Once upon a time, I had teeth. Not perfect, not pretty, but y'know there. The picture of the X-ray are my teeth currently. The next picture is one of the only photos that I smile with some teeth that I could find in 2017. That same year my grandma passed, and I had been her care taker for about 3 years prior.

When she passed, Depression took my teeth bit by bit. It was the liters of soda and snacks in the dark , grieving, and smoking about a pack a day for awhile that started it. I had given up my job to care for her and my disabled sister, which left little in the way of paying for any up-keep or dental work.

Let's fast forward to the near present. In the past 3 years, I've lost another 3 of my family members. My dad being the latest, bless him for leaving me a bit of cash behind. I'm a day late and a buck short on replacing what were once whole teeth, that are now more similar to swiss cheese you don't want on a sandwhich.

But I also started therapy the last 3 years. I found a medication provider for the undiagnosed things I didn't know about. I'm in a better place now, with their help and the help of my support system.

So here I am, careful with everything I eat with sharp broken teeth (cuts and ouchies on my tongue and cheeks, the full package). I'm short around $3,000 anything remaining would go toward rent, missed pay from work and post op recovery items. If my cash situation was me in a swimming pool, I'd be on my tippy toes. Your donations could get me some cool pool noodles to stay afloat.

I'm a whole entire goof. I love to laugh, make people laugh and and make 'em smile. I've been hiding my smile for awhile. If I've ever made you smile or laugh, anything helps. And if not, anything still helps get my smile back. (and I want to eat chicharones again. If you know you know.)

Thank you for coming to my TED talk. Shout out to the tooth fairy, you're makin' so much bank off me.

Sincerely, the awkward closed mouth smile you get at the super market

Rae