Operation Keep Lelah's Mouth Shut

Lindsay Huckabee is organizing this fundraiser.

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This is my Lelah-Faye. She has always had no problem expressing herself. She smiles BIG and she laughs Loud. And in true Lelah nature, when something goes wrong, it goes REALLY wrong. In 8th grade Lelah was in the Band, she was part of the WINGS acting program and took part in the school drama club. August 29th 2014 Lelah's jaw dislocated at school when she yawned. When the nurse first called, I thought she was crazy... "Can a mouth actually get stuck open?" Apparently it can. This happened several times in the next two weeks and we landed at an oral surgeon in New Orleans who decided to file down the bony eminence that the lower jaw was getting stuck on. He said her's was really large for her Jaw size. It was a pretty rough surgery, but she healed from it in a few months only to have her Jaw dislocate again.. and again. We were sent to genetics where Lelah was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. This complicates everything because a connective tissue disorder makes everything not "fit" the way it should. We were then referred to an Oral Surgeon in Jackson. He did some research and we tried several rounds of Botox to get the jaw to stay in place and eventually decided to re-do the surgery the doctor in New Orleans did, only this time removing the eminence completely. The surgery appeared to work.. for about six months. When her jaw started coming out again, she could slide it back in place for a while, then it had to be reduced under sedation again.
We have seen Pain Management, Mental Health, We have seen Neuro that specializes in movement disorders and they say it is a Muscle/Bone issue. The oral surgeon is out of options he is comfortable with. The idea of a radical joint replacement has been presented. The part of me that is just OVER THIS wants to just try it. But the logical part of me knows it's not wort the risk until we have tried EVERYTHING else.
That brings me to today. We were referred to The Mitakides TMJ Treatment Center. This is pretty much the go-to guy for complex Jaw issues and he also specializes in TMJ and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Really, this is an answer to a prayer! The CATCH... He is in Ohio and doesn't take our insurance. They can do three appointments all in the same week, July 23rd, 24th, and 26th. The total cost of the trip and appointments, including if she needs a splint is about $5,000. He is going to take all her scans from here, saving us some, but it's still a ton of money to come up with in a month.

Info on who we are seeing!
http://mitakides.com/ehlers-danlos-syndrome/ehlers-danlos-treatments/

I hate having to do this. I have managed to work my butt off and scrape together money for Steven to go on a Band trip and then to Boston for a Future Physicians conference... all without having to do a Gofund me. We have had so many financial hits this year, this seems impossible but I can't NOT try. Lelah just started her first job and on the second day had to leave because he Jaw dislocated and got stuck. I just want a shot at her being able to do NORMAL teenage stuff again. Through everything Lelah has embraced life and makes the best of everything. It's just not fair. It seems like our whole life revolves around who can be available if Lelah's jaw dislocates?   Lelah's Second day of work got cut short. She was SO Excited to get a "real" job like a "normal" teenager
Lelah and her 3-D Model UMMC School of Dentistry Printed. She thought it was cool to get to keep it.
Lelah Loves going to conventions and dressing up in Cos-play. She waited in line to meet Nicholas Brendon From Buffy, she was Laughing and having a good time and her Jaw Dislocated! Not how she wanted her meet and greet picture to go, but she wasn't skipping out. We went to the ER after and the Interns at USA wanted pictures with her because she was a great Poison Ivy and it was their first Jaw reduction.