Hello family and friends, it’s Katie.

Asking for help like this doesn’t come easily. After months of prayer, hiding my smile, and struggling to eat many foods—or eat in public at all—I’ve reached a point where I truly can’t do this alone. I’m laying down my pride and reaching out to you.

As many of you know, I live with multiple complex, chronic medical conditions, including hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, fibromuscular dysplasia affecting my carotid, renal, and iliac arteries, chronic migraines, widespread osteoarthritis, Raynaud’s syndrome, chronic venous insufficiency, IBS-C, anemia, severe tinnitus, and more. Daily life is a careful balancing act of pain management, mobility limitations, and constant medical monitoring.

Following the advice of my doctors, I am no longer able to work and have applied for disability benefits. Unfortunately, that means I currently have no income.

Over the years, the connective tissue fragility caused by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome—combined with long-term medically necessary pain treatments—led to progressive and severe damage to my teeth. Despite doing everything I could to save them, in August 2025, I ultimately had to have all of my teeth extracted. This was not cosmetic; it was medically necessary.

Now I’m facing the next critical step: full dental implants. Without them, eating, speaking, proper nutrition, and even smiling are significantly impacted. Sadly, dental implants are not covered by insurance, even when tooth loss is directly caused by documented medical conditions. The total cost for full implants is approximately $60,000, an amount completely out of reach for me on my own.

I’m asking for help to restore something most people never have to think twice about: the ability to smile without shame, eat comfortably, enjoy meals with friends and family, and safely eat a wider range of foods. Any contribution, prayer, or sharing of this fundraiser means more than I can put into words.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting me in this incredibly vulnerable moment.