From Hair-lip & Cleft Palate to Health and Smile
Donation protected
Hello Everyone!
My name is Shaneka Peters. I was born with a bi-lateral hair lip and cleft palate. This medical condition has had a profoundly negative impact on my life when it comes to overall health. But despite that, I have thrived. However, it hasn’t been easy. Now, finally, after enduring multiple procedures, I have an opportunity to fix this once and for all. But the fix comes with a steep price. So I need your help. Please consider a small donation. Even if you cannot personally donate, I ask that you please share my story with others, because someone else may be able to help. Every little bit helps and is highly appreciated. With that, let me share my full story.
A Bi-lateral Hair-lip and Cleft Palate is a congenital disorder where the soft and hard palates in your mouth does not fully form and fuse. It resulted in the roof of my mouth being open on the inside and on the outside, my top lip was separated. My Mother was only 16 when she had me. They told her that I would have major issues as a result. They told my mom that I would not be able to speak clearly or be understood. They told her that I would have constant dental issues. They told her that I would be mentally retarded. When I was 3 days old, I had my first surgery to close my palate and then my lip after a few months. Since then I have had several surgeries at different stages in my life to close my palate, my top lip (I still bear the scars from where they tried to give me a “cupid’s bow”), to lift my nose where the first time, they took a bone from behind my right ear and then the second time where they took a bone from my right rib all before age 11. My Grandmother wouldn’t allow the doctor’s predictions to be correct. She took me to see Speech Therapist to help me talk and be understood. She helped teach me to read and memorize whole stories and books by age 3. I was telling Children’s Stories as church to my peers by age 4. I was making straight A’s in school all through 8th grade. She taught me to live and act like there was nothing wrong with me and I was normal just like everyone else. But the one thing that did come true, was the constant dental issues.
As a kid, I grew in my baby teeth as most kids do. When I lost my baby teeth, I went awhile without teeth in those spots. I remember the embarrassment of always having the solo in the Christmas program to “All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth” for several years through Elementary school. Because my mouth was so small, when teeth did grow back in, they were not the teeth that belonged to that area. During my Middle School years, I had a molar growing where my 2 front teeth should have been. It lasted for a couple years and then went bad, so it had to be pulled. By my Freshman year in High school, I again had teeth growing in the front, but they were my canine teeth. They lasted for a few years as well then began to go bad and had to be pulled. I always had to go to Prosthodontists because they specialize in my condition. Constant dental visits to fill, then root canal, then pull teeth were my normal life. To be honest, I never showed it outwardly, but the constant teasing and shaming that I went through during my childhood years caused a lot of grief for me. And then for my reality of being an adult still with missing teeth was equally embarrassing and depressing to me especially because I still faced teasing and neglect from adults. Not to mention the health aspect always being a worry, knowing that dental issues are linked to heart and other health problems, and infections that could enter the brain and cause damage, and even something so simple like what I could eat or not because I couldn’t sufficiently chew. So finally, in 2013, at 36 years old, my Prosthodontist and I decided that the best course of action would be to have the remaining of my top teeth pulled and replace it with a full Prosthetic denture and a partial denture for my bottom jaw to replace my missing molars on both sides. So once again, I was blessed to undergo the major surgery to have it done and for a while, I finally felt beautiful and healthy.
Now once again, I am back at a crossroads and faced with dental challenges. Over the last few years, my dentures have become loose and ill fitting. I am experiencing pain and discomfort when I eat. My palate is starting to separate because there is nothing in the jawbone to keep it strong and healthy. I have been receiving these flyers from Clear Choice Dental Implant center for a few months. I remembered that my Prosthodontist told me that eventually, I would have to transition to something more permanent like implants to maintain my dental health. I made an appointment and went. I met with a Prosthodontist there during my free consultation. They took a 360 degree CT scan which showed my current situation. He explained to me that under normal conditions, I would not be a candidate for implants. The bone in the front of my mouth (the area between the canine area under your nose) is completely gone. On the sides where my molars would be, the bone needs to be at least 11mm long, and I have 12.1mm. It also needs to be 5mm wide and I have 5.2mm. But because a full jaw implant requires 4 posts to be placed, and I have no bone in the front, it would require to have a special surgeon to place the posts in the zygomatic bone (cheek bone) and the only one in the area who is qualified to do that works within their office. He also informed me that the front 6 bottom teeth that I do have are all starting to show signs of weakening and going bad and so they also would need to be pulled and replaced with a full bottom implant as well.
