Hello my name is Monica and I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this story. I believe we all have the power to make a difference and we need your help in supporting someone special in our hearts. My brother Miguel 41 was blessed with his wife Luana 38 and three beautiful children, my two nieces Emelia who is 4, Ella who is a 1 1/2 and our newest edition to the family baby boy Elias who is a 1 month old. My brother like anyone else was living his normal life until about 6 years ago. In 2018 what started as a mild pain speraticly in his jaw that lasted short periods of time has in time turned into a debilitating condition that has consumed his whole life. After years of seeing dentist resulting in a non dental issue, being told by doctors he suffered from TMJ but treatments wouldn’t help, countless questions with no answers, tests with no results, and loss of hope, money and time that can never be replaced. He wasn’t understanding why no one could figure out exactly what he was experiencing. He kept his faith in pursuing that there was an answer and in 2020 he was finally diagnosed with what’s called Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) also known as the suicide disease. This debilitating condition has landed him in emergency rooms with efforts of medications and treatments with no success. Leaving his condition to worsen resulting in not being able to work for the past year. Spending thousands of dollars while generating no income trying to provide for a family of 5 adds to the list of stresses as you can imagine, but most importantly it has robbed him of being able to be present for all his family. I cannot begin to explain not only the physical pain he suffers but mentally and emotionally as well. This condition has affected the people around him as it has taken a mental toll on those closest to him watching helplessly as we lose a little bit of him everyday.

So let me explain a little further in detail. Trigeminal neuralagia is a rare chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve in the face. This condition causes painful sensations similar to an electric shock on one side of the face. Chronic (meaning lasts for years or be life long) pain affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. TN is sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity. The pain typically involves the lower face and jaw. This intense, stabbing, electric shock-like pain is caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which sends branches to the forehead, cheek and lower jaw. The pain can be triggered by an action as routine and minor as brushing your teeth, eating, talking or the wind. Attacks may begin mild and short, but if left untreated, trigeminal neuralgia can progressively worsen and become severe and debilitating to one’s life. Although trigeminal neuralgia cannot be cured, there are treatments available to alleviate the debilitating pain and with your help and support Miguel will be able to seek the treatment needed in hopes of helping his condition before resulting in worse case scenario which is brain surgery. Unfortunately these treatments are costly, one doctor alone is requesting $12,000. We pray to be able to receive his treatment with your help to cover these costs. We have been blessed enough in the meantime to have found a doctor in which he is receiving treatments now who specializes in this specific condition and is confident in being able to help get my brother’s life back! All your kind contributions will be used towards treatment, medications, and the sole quality of his life. Any amount you are able to contribute is so greatly appreciated and if you aren’t able to contribute at this moment in time we ask you please keep him in your prayers and maybe a share with your friends and family would mean the world to us as well. Thank you so much, we appreciate you.