure implants, bone grafting is required. And since there won’t be any tooth roots, the bone loss will continue until implants are inserted. Implants not only halt the bone loss, but also restore bite strength. Andi will receive eight dental implants so that a denture bridge can be clipped onto something stable. Andi’s healthcare providers require her teeth extractions to be done as an inpatient surgery in order to safely monitor her cardiac conditions and prevent any complications, including another stroke.
Andi, her physicians, and her employer have teamed up to dispute the insurance company’s decision on limiting insurance coverage. Despite many arguments brought forth by Andi, the insurance company will cover just a tiny fraction of the tens of thousands of dollars Andi’s dental surgery will cost her.
Through all of this adversity, Andi continues to maintain her positive outlook, and does everything humanly possible to tolerate the pain and not miss any work at her full-time job. However, we all see that the quality of her life has declined and continues to do so. I admire my sister for this "courageous" attitude, and I know you do, too, but everybody needs help now and again, and Andi needs ours now.
Not one to ask for help, she lives alone and takes care of everything herself. Andi needs our help with contributing towards her dental surgery because a smile is worth more than a thousand words. Anything you can donate would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Tara Christl
We all have that friend, the one that you cannot imagine a time in your life when she/he is not there…the one who knows your real hopes and dreams, and who you can count on for anything. For me, this person is my best friend and sister, Andrea Christl. I have many memories with Andi, and after all these years you have no idea how hard it is to get her to ask for help. She is one of the kindest and most courageous people I have ever known. I think Maya Angelou sums it up best: “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” Well, Andi has had more practice than most of us will ever experience in our lifetime.
My name is Tara and I have seen firsthand what my sister has endured in an escalating struggle of cardiac complications, which have caused countless other problems in her life. Despite all the surgeries and procedures Andi has been forced to endure (which forced her to make many adjustments in life); she is still somehow able to maintain a positive outlook. Andi’s unfortunate journey dates back to 1988 when she was being treated for shortness of breath and severe weight loss, diagnosed as asthma. But it wasn’t until a trip to the Emergency Room when she finally received an accurate diagnosis: one of her heart valves was closing! Before surgery could be performed, Andi developed pneumonia, delaying surgery until later that year. The surgeon planned to replace the failing mitral valve; however, he was able to repair it instead.
Since then, Andi hasn’t been able to catch a break with her health issues. She is on multiple lifelong medications, and has had ovarian cysts and endometriosis removed via multiple surgeries, tubal ligation surgery, pain management injections to help relieve pelvic pain, a hernia operation due to multiple abdominal surgeries, a second heart surgery to replace the failing mitral heart valve with a mechanical valve, a hysterectomy, and root canals and teeth extractions. Andi has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and tension headaches, has suffered a stroke (transient ischemic attack), had a third heart surgery to replace the tricuspid valve that was failing, developed atrial fibrillation/tachycardia (which has resulted in having numerous cardioversions – shocking of her heart back into rhythm), and suffered a second stroke (thalamic stroke). She is also currently agonizing with vertigo symptoms, and has been through vestibular therapy, which hasn’t been successful.
Andi’s cardiac issues and her countless medications have taken a toll on her teeth. She has long battled through efforts to maintain a healthy smile. However, she is now losing that battle: fourteen teeth have already been lost, and those remaining have decayed under the gum lines. A gap between the gum line and top teeth has formed because her teeth are dropping. Other teeth are cracking and chipping. Where there are no teeth, the jaw bone is receding due to the lack of tooth roots. All of this is causing a tremendous amount of constant pain. As you can imagine, her food choices are severely restricted, and her once-proud smile no longer brightens a room due to self-consciousness.
Next Step: Another Surgery
Dental surgery is Andi’s last resort because her teeth are no longer salvageable. Any remaining teeth will be removed. Since some of the jaw bone has already receded, and there is nothing on which to secure implants, bone grafting is required. And since there won’t be any tooth roots, the bone loss will continue until implants are inserted. Implants not only halt the bone loss, but also restore bite strength. Andi will receive eight dental implants so that a denture bridge can be clipped onto something stable. Andi’s healthcare providers require her teeth extractions to be done as an inpatient surgery in order to safely monitor her cardiac conditions and prevent any complications, including another stroke.
Andi, her physicians, and her employer have teamed up to dispute the insurance company’s decision on limiting insurance coverage. Despite many arguments brought forth by Andi, the insurance company will cover just a tiny fraction of the tens of thousands of dollars Andi’s dental surgery will cost her.
Through all of this adversity, Andi continues to maintain her positive outlook, and does everything humanly possible to tolerate the pain and not miss any work at her full-time job. However, we all see that the quality of her life has declined and continues to do so. I admire my sister for this "courageous" attitude, and I know you do, too, but everybody needs help now and again, and Andi needs ours now.
Not one to ask for help, she lives alone and takes care of everything herself. Andi needs our help with contributing towards her dental surgery because a smile is worth more than a thousand words. Anything you can donate would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Tara Christl
Organizer and beneficiary
Andrea Christl
Beneficiary