A Smile for my mom, Martha Little
Donation protected
My mom, a 77-year-old single mother of five was always an independent and strong matriarch. Although times were tough feeding and clothing five children, she always managed.
In the last 10 years, Mom has had a stroke and a hip replacement. Good surgeons were on her side. She recovered and healed. In 2014 she began to experience hip problems on the other side. It's common to have issues with the other hip following the replacement of the other. Mom asked me to get her on the Stop Smoking Program, part of my cold laser therapy services, so she could be considered an ideal candidate for the surgery. After one treatment, she quit smoking after a 55-year old habit. She was so excited to get the hip replacement, the pain had become too much to bear.
She finally got her surgery but it was horrifically botched. Broken femur, sepsis shock, coma and a 9-month hospital stay from a routine hip replacement surgery. In this time, Mom suffered extensive damage to her mouth because the hospital staff did not remove her false teeth when she went into shock. She almost bit her tongue off after seven hours of suffering. She was transported to another hospital after they rammed tubes down her throat causing more damage to her mouth.
Thankfully, Mom woke up from the coma and decided to come back and live her life to the best of her ability. I'm not sure if she knew how difficult this was going to be. During her 9-month hospital stay, she suffered kidney failure, significant damage done to her mouth and bed sores plagueing 80% of her body. Her body wounds have healed over a long period of time but her throat and face is still hard and numb. She can no longer walk without a walker or eat solid food as her gum line has severely deteriorated. She has lost 65 pounds since her surgery due to ill-fitting dentures.
My goal is to restore Mom's quality of life. I'm asking each of my friends to help Mom live out her days HAPPY and with the ability to eat real food once again. Solid, delicious, nutritious food.
Earlier this week, we went to the dentist for a dental implant consultation. We were told that Mom needs two implants as soon as possible due to her deteriorating gum line. These implants are going to cost us $8000.00. Mom doesn't have any insurance. She has survived residential school, raised five children and loved her grandchildren fiercely. She has always helped family when they asked and her passion for life has outlived many of her friends.She was told that due to the deterioration of the bottom gum line she would need 2 implants as soon as she could get in. Time is the enemy as it effects the gum line. Implants were quoted at $8000.00. When we got home, Mom cried thinking that she would never regain some of her life back.
Mom survived residential school, she raised 5 children and some grandchildren, she always helped family when they asked, she has outlived her friends. Mom has been my best friend for all my life. My rock, my mentor, my go-to when there was no one else to turn to. She has always helped everyone out. A place to live, money if needed or a meal.
She used to have an amazing life coloured with family, new grandbabies, the ability to be independent, travel, go to rodeos, dance, sing, bathe, go for walks and chat with friends. Today, she is depressed and in constant pain from her set of dentures that no longer fit. She is ashamed to go out in public, worried about pitying stares.
Any amount can help. I hope you can join me in bringing back Mom's smile.
Thank you for your time to read Mom's story.
In the last 10 years, Mom has had a stroke and a hip replacement. Good surgeons were on her side. She recovered and healed. In 2014 she began to experience hip problems on the other side. It's common to have issues with the other hip following the replacement of the other. Mom asked me to get her on the Stop Smoking Program, part of my cold laser therapy services, so she could be considered an ideal candidate for the surgery. After one treatment, she quit smoking after a 55-year old habit. She was so excited to get the hip replacement, the pain had become too much to bear.
She finally got her surgery but it was horrifically botched. Broken femur, sepsis shock, coma and a 9-month hospital stay from a routine hip replacement surgery. In this time, Mom suffered extensive damage to her mouth because the hospital staff did not remove her false teeth when she went into shock. She almost bit her tongue off after seven hours of suffering. She was transported to another hospital after they rammed tubes down her throat causing more damage to her mouth.
Thankfully, Mom woke up from the coma and decided to come back and live her life to the best of her ability. I'm not sure if she knew how difficult this was going to be. During her 9-month hospital stay, she suffered kidney failure, significant damage done to her mouth and bed sores plagueing 80% of her body. Her body wounds have healed over a long period of time but her throat and face is still hard and numb. She can no longer walk without a walker or eat solid food as her gum line has severely deteriorated. She has lost 65 pounds since her surgery due to ill-fitting dentures.
My goal is to restore Mom's quality of life. I'm asking each of my friends to help Mom live out her days HAPPY and with the ability to eat real food once again. Solid, delicious, nutritious food.
Earlier this week, we went to the dentist for a dental implant consultation. We were told that Mom needs two implants as soon as possible due to her deteriorating gum line. These implants are going to cost us $8000.00. Mom doesn't have any insurance. She has survived residential school, raised five children and loved her grandchildren fiercely. She has always helped family when they asked and her passion for life has outlived many of her friends.She was told that due to the deterioration of the bottom gum line she would need 2 implants as soon as she could get in. Time is the enemy as it effects the gum line. Implants were quoted at $8000.00. When we got home, Mom cried thinking that she would never regain some of her life back.
Mom survived residential school, she raised 5 children and some grandchildren, she always helped family when they asked, she has outlived her friends. Mom has been my best friend for all my life. My rock, my mentor, my go-to when there was no one else to turn to. She has always helped everyone out. A place to live, money if needed or a meal.
She used to have an amazing life coloured with family, new grandbabies, the ability to be independent, travel, go to rodeos, dance, sing, bathe, go for walks and chat with friends. Today, she is depressed and in constant pain from her set of dentures that no longer fit. She is ashamed to go out in public, worried about pitying stares.
Any amount can help. I hope you can join me in bringing back Mom's smile.
Thank you for your time to read Mom's story.
Organizer
Barbara Andrea Taylor
Organizer
Grande Cache, AB
