Jaw Surgery for Kobi Rogers

     Kobi has been a miracle from the very beginning.  And an expensive one!  He was born 13 weeks premature at just 2 pounds 4 ounces.  We were lucky to watch him grow in the NICU and brought him home with no real health concerns - just a very expensive "daycare" bill.

Kobi was born with a 9 millimeter gap between his top and bottom jaw.  This is considered a physical malformation by oral surgeons because it will cause horrible wear and eventual loss of teeth as Kobi grows up.  He needs lower jaw surgery (mandibular osteotomy ).
     
Of course we want what's best for Kobi.  We have insurance (and even pay for the higher option to have orthodontic care).  Even with this, we cannot find ANY insurance company that will cover this surgery.  They all consider it "elective" surgery - like having a working jaw is cosmetic!
     
We work hard.  We are a middle class family with three active teenage boys.  We don't have extra money.  The surgeon we are working with has created a package deal with the hospital to keep costs down as low as they can.  But the hospital and the doctor require payment before the surgery.  We have the surgery scheduled for November 5th but we must pay for the surgery at the pre-op appointment on October 24th.
     
The only way we can do this is by taking out a loan against our retirement fund, but it will hurt.  We've still got another kiddo coming down the pike who may have the same challenge to face in a few years - and will certainly be needing braces to correct a bite very similar to his brother.  

Kobi is an amazing young man.  He plays cello in the symphony and orchestra at school; He plays bass guitar in the jazz band and as part of the jazz quartet that accompanies the jazz choir at school; He spent six years raising and showing meat goats in 4-H; He is always the first to offer help with endless compassion.

Anything you can contribute is a welcome blessing!