Hello my friends and family, I’m reaching out to seek help with an unexpected major medical obstacle. I am truly at a loss for words.

About a month ago, I went in for an emergency dental visit for pain and swelling on the right side of my face. The dentist referred me to an oral surgeon for a tooth extraction. After the visit with the surgeon, I was referred to a medical oral and facial surgery surgeon— a CT scan determined the pain and swelling was not from the teeth in question, but from a mass discovered in my cheek. Fast forward to the medical surgeon visit, a medical CT was performed. He confirmed a tumor the size of a tennis ball within my jaw. It has been eating away at my jaw and jaw joint and continues to grow rapidly. He believes it developed from an adjacent wisdom tooth. This tumor has now grown to the point where I can’t close my mouth all the way anymore.

The surgeon’s next steps are to perform a biopsy to rule out cancer, and to refer me out to UC Davis for treatment. This treatment will consist of the removal of the tumor and a vascular reconstructive jaw surgery— the right-side of my jaw and jaw joint will be taken out and reconstructed using bone and tissue grafts from my fibula (leg) bone. There are no local doctors qualified to perform this surgery, which is why I will be referred to UC Davis in California. After the major surgery, I will need to be sedated for one (1) week in the ICU for the newly connected blood vessel to be closely monitored.

The biopsy was performed yesterday and I’m currently waiting on the results. I’m in a massive amount of pain and currently holding on by living off painkillers 24/7. I have burned through my PTO, but still have to take time off from work for these appointments and the major surgery to come. The copayments have not been cheap and this medical express is already racking up quickly. This is just the beginning of the process.

We have estimated the cost to be around $60K at minimum. I’m working with my insurance to find out what is covered and how much I’ll be billed after everything, but the coverage is looking grim.

I know times are a bit tough for all of us. If there’s anything you can spare, please know that anything and everything helps. If you’re unable to contribute, I completely understand! A simple share is more than helpful!

Thank you, everyone. I’ll keep everyone posted on what’s happening.