This is where I am asking for your help. Implants are a permanent lifelong solution to my dental problems. The total cost for this procedure I was quoted is $55,000.00 from start to finish. And I was told that this price is good for 90 days. I am a Wife, Mother of 5, Grandmother of 1 and I could never afford this work. I have been a Licensed Practical Nurse since 2001 who works 10-12 hour nights, 4 days a week, taking care of Pediatric patients. I have been a full time Nursing student working towards my RN, BSN since 2015. I am working towards my degree so that I can apply to the US Public Health Service so that I can serve with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS to educate youth ages 13-24 (the highest transmission group) to help slow the progression of this disease until a cure can be achieved. I am a Master Guide who volunteers hundreds of hours every year with youth ages 10-18 in an organization called Pathfinders (like Boy/Girl Scouts) to provide Vocational, Physical, Spiritual, and Leadership training. I am only 42 years old. To be in the prime of my life and career and be faced with the reality that very soon (less than 2 years according to Dentist), I won’t even have enough bone to support any dentures and therefore would have no teeth in my mouth is frightening especially when I’m trying to make such an impact on our Youth to help their future become healthier and brighter. It is frightening to know that once again my health could be at risk because of the link to dental issues. I have been blessed to overcome almost everything the doctors said back in 1977 that I could not. I am asking that you help me overcome this last hurdle not only to be presentable and professional, but to be healthy and live the message I am trying to portray. I write poetry under the name of “Trinity” and I would like to leave you with a poem I wrote when I finally vocalized the burden that was placed on me. May you be blessed by it. Thank you for taking time and reading my story and I hope that you consider helping. Please share it!
“My One on One With Oprah”
In this disposition I will reveal a confession
A stress factor creating signs of depression
Bearing the scars of past healed incisions
I am not considered “normal”
I was born with a physical defect
My face is not “perfect”
I have a bi-lateral hair-lip
And cleft palate
My mouth projects
A bad painting
Wasting its portion of the canvas
My regret is yet another “Unexplainable It”
Cause there was nothing I could have done about it
I was picked
Out of an unusual lottery
To bless a young woman
With an extra helping of
Responsibilities
A teenage girl
To know her age simply
Add 9+4+3
For you slow folk
It equals 16
Because of this
I’ve endured many surgeries
To possibly correct my deformity
The goal was to give me a look of normalcy
Guiding my steps towards conforming
Then again,
Who says that I don’t look normal?
Like my face is informal attire
Worn at a Black-Tie affair hosted by society
I’m just one of a variety of looks
Yet unique
Not wanting to be labeled
A freak
Of nature
Big wagers
Bet on the solace of my existence
Destined to endure disgusted stares with consistence
Not taking the time to realize that I too
Was created in His image
See sin sometimes sacrifices the perfection of His likeness
Even still the value of my being is priceless
Although public scrutiny has me feeling indecisive
I may be different
But I’m not indignant
And I would appreciate it
If you quieted your ignorant
Attitudes
And used common sense
Think about how you would feel
Hearing those comments
I am not an inanimate object
My feelings and self-esteem are subjected
Pride and confidence torn down
Instead of erected
Like my link in the chain of humankind
Is not connected
Don’t you realize how I am affected?
Understand that I have to look in the mirror every day
And accept the fact that God made me this way
I am special no matter what anyone may say
And for you mean folks
I’ll bend my knees and pray
That the Son (as in JESUS) will light your eyes with a ray
Of sunshine
And brighten your spot filled minds
To realize that I’m not one of a kind
I live amongst many defective products
Of this crazy world despite my good conduct
Treat me with respect
Look past my displayed defect
Cause we all carry some form of irregularity
Even if it is something that you cannot see
I hope this broadens your outlook and perspective
That way I’ll no longer be neglected
Or rejected
Yes
My cleft palate and hair-lip
Makes me different
But I am still a person
Physical
Not invisible
And I wish to be treated
As such.
