I'm starting this fundraiser to help my mom, Loretta Shem, get desperately needed dental implants. After experiencing worsening pain in her bottom teeth, she recently saw her dentist and found out she has several infected teeth which need to be removed and replaced with a dental implant. In addition to that, the existing implant in her upper teeth (placed by a different dentist) is damaged and needs to be replaced.

As you can see, her lower teeth are in a bad state - they are loose and infected, to the point that even biting a banana is painful.

She has only recently finished paying off the loan she took for her top teeth implant, and is looking at another expensive loan to get this one. Unfortunately, due to the infection, this is an urgent medical need, and though she is on the waitlist for a lower-cost student dental clinic, she doesn't have time to wait.

Loretta has spent her whole life caring for people - from working as a nurse for over 40 years, to doing home care for the elderly, to helping raise me and many of my young cousins in the Shem family. If Loretta has touched your life, please send prayers and donate if you are able!