My friend is facing a very expensive dental surgery that she simply can't afford on her own. The costs are overwhelming, and she needs help to pay for the procedure so she can get back to living her life without pain. Dental health is so important, and it's heartbreaking to see her struggle with something that should be accessible to everyone.

The funds raised will go directly toward her surgery and all related expenses. This includes not only the procedure itself, but also her mom's flight so she can be by her side during recovery. Every dollar will make a real difference in her comfort and peace of mind during this difficult time.

Hello, my name is Lorana and I am reaching out to my community to ask for help on my dental journey. I truly believe brighter days—and a healthy smile—are possible, and with your help, I hope to make that a reality.

Ever since I was 14 years old, I have struggled with soft, fragile teeth, just like my grandmother. It started with several fillings when I was a teenager and has been an ongoing battle since then. Over the years, my parents and I have invested a huge amount of time, energy and money trying to maintain my teeth.

Unfortunately, over the past two years I have been dealing with some serious dental issues and just cannot keep up with the expense to retain my teeth and bone structure. I have been replacing crowns year after year ……. just for them to keep failing and coming off. This not only affects my smile but, more importantly, it is also affecting my ability to eat.

My dental issues have progressively gotten worse this year. I re-did a crown on my front tooth, and it has never set right since. It has been re-cemented at least 5 times. I try to make light of the situation, but it’s not funny at all. Not being able to bite into a sandwich (or anything) without wondering when my crown will come loose is exhausting. My dentist wanted to pull my front tooth and build a 5-crown bridge but my other teeth are not stable enough to support a bridge. I already have a partial on the one side and have been chewing in one spot for years.

I am now left with the only option of getting a full upper denture. This is a very hard thing to come to terms with, considering I am still in my early 40’s. Believe me, I wish I had another option. Of course, I can get an old fashion removable denture for much less but the best option would be to get an “All on 4” implant-supported denture that is secure, stable and provides 90% of the chewing capability of natural teeth. However, this is very expensive—cost around $20,000— and I cannot do it on my own. I work full time at a job I love but do not have the means to cover this surgery.

If you know me personally, you know I am always smiling and laughing!! I want to keep my smile!! Any support would go directly towards covering the dental procedure and any related costs. Any amount—no matter how small—will make a meaningful difference in helping me keep my smile and allowing me eat with ease.

Whether you can donate or not, sharing this fundraiser with others would also mean so much to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can give. It truly means more than I can express.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Lorana Selph