Help Jesse on her Healing Journey.

I was born with a tongue tie, but I went undiagnosed until I was about 30 years old… I always thought it was just an expression of speech but it turns out it is truly a medical condition that affects the tissues of the mouth and also affects other systems of the body such as the digestive system, airways/breathing, sleep, the nervous system and the fascial system. The body is its own ecosystem and when there’s an imbalance in one part, it impacts the whole.

Along with a tongue tie, I have cheek and lip ties and a narrow upper palate. These structural issues are the root cause of my sleep apnea, impacting my ability to get proper sleep which affects all areas of health and wellness. Sleep apnea and disordered breathing also cause me to grind my teeth in my sleep which causes wearing away of my teeth and gums, causes pain in my jaw & face, and gives me frequent headaches.

The wearing away of my gums is actually how my tongue tie was diagnosed, despite showing many other symptoms since infancy. Some of my gums have reached a critically low point where I am at risk of losing teeth if I don’t get a gum graft. The gum grafts would be the final step on this healing journey. I’ve already taken the first several steps which was beginning myofunctional therapy, working with my dentist to get scans and tests, getting my cheek and upper lip ties released. These first steps on the healing journey were paid by my personal credit card, and now I am struggling to pay off that debt while also trying to come up with the funds for the next phases of the healing journey.

The next phase is palate expansion, using a MARPE device that is screwed into the upper palate. Each device is made custom fit to the patients mouth, so I need to pay for the device before they will make it. The cost of the device is $1,800 and then I will need about $3,000 for the procedure of installing the device and removing the device when it’s time.

Once the expansion is complete, the next step is braces. The total cost of the braces will be about $7,000 and I will need about $2,000 just to get the braces installed. The braces will bring my teeth back together after the palate expander creates the gap, and it will also bring my teeth into alignment so that the pressure of the head/jaw is evenly distributed, and pain in my jaw & TMJD is relieved.

Once I’ve completed the palate expansion part of the process, which in total will last about 10 months if everything goes well, then I get the braces on and I will be qualified for the tongue tie release surgery.

The Tongue Tie release surgery, also called a frenectomy, will cost around $1,500.

Throughout this healing journey, I will need to work with a myofunctional therapist to retrain the muscles of my mouth and face so that my tongue is functioning properly. I will also need to receive CST - CranioSacral Therapy, which will aid the outcome of the Marpe as well as help with pain relief throughout the process.

MARPE device $1,800

MARPE procedure $3,000

Braces $2,000 (down) / $7,000 total

Frenectomy / Tongue Tie Release $1,500

Myofunctional Therapy $500-1,000

CST/PT $2,000+

Gum Graft $1,500-2,000+

previous services and procedures that I put on my credit card include:

myofunctional therapy $1,168

exams, scans, tests, $1,000

cheek & lip tie release $1,800

PT $430

*not included in these amounts is expenses of gas/travel to appointments and time needed taken off work for appointments and procedures/recovery time.

I am self-employed as an artist and with an holistic healing business. I am within the first four years of my business and finical instability is a real challange that I experience. I have faced many hardships in recent years and I am doing the best I can to overcome them. I appreciate any help, and no amount is too small to donate. Every dollar will help me pay for this healing journey that I have been on for over a year and I still have at least 2 years ahead of me until I am through this process. I have done all the research I can, and I know this treatment process is what I need to truly heal and feel good in my body. So while I do not want to have metal medical devices installed inside my mouth for two years, I know that it will be temporary discomfort for a lifetime of relief, healing, and wellness.

I am documenting my healing journey and each part of the process on my YouTube channel: Akunah’s Dream. The playlist is titled “Tongue Tie Series” and you can follow along my journey there.

In that YouTube series, I go into more detail about this condition and I talk about the treatment process. If you would like to learn more, check out my videos.

All donations here will go to my oral healing journey and I will document each step of the way.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this part of my story.

Know that I am truly grateful, and I pray that any goodwill you send to me finds its way back to you x10.

Peace & Love