© Trinity
Jan. 10, 2K6 – Jan. 19, 2K6
My name is Shaneka Peters. I was born with a bi-lateral hair lip and cleft palate. This medical condition has had a profoundly negative impact on my life when it comes to overall health. But despite that, I have thrived. However, it hasn’t been easy. Now, finally, after enduring multiple procedures, I have an opportunity to fix this once and for all. But the fix comes with a steep price. So I need your help. Please consider a small donation. Even if you cannot personally donate, I ask that you please share my story with others, because someone else may be able to help. Every little bit helps and is highly appreciated. With that, let me share my full story.
A Bi-lateral Hair-lip and Cleft Palate is a congenital disorder where the soft and hard palates in your mouth does not fully form and fuse. It resulted in the roof of my mouth being open on the inside and on the outside, my top lip was separated. My Mother was only 16 when she had me. They told her that I would have major issues as a result. They told my mom that I would not be able to speak clearly or be understood. They told her that I would have constant dental issues. They told her that I would be mentally retarded. When I was 3 days old, I had my first surgery to close my palate and then my lip after a few months. Since then I have had several surgeries at different stages in my life to close my palate, my top lip (I still bear the scars from where they tried to give me a “cupid’s bow”), to lift my nose where the first time, they took a bone from behind my right ear and then the second time where they took a bone from my right rib all before age 11. My Grandmother wouldn’t allow the doctor’s predictions to be correct. She took me to see Speech Therapist to help me talk and be understood. She helped teach me to read and memorize whole stories and books by age 3. I was telling Children’s Stories as church to my peers by age 4. I was making straight A’s in school all through 8th grade. She taught me to live and act like there was nothing wrong with me and I was normal just like everyone else. But the one thing that did come true, was the constant dental issues.
As a kid, I grew in my baby teeth as most kids do. When I lost my baby teeth, I went awhile without teeth in those spots. I remember the embarrassment of always having the solo in the Christmas program to “All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth” for several years through Elementary school. Because my mouth was so small, when teeth did grow back in, they were not the teeth that belonged to that area. During my Middle School years, I had a molar growing where my 2 front teeth should have been. It lasted for a couple years and then went bad, so it had to be pulled. By my Freshman year in High school, I again had teeth growing in the front, but they were my canine teeth. They lasted for a few years as well then began to go bad and had to be pulled. I always had to go to Prosthodontists because they specialize in my condition. Constant dental visits to fill, then root canal, then pull teeth were my normal life. To be honest, I never showed it outwardly, but the constant teasing and shaming that I went through during my childhood years caused a lot of grief for me. And then for my reality of being an adult still with missing teeth was equally embarrassing and depressing to me especially because I still faced teasing and neglect from adults. Not to mention the health aspect always being a worry, knowing that dental issues are linked to heart and other health problems, and infections that could enter the brain and cause damage, and even something so simple like what I could eat or not because I couldn’t sufficiently chew. So finally, in 2013, at 36 years old, my Prosthodontist and I decided that the best course of action would be to have the remaining of my top teeth pulled and replace it with a full Prosthetic denture and a partial denture for my bottom jaw to replace my missing molars on both sides. So once again, I was blessed to undergo the major surgery to have it done and for a while, I finally felt beautiful and healthy.
Now once again, I am back at a crossroads and faced with dental challenges. Over the last few years, my dentures have become loose and ill fitting. I am experiencing pain and discomfort when I eat. My palate is starting to separate because there is nothing in the jawbone to keep it strong and healthy. I have been receiving these flyers from Clear Choice Dental Implant center for a few months. I remembered that my Prosthodontist told me that eventually, I would have to transition to something more permanent like implants to maintain my dental health. I made an appointment and went. I met with a Prosthodontist there during my free consultation. They took a 360 degree CT scan which showed my current situation. He explained to me that under normal conditions, I would not be a candidate for implants. The bone in the front of my mouth (the area between the canine area under your nose) is completely gone. On the sides where my molars would be, the bone needs to be at least 11mm long, and I have 12.1mm. It also needs to be 5mm wide and I have 5.2mm. But because a full jaw implant requires 4 posts to be placed, and I have no bone in the front, it would require to have a special surgeon to place the posts in the zygomatic bone (cheek bone) and the only one in the area who is qualified to do that works within their office. He also informed me that the front 6 bottom teeth that I do have are all starting to show signs of weakening and going bad and so they also would need to be pulled and replaced with a full bottom implant as well.
