My name is Michelle, and I never imagined I’d be here and writing this.

Four years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 jaw cancer. I survived chemo, radiation, and over ten major surgeries.

Radiation and 35 total surgeries. That over half have failed. These surgeries have left me with severe complications, including osteoradionecrosis (bone death), chronic infections, and exposed hardware. It has also left me without my bottom lip, most of my teeth, and part of my jaw. Eating, speaking, and even smiling are daily struggles, and the emotional toll has been just as hard as the physical.

I hide my face in public, and date nights with my husband are nonexistent because the stares I get remind me even more that nothing about what I’ve been through these last few years is normal. More like a never-ending nightmare.

Now there’s hope. MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston believes they can rebuild my face and jaw using advanced techniques and titanium hardware, giving me the chance to eat, speak, and smile again.

The year-long recovery will require travel, lodging, medical costs, and ongoing care not fully covered by insurance. Our goal is $50,000 to make this possible.

Head and neck cancer is such an overlooked and underfunded diagnosis. This surgery will literally save my life.

Sharing my story can help bring awareness, open doors to better medical treatment, and bring me closer to finally ending this long, difficult journey.

Thank you for helping give me a chance to live a “normal” life again.

— Michelle