My name is Marlena and I'm writing to you about my best friend: my mom, Mindy. When I was 16 my mother experienced a deeply stressful situation and suffered from permanent Bell's Palsy. Since then her dental health has declined greatly. At a recent dentist appointment she was told that she'd have to remove all of her teeth (top and bottom).

Over the last sixteen years I've watched my mom's confidence shoot down. I've always thought my mother is beautiful just as she is but I know the appearance of her teeth has affected her greatly, even as going as far to wear a mask when someone gets within a foot of her because she doesn't want them to see her mouth. My sister is planning on having a wedding soon and I'd really love for my mom to be there, as her wonderfully self-assured self.

Mindy is in urgent need of costly dental implants, and I'm hoping to raise funds to help her get the care she desperately needs. We've done a lot of research and spoken to multiple dental offices and the cost can range from $20,000 - $40,000.

We are so grateful to anyone who can help us get my mom's smile back. She's got a lot of life ahead of her and after all she's been through, she deserves to live it comfortably.