My name is Raegan Gould. I am 27 years old,
hardworking, independent, and a dedicated
early learning educator at Manlius Pebble Hill
School. Because I’ve  been diagnosed with
Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease
that has had a serious impact on my health, I am
in desperate need of a new set of teeth.

 Although I take very good care of myself and I
maintain excellent daily oral hygiene, this
disease has led to severe and progressive tooth decay that is chronic and irreversible. The past
five years have been filled with root canals,
tooth extractions, fillings, painful oral infections, severe fatigue, as well as joint and muscle pain.
Last summer, after my routine checkup with my dentist, I was informed that there was nothing
more that could be done for my teeth and that I was in need of full mouth reconstruction that
would cost between $60,000 and $70,000.
Unfortunately, my dental insurance will only
cover a very small portion of this procedure.

 Knowing that I couldn't afford the
recommended treatment, my dentist suggested that I contact the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine as a more affordable option.
After reviewing my case, a prosthodontic
resident at UB Dental offered me a final
treatment plan costing approximately $17,000. Although I was greatly relieved with this
less expensive option, $17,000 is still a great
deal of debt for me to incur. Because my current
prosthodontist, of whom I have the utmost trust,
will be graduating in May, it is imperative for me to complete the needed procedures at UB this
spring. In order to do this, I must pay off the
procedure.

 Asking for help is not something that I have ever
felt comfortable doing. I take pride in my work, my independence, and the professional
leadership opportunities that I have been given. However, I realize that desperate times call for
desperate measures and my pride is going to
have to take a back seat, in order to preserve
and maintain my health and well-being.

Please accept my heartfelt “thank you” for
taking the time to read this and considering
supporting me with financial assistance.

 
With sincere appreciation and gratitude,

 Raegan