Help Thomas Corhern Overcome Dental Emergency

For those that don't already know me, my name is Thomas Corhern. I am currently employed as a sports information coordinator at Tennessee Tech in my ninth year after a 10-year stint as an assistant sports editor at the Cookeville (Tenn.) Herald-Citizen.

Recently, I ran into a dental emergency as a tooth went hot and created a painful abscess, prompting an extraction and prosthesis. I am presently already paying off a similar incident from two years ago and, to be honest, it has wreaked havoc on my monthly budget, trying to stay afloat amid cost-of-living increases.

With my work schedule with office hours during the day, working events in the evening, then writing the recaps after those are finished, the available time to pick up additional odd jobs here and there is slim.

To be honest, I need help. I never wanted to go down this route, but adding what could be an additional $200 per month to a budget that's already stretched wire-thin, I just don't know.

In the last 10 years alone, from two hospitalizations to constant doctor visits for primary care, nephrology, cardiology, pulmonology, and orthopedics, it has created a cycle that is getting tough to break away from. Once I get one thing paid off, another takes its place and it all starts anew.

This one came out of nowhere. One day, everything was good. The next day, a minor toothache appeared. The day after that, a painful abscess. Unfortunately, it has to be taken care of. Insurance is covering about 10 percent of the overall cost, but that still leaves me with a significant bill to foot.

I don't expect to raise the full cost, but whatever can be raised is greatly appreciated and a huge help toward taking care of this unforeseen expense.