This is my bestfriend Carly. I’ve known her since I was born literately. We were born in the same hospital, same day, in rooms next to eachother. Then again we met in Kindergarten and were instantly bestfriends. She is a bright, funny, entertaining 16 year old who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. She has endured 13 surgical procedures to correct her birth defect and the complications of it. She has had two cholesteatomas removed from her ear, one the size of a plum. These non cancerous corrosive tumors had severely damaged her ears and the surrounding areas, that she only can taste on one side of her tongue and more extensive surgery is need to help with correcting her hearing. This was due to her not being able to swallow as well as other people due to her clefts. But, the next corrective surgery she will be having is to correct he top jaw. Due to the cleft palate, Carly had no palate at all when she was born. And the corrective surgeries are done in stages. The surgeries are very evasive and not easy to recover from, and do not always make a difference in her appearance.
June 26th she will have her 14th surgery. This surgery is the one that will make a big difference.
You have to realize that not only has she dealt with the medical issues due to her birth defect, but she has had to deal with being bullied, made fun of, and ridicule over something she has no control over. But through it all she has kept high spirits and her sense of humor. Even when had gotten so bad I had to involve the police. She had taken on the role of the bigger person even when some adults couldn’t. Just the other day at her after school job, an adult made an uncalled for comment. Why?
She will be have bone grafts put into her top jaw and have it moved forward. There is no bone there due to the cleft. This surgery will not only help with her appearance, (I think she is beautiful) but also her swallowing, chewing, her speech. Swallowing is a problem. It will allow the dentist to make bridges for her severely mal-formed teeth, which due to a congenital syndrome are pretty much melting away in her mouth. (she cannot have implants when there isn’t bone, her braces are literally holding her teeth in place). This surgery will also help with her self esteem.
Think about what it is like to be a 16 year old girl, that thinks no one thinks you are pretty.
But insurance being what it is, most of this surgery will NOT be covered, or will the reconstruction of her teeth afterward.
Her parents have exceeded their savings and credit paying out of pocket what the insurance doesn’t cover. The Smile Train & Operation Smile do not help children in the United States. Although Carly raises money for them.
Knowing how hard it is for her family to cover her medical & dental expenses, Carly would like to be a dentist that offers affordable care to children with her condition. Empathy is a good thing.
Please help with Carly’s reconstructive surgery. Please help her feel normal. Please help Carly smile and feel good about it when she is.Please, Please, Please take a second out of your day, Share this post, donate money! A small act of kindness can change someone’s life forever.! https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/6x92/carlyssmile?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_share_stream.share&utm_campaign=receipt_T1&og_action=hug&t=3&fb_ref=969996
Please reblog this, it’s for a good cause, spread the word please!!
