Help rebuild what my Lupus destroyed!
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This is the hardest, most embarrassing post I've ever had to write, but I'm in desperate need of prayers, so here goes...
Part of having lupus is looking 100% healthy on the outside, but being extremely sick on the inside; lately, however, that has not been the case for me.
All of my teeth have gone bad; this is the result of lupus, sister conditions of lupus and chemotherapy medication I was on for quite a while to help treat my conditions. I have watched myself go from never having a cavity in my entire life, to enduring the extreme pain (both physical and emotional) of my teeth breaking, falling out, and other fun things that I won't mention here. My self-esteem is, and has been, absolutely nothing. I've cried myself to sleep for years over what's happening/happened to me; from having dentist after dentist treat me like the scum of the earth, and as if I were just a nasty, unhygienic individual, to people thinking that I'm on crystal meth and giving me dirty looks after talking with me.
The scars from this ordeal will be long-lasting.
I finally found a dentist who actually has a sister with lupus who met with me, and agreed that there is no saving my natural teeth; I cried with relief! Finally, someone who understands what I'm going through, and knows that any attempt to save my natural teeth would be akin to slapping a band-aid on a broken leg!
It's costing me almost $9,000 to have all of my natural teeth removed and for me to be fitted with a temporary set of teeth for the next 6 months; after 6 months, my mouth will be healed enough for implants. We have $5,000 toward this amount.
The date for my surgery is this Friday, July 12, and not only are we scrambling to get the money together, but I AM TERRIFIED. This is where I would like your help: please, please pray for me and for the surgery to go as smoothly as possible and please pray for God to provide a way, financially.
Part of having lupus is looking 100% healthy on the outside, but being extremely sick on the inside; lately, however, that has not been the case for me.
All of my teeth have gone bad; this is the result of lupus, sister conditions of lupus and chemotherapy medication I was on for quite a while to help treat my conditions. I have watched myself go from never having a cavity in my entire life, to enduring the extreme pain (both physical and emotional) of my teeth breaking, falling out, and other fun things that I won't mention here. My self-esteem is, and has been, absolutely nothing. I've cried myself to sleep for years over what's happening/happened to me; from having dentist after dentist treat me like the scum of the earth, and as if I were just a nasty, unhygienic individual, to people thinking that I'm on crystal meth and giving me dirty looks after talking with me.
The scars from this ordeal will be long-lasting.
I finally found a dentist who actually has a sister with lupus who met with me, and agreed that there is no saving my natural teeth; I cried with relief! Finally, someone who understands what I'm going through, and knows that any attempt to save my natural teeth would be akin to slapping a band-aid on a broken leg!
It's costing me almost $9,000 to have all of my natural teeth removed and for me to be fitted with a temporary set of teeth for the next 6 months; after 6 months, my mouth will be healed enough for implants. We have $5,000 toward this amount.
The date for my surgery is this Friday, July 12, and not only are we scrambling to get the money together, but I AM TERRIFIED. This is where I would like your help: please, please pray for me and for the surgery to go as smoothly as possible and please pray for God to provide a way, financially.
Organizer
Samantha Blankenship Smith
Organizer
Cottontown, TN
