Hello friends, family and strangers. The time has come for me to finally take the courage to share one of the most vulnerable parts of my life with you. With so much stigma and judgement out there, in a society that puts such emphasis on external beauty, I have been too afraid to share my story and to ask for your help, but I am at a point of feeling almost hopeless, so I am bravely doing so now! 

With my tail between my legs, and trusting love as my supporting force, I am humbly sharing the pure hell I have been enduring for over 30 years. To look at me from the outside, you probably wouldn't be able to see the true pain and suffering I have learned to cover up so well. 

Behind this smile, is years of physical, emotional, and mental agony that have wreaked havoc on my quality of life. We had no idea when I was younger what I would be headed for years down the road. I lost my first tooth when I was at one of the most challenging developmental stages - the teenage years! 

I have Sjogren's Syndrome, which is an automimmune disease that not only affects the entire body in some way or another, but it often can wreak havoc on one's dental health which is the fundamental component to one's overall health and wellness.  I also have severe bone resorption and short tooth roots. I have been through years and years of complex dental procedures which have greatly affected my mental, emotional and physical well being, I am almost at my breaking point, and I am scared and feel so alone on this journey through this living hell.

I am asking for your support with helping me cover the costs of what will be continued extensive oral surgery. I am praying I will be able to get implants in the near future. This is my last option! After paying well over 60 grand for all the dental work I have already had, I have barely anything left to support this last attempt.  I now owe an additional 10K for the work I have been having done in the last year (includes a 5 hr procedure to drill off a 6 yr old cemented bridge, a post and crown, the new temporary bridge I am wearing in my photo, and the recent extractions and denture I just had done this week).  I just went through the very traumatic experience of having my upper teeth extracted and am wearing a painful (imagine wearing a bite guard that is 10x too big with sharp jagged rocks inside of it and under the roof of your mouth) upper denture. I will need bone grafting, probably gum flap surgery, (dentist suggested a sinus lift - I said no way to that!), and implants in addition to implant supported dentures for both my upper and lower in the nearer future.

The overall cost just for upcoming surgeries is well over 60K again, but I am continuing to look for more affordable places to have the work done.  To note, I have had at least 5 surgery consults, and I am also continuing to research grants, scholarships and other funding sources. For now, I ask if you can please help support me acheive a goal of 30k. 

I ask you to please help me in any amount you can and please share with as many people as you can. I am truly grateful for any amount. And if you're unable to contribute financially, then please still pass this onto anyone you know so it can be shared all over the widely used social media platforms, in order to help me reach as many people as I can. Please also send a long distance hug. 

I thank you so much from the deepest part of my heart and soul!!! 

With love and deep gratitude,

Annette