- B
As most of you know, over the last year or so Kim has been battling medical issues after finding a Giant Cell Granuloma tumor in her bottom left jaw. Giant Cell Granuloma tumors are bone eating and although the original tumor was benign, the only way to ensure that it would stop growing or continuing to eat the bones in her jaw was to remove it. Of course, with tumor removal in the jaw came the loss of teeth and bones. After the first surgery in December of 2014, Kim faced the challenges of recovery plus an additional bone graph surgery in July of 2015 where part of her hip bone was surgically removed and placed in her jaw. After facing yet another round of recovery, this time in both her hip and her jaw, in December of 2015 the doctor's found a new tumor on the right side of her jaw that seems to be of the same type as the previous.
At this rate in the game, medical insurance has played a significant role in helping ease the immediate medical cost. Even with that support, Kim has payed roughly $25,000 out of pocket. Because Kim is happily married and a successful business owner, state aide and other medical funding programs consider her overqualified for assistance.
With finding the second tumor, Kim faces an uncountable amount of hurdles in the near future, the first being a biopsy. Most people might consider this an easy task, but because of the placement (between tooth 28 & 29 near the rear of the mouth) this biopsy requires tongue entry and will provide Kim with immediate loss of the nerve on the bottom right side of her mouth, the same way it did with the left. Tongue entry will also lead to immediate speech impairment, far worse than she has faced this far. Speech therapy will too come with a cost.
Following the biopsy, and if the doctor's anticipations of it being a second Giant Cell Granuloma tumor are true, that tumor, along with the teeth and part of the jaw it effects will need to be removed. At that point, Kim will have (hopefully) two remaining teeth in her bottom jaw.
As a result of the loss of teeth and jaw bone, the rest of Kim's mouth is being severely affected and before any replacement can begin, her top teeth, which are now beginning to cave in, need to be treated by an orthodontist for braces. This treatment is predicted to last about a year and cost at minimum $5,000.
In anticipation of the second tumor, Kim is still needing to address the reconstruction of the removal of the original tumor. At this stage, one-year post surgery, the plan is to begin the preparation for porcelain implants, or a new set of teeth. In order to do this, Kim will face a third surgery in which five metal posts will be implanted into the graphed bone in her jaw. This surgery cost is roughly $9,795. However, the quote only includes 30 minutes of general anesthesia, and the doctors anticipate surgery could take up to an hour and a half.
Following the third surgery, if all goes as planned, it should take about 4-6 months of tissue recovery before Kim faces another surgery in which the surgeon will re-expose the five metal posts and cap them in order to prevent further tissue growth. Once the posts are capped, Kim will face another 4-6 months of healing. This fourth surgery has yet to be quoted, but given previous experiences it is only fair to assume that it will be costly.
Once these two surgeries regarding the metal posts have occurred and recovery is successful, Kim will finally be given a new set of teeth on the left side. (Remember, this is without any knowledge of that second tumor of the right or the cost that will come with it). Although this seems far off in time at this point, the initial cost covers all surgeries and stages of the process regarding the porcelain implants. The current quote for the teeth and jaw replacement is $19,542.
Throughout this entire process Kim has received an endless amount of well wishes, and there is no doubt in her mind that if she could cash those in this medical fiasco would not be an issue. Unfortunately, her high spirits and boundless support system are not enough to help her through this difficult and costly situation. With that being said, this Go Fund Me account has been started on her (extremely unwilling to ask for money) behalf. Any and all donations are graciously appreciated and will hopefully help provide a resolution for what seems like a never ending battle.
At this rate in the game, medical insurance has played a significant role in helping ease the immediate medical cost. Even with that support, Kim has payed roughly $25,000 out of pocket. Because Kim is happily married and a successful business owner, state aide and other medical funding programs consider her overqualified for assistance.
With finding the second tumor, Kim faces an uncountable amount of hurdles in the near future, the first being a biopsy. Most people might consider this an easy task, but because of the placement (between tooth 28 & 29 near the rear of the mouth) this biopsy requires tongue entry and will provide Kim with immediate loss of the nerve on the bottom right side of her mouth, the same way it did with the left. Tongue entry will also lead to immediate speech impairment, far worse than she has faced this far. Speech therapy will too come with a cost.
Following the biopsy, and if the doctor's anticipations of it being a second Giant Cell Granuloma tumor are true, that tumor, along with the teeth and part of the jaw it effects will need to be removed. At that point, Kim will have (hopefully) two remaining teeth in her bottom jaw.
As a result of the loss of teeth and jaw bone, the rest of Kim's mouth is being severely affected and before any replacement can begin, her top teeth, which are now beginning to cave in, need to be treated by an orthodontist for braces. This treatment is predicted to last about a year and cost at minimum $5,000.
In anticipation of the second tumor, Kim is still needing to address the reconstruction of the removal of the original tumor. At this stage, one-year post surgery, the plan is to begin the preparation for porcelain implants, or a new set of teeth. In order to do this, Kim will face a third surgery in which five metal posts will be implanted into the graphed bone in her jaw. This surgery cost is roughly $9,795. However, the quote only includes 30 minutes of general anesthesia, and the doctors anticipate surgery could take up to an hour and a half.
Following the third surgery, if all goes as planned, it should take about 4-6 months of tissue recovery before Kim faces another surgery in which the surgeon will re-expose the five metal posts and cap them in order to prevent further tissue growth. Once the posts are capped, Kim will face another 4-6 months of healing. This fourth surgery has yet to be quoted, but given previous experiences it is only fair to assume that it will be costly.
Once these two surgeries regarding the metal posts have occurred and recovery is successful, Kim will finally be given a new set of teeth on the left side. (Remember, this is without any knowledge of that second tumor of the right or the cost that will come with it). Although this seems far off in time at this point, the initial cost covers all surgeries and stages of the process regarding the porcelain implants. The current quote for the teeth and jaw replacement is $19,542.
Throughout this entire process Kim has received an endless amount of well wishes, and there is no doubt in her mind that if she could cash those in this medical fiasco would not be an issue. Unfortunately, her high spirits and boundless support system are not enough to help her through this difficult and costly situation. With that being said, this Go Fund Me account has been started on her (extremely unwilling to ask for money) behalf. Any and all donations are graciously appreciated and will hopefully help provide a resolution for what seems like a never ending battle.