Give my fiancée her smile back.

Help Michele Smile Again

Hi, my name is Craig Armstrong.

I’m here to talk about my fiancée, the mother of my children, and my best friend.

We’ve known each other for over 15 years and have been together for the last 7. We’re raising two beautiful children and doing our best to build a secure and happy life for them. Like many families today we’ve faced financial challenges, and Michele often feels like her needs aren’t as important as others. But I know she’s wrong this will save a life, just not in the way people usually think.

Michele has always been bubbly, silly, loving and nerdy . But as a teen and into her twenties she struggled horrendously with body image issues, eventually developing bulimia. That long battle took a lasting toll on her health, especially her teeth.

Years of bulimia, followed by two pregnancies left her teeth fragile and crumbling. As they deteriorated, so did her confidence. She stopped smiling. Stopped talking as much. She slowly began to withdraw from the world.

I watched depression take hold. I’ve seen her cry quietly over old photos where she still had her smile. Most recently, Michele was diagnosed with autism, something that helped explain her sensory sensitivities and her lifelong tendency to hide her pain from others.

She currently uses a partial denture that barely stays in place. For someone with sensory issues the daily use of dental adhesives is a kind of torture. It affects her speech and makes her self-conscious causing her to cover her mouth constantly. It’s slowly breaking her spirit.

Weddings, birthdays, simple family dinners have become so painful and humiliating that she has pulled away nearly completely and her soul shatters any time our kids ask as they are old enough to now.

My goal with this fundraiser is to raise enough money to put a deposit down for Michele to finally get dental implants a permanent, comfortable solution that will restore not just her smile, but her confidence, her voice, and her presence in our lives.

I want to see her light up in photos the children. I want to get married and watch her smile freely on our wedding day. I want her to feel proud, not hidden. Any donations or just sharing is so appreciated. We have been estimated 15k but will post the actual price we are quoted after the consultation.

Thank you for reading, and for helping me bring back the smile that means everything to our family.