Lifelong Journey to a Normal Mouth
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Hello friends!
As you may be aware, for the last 3 years I have gone through 6 surgeries to reconstruct the lower half of my mouth. I was born with something called Pierre Robin Malformation Sequence which caused severe malformations in my lower jaw, lip, gums and tongue. As a baby, doctors surgically detached my tongue from my lower lip and jaw so I could open my mouth and breathe. As an adult, I now have the opportunity to finish the reconstruction process that was started so long ago and finally achieve my dream of living a life with a normal mouth and smile, being able to speak clearly and pronounce words correctly, being able to eat food without struggling to take bites and chew, and to avoid so many other issues that this problem has caused me throughout my life.
I have been blessed with a team of utterly amazing doctors that have performed my last 6 surgeries, including 2 that involved transplanting a major artery from the side of my head to my lower jaw. I am now in the final stages of the reconstruction process which involves getting teeth implants placed into my lower jaw and repositioning my upper teeth to align my bite correctly. This process is considered "cosmetic" by Medicare and so I am required to pay the full amount of $26,000. To me, this is far from a cosmetic dilemma. Teeth are required for basic everyday human functions like eating, talking and communicating clearly in the workforce.
I detest being put in a position where I feel the need to ask for money from others. I am a very independent person and never look for handouts. However, while these surgeries have and will continue to change my life personally, I truly believe that they aren’t just for me. Greater than my dream of having a normal mouth is my dream to help others through motivational speaking and mentorship. In order to achieve those dreams, a clear speaking voice is vital to my success. I am asking my friends, family, and any others who feel a desire in their heart to help me complete this journey of mine to donate any amount of money, large or small. I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for taking the time to read through this. I truly appreciate it beyond what words can describe. God bless you all!
Hello friends!
As you may be aware, for the last 3 years I have gone through 6 surgeries to reconstruct the lower half of my mouth. I was born with something called Pierre Robin Malformation Sequence which caused severe malformations in my lower jaw, lip, gums and tongue. As a baby, doctors surgically detached my tongue from my lower lip and jaw so I could open my mouth and breathe. As an adult, I now have the opportunity to finish the reconstruction process that was started so long ago and finally achieve my dream of living a life with a normal mouth and smile, being able to speak clearly and pronounce words correctly, being able to eat food without struggling to take bites and chew, and to avoid so many other issues that this problem has caused me throughout my life.
I have been blessed with a team of utterly amazing doctors that have performed my last 6 surgeries, including 2 that involved transplanting a major artery from the side of my head to my lower jaw. I am now in the final stages of the reconstruction process which involves getting teeth implants placed into my lower jaw and repositioning my upper teeth to align my bite correctly. This process is considered "cosmetic" by Medicare and so I am required to pay the full amount of $26,000. To me, this is far from a cosmetic dilemma. Teeth are required for basic everyday human functions like eating, talking and communicating clearly in the workforce.
I detest being put in a position where I feel the need to ask for money from others. I am a very independent person and never look for handouts. However, while these surgeries have and will continue to change my life personally, I truly believe that they aren’t just for me. Greater than my dream of having a normal mouth is my dream to help others through motivational speaking and mentorship. In order to achieve those dreams, a clear speaking voice is vital to my success. I am asking my friends, family, and any others who feel a desire in their heart to help me complete this journey of mine to donate any amount of money, large or small. I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for taking the time to read through this. I truly appreciate it beyond what words can describe. God bless you all!
Organizer
Petey Bruce
Organizer
New Bedford, MA
