Kaitlyn Gilmore Powers Jaw Disc Replacement

Things aren't always as they appear.  Sometimes, you think that someone has it all.  We make a lot of assumptions about someone's life based on outward appearances, but we never know what someone is going through.  You would never know by looking at these photos that Kaitlyn was in terrible pain in all of them.  She has mastered putting a smile on her face every single day, no matter how much pain she is in.  

Kaitlyn needs extensive jaw surgery on both jaws due to displaced & herniated discs that are compressing the Trigeminal Nerve on both sides of her face. This is a very specialized procedure that can be totally life changing for her, by curing her excruciating chronic pain and allowing her to come off of medications that can have terrible consequences, in the long term.  This surgery will allow Kaitlyn to go back to living a normal life that a 25 year old woman should be living.  She will have the option to pursue singing professionally or vocal coaching and the biggest hope, to one day have children. Without this surgery, none of these things will be possible. 

Unfortunately, the best surgeon to perform this procedure is not a PPO with our insurance company and we have to have every penny of the cost of the procedure up front, a week prior to the surgery date.  The Surgeon fee is $42,000.  The ancillary services associated with getting the surgery- orthodontia for post op splinting; neck therapy for post op pain; and a 2 week required stay near the surgical facility in St. Petersburg, Florida, as well as, visits back to the facility every 3 months for a year- will put the total cost close to $60,000. Our insurance will cover in a limited capacity and it will take months of filing and appealing to get them to cover anything.  The surgeon's office told us that the last patient that had the same insurance as us, was only able to get them to pay around 7,000.  For this procedure we do not have adequate insurance coverage.  TMJ issues are terribly under-covered on many health insurance policies and this condition is so rare that finding the best possible surgeon has been challenging as well.  It became clear to us that we do not have any other options, Dr. Piper is the best of the best, for this procedure. 

To the casual observer, Kaitlyn has it all.. a gorgeous face, a stunning voice (click to hear a piece from her senior recital), working to pursue her passion and graduating from UGA's Vocal Performance program in 2018.  What most people don't know is that in the spring semester of Kaitlyn's freshman year of college, I received a call from her in tears- "Mom, my face hurts.. my face hurts so bad, I can barely sing".  This would start a journey of unrelenting pain, that has continued since 2014.  We went doctor to doctor- each one had a different diagnosis- a different medicine, a different plan. She has had too numerous to count injections, botox trials, splints, creams & pills to count.. but nothing has worked.

With each doctor visit we tried to have hope that someone could "fix" her pain.  To make the long story short, Kaitlyn was finally diagnosed with something called Trigeminal Neuralgia  - a chronic pain condition that affects the Trigeminal Nerve in the face. It is caused by the displaced herniated discs in her jaws putting compression on her trigeminal nerve. She also has bone death (necrosis) in her left mandibular condyle (lower jaw bone).  This is a severe life altering condition that can be physically and mentally incapacitating for people.  Can you imagine completing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with herniated jaw joint discs and severe nerve pain, while working 3 jobs?? She is most surely the strongest human I know. 

We visited The Piper Clinic  in July and Dr. Piper was able to do a test nerve block injection to get an idea of what kind of pain relief she would get from surgery.  Her pain was INSTANTLY relieved- Kaitlyn said that this was the first time in over 5 years that she has had any kind of pain relief.  The block lasted about 2-3 hours and Dr. Piper said that she is an excellent candidate for the surgery and based on her evaluation and outcome from the block, he feels that she will have considerable pain relief with surgery.  

We plan to be scheduled for surgery in early 2020.  Our original date was for November, but due to complications from a medicine Kaitlyn was taking for pain (Indomethocin an NSAID)- she ended up in the hospital getting blood transfusions due to a GI bleed. This has postponed us to at least January. 


Starting this Go Fund Me has been a difficult decision for our family.  My pride tells me no, we can't do this, but the momma bear in me says, that we need help and I have to put my pride away.

Kaitlyn is currently working through her Graduate program at the University of Georgia in Non-Profit Management and Leadership.  She and Mitchell have been married since June 2018. Kaitlyn told me the other day that as beautiful as their wedding was, it was one of the most excruciating pain days she has ever had. It makes her so sad, that when she thinks of her wedding day, she first thinks of how bad she was feeling, instead of the joy of the day.

Currently, her days are filled with coping with pain and trying to work her jobs and complete classes, while dealing with this condition, day in and day out.  Juggling doctors appointments, medicine schedules and totally relying on others to help her get around where she needs to go, as she hasn't been able to drive a car for 2 years.  Kaitlyn's whole future depends on getting this surgical procedure and should you decide to donate we will be forever grateful. 

Thanks so much for caring about us, reading this far and for your donation.  Please remember to keep us in your prayers. 

Much love,
Barb (Kaitlyn's Momma)