Help Me Breathe: Double Jaw Surgery to END My Sleep Apnea

April 30th update!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VFHBVCsX1EECczMzD_IBhfpwE9DErtDv/view?usp=drive_link

Help Me Breathe & Sleep Again:

Surgery to End My Fight with Sleep Apnea

Hi friends & family, and everyone else,

I never imagined I’d be here, writing this, asking for help—but I’m out of options, and I’m out of time.

As so many of you know, I’ve battled moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea my whole life. And despite every effort, every painful and exhausting treatment, I’m still struggling to breathe while I sleep.

Back in August 2020, I was tired of being tired *all the time*. A sleep study revealed that I stopped breathing every 3 minutes throughout the night. That’s right—*every 3 minutes*. My body was in a constant state of emergency, and I was barely ever reaching REM sleep, the stage of sleep critical for recovery, memory, and overall health.

So began my long, grueling journey of airway-focused orthodontic treatment. I endured three years of medieval palate expanders and devices screws drilled into the roof of my mouth, my upper palate sawed in half, expanders glued to my teeth where I had to crank a key to pull my teeth and bones outward. I held onto hope through every turn of the key, every appointment, every setback.

But despite it all, my airway is still too narrow. My moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea continues. And I still wake up every day feeling like I haven’t slept at all.

Which is why I’ve made the incredibly difficult, terrifying, and necessary decision to undergo **Double Jaw Surgery**—also known as Maxillary Mandibular Advancement (MMA).

In this surgery, both my upper and lower jaw will be cut, moved forward, and permanently set with screws and plates. This procedure is not cosmetic—it is **life-saving**. It is one of the most effective ways to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea when all else has failed. For me, everything else has failed.

But as you can imagine, this surgery is **massively expensive**. you know, I run my business and will need to take 4-6 weeks off work, my mouth will be rubber banded closed and I'll be drinking only smoothies for 2 weeks and only soft foods for 4 months.

Ready for the double whammy? Unfortunately, the oral surgeon is not covered by insurance. Trust me, I've considered my in-network options. However, the in-network surgeons do not have the stellar reputation that he does. I've come too far to not get the best results. I've seen his work, he knows my case well by this point and I'm confident in his skills. He is excellent.

This is where I need your help. I've scheduled surgery for July.

Over the past 3 years, I've saved $44,000.

The surgery cost will ~ $60,000.

I’m humbly asking for support— any amount you can give—to help me finally breathe freely and sleep fully. To give me my life back. To help me stop waking up gasping for air in the middle of the night. To stop feeling like I’m drowning in exhaustion every single day.

You know I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Carrie ❤️