Help me smile again & help dental students also.

Jacquelyn Twiford is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi, my name is Jaki or some might know me as Nat. For the last 25 or more years, I have not been able to smile a nice big smile. In my thirties, I began to lose my teeth. It was a combination of no insurance, no money, having temporal mandibular joint disorder and genetics. For most of my life, I have been the giver. I have been an educator (while trying to explain to young people why my teeth are missing), a single parent (embarrassed for my own children to see me like this) and a girlfriend (whose partner was absolutely caring but I am sure, it was still embarrassing). I went years feeling the pain of my teeth dying one by one. I never let anyone know how bad it felt. It got to the point that I was taking so much ibuprofen that my doctor had to put me on a heavier type of pain medication just to get through the day so I didn't damage my kidneys and liver.

I was actually happy to wear a mask to cover up my shame. But it was more than shame, it is my health. My health is no longer what it should be due to my gum disease and constant infections that I get from tooth decay. I now have started full time working on my own business and I need my smile back to succeed. I need to create a persona for myself to help my business grow, but I'm afraid to be on camera smiling. I have trouble talking because of the missing teach. I need help.

The funds will go directly to the Marquette school of Dentistry. Not only will you help me, but you will help students learn to be incredible doctors. Doctors who care, not doctors who abuse a 9 year old in the examination chair. (Yes, I was physically abused by a dentist...another issue I have but I am overcoming the fear now.)

I need about 17 teeth or partial teeth pulled and work done on the 3 remaining teeth to hold a partial on my lower jaw. The upper will be a full set of dentures.

If I were to go private to get this work done, it would be at least double the amount, but I feel it is important to help the students also.

Please consider helping me and the students out.

Thank you so much.