Kate has always been an amazingly generous and selfless person to myself and her surrounding community, despite the challenges and struggles she quietly endures. A wildly capable and independent woman, the last few months have been a lesson for speaking her needs, asking for support and organizing round-the-clock support for herself and Traveller, her horse. Asking for help, a lesson we can all be reminded of.

Once she could stand again, with cane to support her busted knee, and a bag on her broken hand, Kate bull-headed her way through her 4x/day barn chores. Peak crisis time is over, but that doesn't mean she should now suffer alone.

Kate has one of the most generous and contagious smiles, and I don't want to see her guard and cover her mouth anymore. It's a gift to see her smile, and I want to help ensure the world continues to see it.

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A note from Kate:

If you've met me, or even seen me from afar, you know my face tells it all. Often, there's a great big smile that beams my limitless inner joy out into the world. My smile is certainly one of the main ways I emote, and it's also a unique way I hope to show others it's totally fine to express their own quirky, individual, creative, and loving selves. Permission to be embarrassingly silly and expressive! I've been known far and wide for my smile. And while there is more than just that defining me, my smile allows me to feel like I can share that abundant wonder and love of life with everyone. Whether it's helping myself or others feel more at ease, I miss it!

November's event (bicycle crash on pavement) was a lot to take in. I had my first ever surgery, for a broken hand, and spent two months not being able to walk very well with a knee injury. Some of you know I had an enormous move and change of housing just a month prior. I hadn't even gotten to unpacking when this happened. I moved into an 1800's barn apartment, up some very steep and narrow stairs, that during this I attempted to navigate multiple times a day to take care of my senior pony who lives on the property. Needing to be in full-on recovery mode, I missed months of work which has been challenging in so many ways. I love what I do, have clients that rely on me, and being self-employed, was without income for that time. I'm now working again on a limited schedule as I'm still in recovery mode and not yet up to my usual capabilities.

While rehabbing multiple injuries at once was enough, the trauma and intense fear of my smile being changed forever has been one of the hardest pieces for me to accept. I've had broken bones before, but a broken jaw and teeth feel like a whole new level of injury and rehabilitation. It will also take the longest of my injuries to repair and restore. I'm so grateful for compassionate friends who have brought so much soup, soft foods, and even understood my temporary need for plastic-ware, which has been a whole ride for me to accept as someone deeply connected to this planet, and our oceans. Side note, I had often said I could eat soup every single day, I love it so much - careful what you wish for!

The logistics, if you're interested - Maine Care has covered most of my other medical doctor appointments, surgery, OT and PT. Restoring my smile after my jaw heals is not covered. I've already covered (on cc) $3400 for emergency work to help splint my jaw in November, and some orthodontic appointments in December. The remaining orthodontic costs are between $2600-3000, and the dentist and endodontist are to be determined more when my jaw heals in the next month, likely in range of 5-6K. I'm working with two orthodontists, a dentist, and an endodontist, in hopes I can regain my confidence in a different, but still joyful smile.

My hopefully beaming-again smile and I thank you for any support you're able to give. And if any part of my rehab journey, or boundless optimism, inspires you and feels worth sharing with others who may not know me and my smile yet, I'd be so grateful.