I am raising funds to receive medically necessary treatment for my broken jaw. I have a severely broken & dislocated jaw, as well as significantly restricted airway, all of which are now compounding persistent chronic health challenges.

When I was six years old, I suffered trauma to my chin that resulted in a severe fracture, which ultimately led to surgery. As I grew, this injury caused chronic jaw misalignment and long-term TMJ damage. Over time, the condition has progressed significantly. I now live with constant jaw clenching, severe jaw and ear pain, frequent headaches, and nerve pain that radiates into the roof of my mouth, into my ear, and down my neck. I am also experiencing abnormal bone growth in my jaw, including under my tongue, which is affecting comfort, function, and space for my tongue.

At this stage, my jaw joint is severely damaged and unstable. Each time I open my mouth, the ball of the joint grinds against the surrounding bone, causing further erosion, which makes it very difficult to chew food and talk. This damage is irreversible. Without stabilization, my joint will continue to deteriorate over time, which really scares me.

In addition to the jaw damage, I have a significantly restricted airway, which limits the amount of oxygen that can pass through, especially while I'm sleeping. This contributes to my poor sleep quality, increased clenching, headaches, and strain on my nervous system. My maxillofacial surgeon explained that proper jaw stabilization is critical, not only to slow the joint damage, but also to help support my breathing and oxygen intake.

Compounding all of this, I am also a stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer survivor. While I am deeply grateful to have survived, cancer treatments left me with chronic fatigue, pain, and autoimmune issues, which already places significant daily demands on my body. Managing ongoing jaw degeneration, nerve pain, sleep disruption, and airway restriction on top of post-cancer limitations has become overwhelming and unsustainable without proper medical intervention.

My maxillofacial surgeon confirmed that I urgently need advanced diagnostic testing and custom oral appliances designed to stabilize my jaw and support airway function. Unfortunately, these treatments are considered “dental” by most insurance providers, even though they directly affect joint health, nerve pain, breathing, and sleep. Because of this, the proper testing, medical care, and jaw stabilizers are not covered by my insurance, and the total cost is $8,600.

This treatment is not cosmetic or optional. It is necessary to slow further joint damage, reduce my daily pain, support proper breathing during sleep, and protect my long-term quality of life. Delaying care only allows both my joint deterioration and airway issues to worsen, while further taxing my body that has already endured extensive medical trauma.

I hate asking for help but my husband and I can't raise this money on our own. Any contribution, no matter the amount, will go directly toward the testing and custom care that I need. If you’re unable to donate, that's completely okay. I understand that times are really tough right now for everyone.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you’re able to offer. I greatly appreciate you!