Restoring Hope, One Smile at a Time

Ada's journey to safety has been filled with unimaginable hardship. As an asylum seeker from Honduras, she fled her home to escape horrific physical and sexual abuse. The final straw came when the men who had already hurt her threatened to harm her daughter. With nothing but hope and courage, Ada gathered her three children—Gissell, Isai, and little Abdiel—and fled to the U.S. for a chance at a life free from fear. Finally, they entered a Texas immigration office.

Arriving in Charleston in January 2023, Ada and her children were met with a new set of challenges. With limited resources and no support network, she found herself struggling to find adequate housing. She has found it difficult to navigate the complex immigration system. A friend helped her submit an important immigration form, but it was sent to the wrong address, forcing her to start the grueling process over again. This delay has kept her from accessing vital medical and dental care for her family.

Despite the odds, Ada has managed to find a small ray of hope. With the help of kind souls, she and her children have moved into a safe and clean mobile home. However, without a car or a Tax ID, Ada is unable to work full-time, and every step forward is met with a new roadblock. Ada regularly sees a counselor through a program that treats victims of violent crimes, one of the few services she can access without a Social Security number. But while she works tirelessly to give her children a better life, their health—particularly their dental health—has begun to suffer.

Gissell, now 16, recently had her first dental exam, and the report was devastating. She has eight cavities, which include two incisors that have reached the nerves and require painful root canals and then crowns. The other six cavities, which include her two top front teeth, will need to be filled. Gissell has also developed early-stage periodontal disease, requiring deep cleaning done in three stages to correct this condition. Even utilizing clinics that use sliding scales for people with no insurance, the estimated cost for her dental plan is $3800.

Abdiel also had his first dental exam. At just four years old he has already developed a cavity. Thankfully, his estimate is only $75.

Isai, Ada's twelve-year-old son, has been unable to visit a dentist. Isai suffers from hydrocephalic cerebral palsy and is nonverbal. Having surgery just three years ago has left him prone to anxiety during medical visits. His recent visit for a doctor’s checkup left him crying and shaking in fear. While quickly looking in his mouth, the doctor could confirm the presence of at least one large cavity before having to stop the exam. Isai will need sedation for a dentist to examine his teeth and get ex-rays. Sedation will also be necessary for any dental treatment needed, but that is a costly and complex procedure, especially for a child with his condition. There is visible black between his teeth, so the dentist will most likely find multiple cavities.

Then there’s Ada herself. Her teeth, too, have been neglected. Years of suffering and malnutrition have left this young woman with no molars to properly chew and teeth that have a greyish tint. With only 10-12 teeth left, she is in desperate need of dental care, but as a mother, her focus remains on her children.

This family’s future could be bright, but their health is at risk. Generous people have already helped by covering small dental costs, but the truth is, we are now facing thousands of dollars to restore their smiles and, more importantly, their health.

We are asking for your help. Every dollar donated will go directly toward dental treatments for this family—children first—Gissell, Isai, and Abdiel. And, with a little love and support, Ada will finally be able to regain her smile, and with it, the confidence to keep fighting for her family’s future.

Please, help us restore hope and health to a family that has endured far too much. Your kindness can do just that! Thank you for your compassion.

(Children’s middle names were used to protect their privacy.)