This is where I am asking for your help. Implants are a permanent lifelong solution to my dental problems. The total cost for this procedure I was quoted is $55,000.00 from start to finish. And I was told that this price is good for 90 days. I am a Wife, Mother of 5, Grandmother of 1 and I could never afford this work. I have been a Licensed Practical Nurse since 2001 who works 10-12 hour nights, 4 days a week, taking care of Pediatric patients. I have been a full time Nursing student working towards my RN, BSN since 2015. I am working towards my degree so that I can apply to the US Public Health Service so that I can serve with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS to educate youth ages 13-24 (the highest transmission group) to help slow the progression of this disease until a cure can be achieved. I am a Master Guide who volunteers hundreds of hours every year with youth ages 10-18 in an organization called Pathfinders (like Boy/Girl Scouts) to provide Vocational, Physical, Spiritual, and Leadership training. I am only 42 years old. To be in the prime of my life and career and be faced with the reality that very soon (less than 2 years according to Dentist), I won’t even have enough bone to support any dentures and therefore would have no teeth in my mouth is frightening especially when I’m trying to make such an impact on our Youth to help their future become healthier and brighter. It is frightening to know that once again my health could be at risk because of the link to dental issues. I have been blessed to overcome almost everything the doctors said back in 1977 that I could not. I am asking that you help me overcome this last hurdle not only to be presentable and professional, but to be healthy and live the message I am trying to portray. I write poetry under the name of “Trinity” and I would like to leave you with a poem I wrote when I finally vocalized the burden that was placed on me. May you be blessed by it. Thank you for taking time and reading my story and I hope that you consider helping. Please share it!
“My One on One With Oprah”
In this disposition I will reveal a confession
A stress factor creating signs of depression
Bearing the scars of past healed incisions
I am not considered “normal”
I was born with a physical defect
My face is not “perfect”
I have a bi-lateral hair-lip
And cleft palate
My mouth projects
A bad painting
Wasting its portion of the canvas
My regret is yet another “Unexplainable It”
Cause there was nothing I could have done about it
I was picked
Out of an unusual lottery
To bless a young woman
With an extra helping of
Responsibilities
A teenage girl
To know her age simply
Add 9+4+3
For you slow folk
It equals 16
Because of this
I’ve endured many surgeries
To possibly correct my deformity
The goal was to give me a look of normalcy
Guiding my steps towards conforming
Then again,
Who says that I don’t look normal?
Like my face is informal attire
Worn at a Black-Tie affair hosted by society
I’m just one of a variety of looks
Yet unique
Not wanting to be labeled
A freak
Of nature
Big wagers
Bet on the solace of my existence
Destined to endure disgusted stares with consistence
Not taking the time to realize that I too
Was created in His image
See sin sometimes sacrifices the perfection of His likeness
Even still the value of my being is priceless
Although public scrutiny has me feeling indecisive
I may be different
But I’m not indignant
And I would appreciate it
If you quieted your ignorant
Attitudes
And used common sense
Think about how you would feel
Hearing those comments
I am not an inanimate object
My feelings and self-esteem are subjected
Pride and confidence torn down
Instead of erected
Like my link in the chain of humankind
Is not connected
Don’t you realize how I am affected?
Understand that I have to look in the mirror every day
And accept the fact that God made me this way
I am special no matter what anyone may say
And for you mean folks
I’ll bend my knees and pray
That the Son (as in JESUS) will light your eyes with a ray
Of sunshine
And brighten your spot filled minds
To realize that I’m not one of a kind
I live amongst many defective products
Of this crazy world despite my good conduct
Treat me with respect
Look past my displayed defect
Cause we all carry some form of irregularity
Even if it is something that you cannot see
I hope this broadens your outlook and perspective
That way I’ll no longer be neglected
Or rejected
Yes
My cleft palate and hair-lip
Makes me different
But I am still a person
Physical
Not invisible
And I wish to be treated
As such.
© Trinity
Jan. 10, 2K6 – Jan. 19, 2K6
Co-organizers (3)
Shaneka IamTrayvonmartin Peters
Organizer
Bowie, MD
Sherri A. Bullard-Wheeler
Co-organizer
Kris Peters
Co-organizer