The elephant in the room has never really been addressed but I know people/friends/family/acquaintances have expressed concern over the last few years. And I appreciate that more than you all will ever know. I started losing my teeth in 2016 due to stress and underlying medical challenges. It’s always been something noticeable and something that, at first, brought me great embarrassment and made me so self conscious. Over the years I adapted and just accepted the fact that my smile, or lack there of was compromised and that even while being immensely fortunate to have a employer sponsored dental plan, the coverage offered by this plan simply was not enough for the extensive work I needed done. The consults I went to with specialized dentists and periodontists gave me hope but once financial discussions started being had, that hope was pulled from under me. It was prohibitively expensive to get the work I needed and the truth of the matter was that my insurance was simply not going to pay for the treatments I need. Most of the places that I have visited have quoted me in the ballpark of 50,000 for a new smile, money I simply do not have and couldn’t dream of putting together. So I gave up and just accepted my truth: I’d have to learn to live as I was. And I always wondered if people were disgusted or if my presence in spaces that I was part of was off putting. I wallowed in self pity, embarrassment, and severe depression for a while but I realized I had to come out of that, if I wanted any semblance of a life. I realized that teeth or no teeth, life had to keep on keeping on. Because life and bills weren’t stopping. I had to keep on living and lose that fear of grossing people out or of taking people by surprise when I opened my mouth in each interaction, personal or professional.

It’s 2024 and I have finally decided to ask for help. I’ve never really been one to do that, I’ve always tried to be self sufficient and have never felt comfortable burdening my friends and family with my needs or my issues. But I have realized that life sometimes shows you that, you are strong even when you are in need, that you are blessed with people that truly care about you genuinely and who are willing to step up in true solidarity to help you out. And on my birthday, finally free of the shame that has invaded me for so long; I am asking for your help.

This year, I plan to request Advanced Parole to travel to Mexico and get my smile back. I want to do something about my situation, as impossible as it may seem and as daunting and terrifying as the process seems. I have consulted with a periodontist in San Luis Potosí and she has come up with a preliminary treatment plan, that although still very expensive, is way more accessible than anything that I was quoted here in the States. My very basic dental insurance won’t cover much of the procedure due to how extensive it is but it is my hope that the savings I have accumulated in the past few years and my flexible spending account will help me cover some of the costs. But this is where you come in, if you’ve read this far into this very long winded albeit very important plea for solidarity. For my birthday this year I am reaching out to ask for your help: to restore my smile, to help me with the costs associated with my Advanced Parole travel, and to finally have an opportunity to see myself as ME again. Losing my smile isn’t the worse thing that’s happened to me but it has really put a damper in the way I present myself, in the way others view me, and in the way that I navigate the life I am building for myself. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think twice before opening my mouth or if I said that this whole situation didn’t take a toll on my self esteem and mental health. A great friend once told me “Don’t let your circumstances become you, become more than your circumstances” and it’s something I’ve latched on to to propel me to live as normal of a life as possible. The fighting immigrant spirit that my beloved parents have instilled me has also allowed me to put up a fight and not just give into despair, depression or doubt.

So today, as humbly and as vulnerable as I am being today, as vulnerable as I’ve ever been, I ask you to please join this crowdfunding effort to assist me in my ultimate goal to travel to Mexico on Advanced Parole to get the dental treatment I have been in dire need of since 2016. My heart is full knowing I am infinitely loved and that so many have expressed concern and asked “how can I help?” as in my favorite show “New Amsterdam” and I am stepping way way way out of my comfort zone to make this plea. I know times are hard for all of us and that the rising costs of everything may make it a challenge to be able to partake in this effort. But I ask for your support by way of a share, a regram, RT, retiktok or whatever the hell they do on that platform (lol) to aid me in my goal. I genuinely and wholeheartedly express my deepest gratitude in advance and hope you’ve read this far.

I will put together a cost análysis of all the expenses and share them within a few days but I wanted to go ahead and launch this effort on my birthday as a way of building some support early on.

Thank you. con el corazón en la mano. Operation New Smile, here we go…… ♥️