Thursday, August 1, 2013

New Artwork That Will Hopefully Help Me Out: I'm Kinda Mad at 14 Year Old Me

Your Smile Makes Me Giddy and Stuff-New Art! Find me HERE!

I really didn't want to make my "blogging come back" with a post like this. I really wanted to make a cute collage of fun etsy picks or perhaps some awesome DIYS that I have found on other blogs that I wanted to share with you all.

I went to the dentist last week for an emergency visit. I had taken a bite out of a peach and noticed little pieces of my front tooth left behind on it. I panicked and called the dentist. When I got there I was given the news that I knew was coming but hope I could avoid.

I need another dental implant.


Back track: When I was 14 years old I had fainted face first down a flight of stairs. My poor mom witnessed the entire thing. She screamed my name and I wanted to say back to her  "I'M OK MA!" but I was completely knocked unconscious (side note: I am a firm believer that people in a coma can hear you since I was able to hear everything my mom was saying to me even thought I was knocked out) she thought I was no longer "with her" (if you catch my drift) because she had found me unresponsive and in a pool of blood. I came to, put my hand to my mouth and in my hand was my front tooth. Now, I don't mean that little nub that you see when you smile, I mean the ENTIRE tooth that is rooted into your jaw (its about and 1-1/2 long) there was a giant hole in my gums and my teeth were really loose. Till this day doctors have no clue how I didn't snap my neck right there and die, so I would like to think I am here for a reason.

She rushed me to the dentist where I had gotten 72 stitches placed into my mouth. They attempted to root canal my tooth back into my head but my jaw rejected it. I had to get 2 dental implants on my front tooth and the little one next to it (if you are not sure what a dental implant is basically they rip your teeth out of your jaw and literally screw a  long screw into your jaw that then gets a little fake tooth glued to it) the process is painful, scary and expensive. Insurance companies do not cover dental implants because their reasoning is that this process is "cosmetic". I do not know who in their right mind would willingly put themselves through this torture. I literally had no teeth in my head and they were claiming I was doing this to "improve my looks" (HA!)

Since then I have had so many issues with my jaw/mouth. My jaw is constantly popping since it was knocked out of place (if you look closely at my face my jaw is actually tilted towards one side). Last year my jaw locked up on me and I couldn't open my mouth more than an inch big, I had a hard difficult time eating. My gums are receding upwards and food is constantly getting stuck in there causing it to be a breeding ground for bacteria. Sometimes my face goes numb which doctors believe is caused from nerve damage when I took that spill down the stairs.

Flash forward to today, my other front tooth that was perfectly fine has started to fail on me 15 years later. It is super brittle with a giant hole in the back. Soon it will snap in half completely and I will be left with no front tooth there.

I had a hard time accepting this news, I know it might sound silly or vain to you but I had a hard time dealing with having fake teeth at age 14. I was happy that at least ONE of the front teeth were still real, was still "a part of me". Now I have to have a piece of me ripped out and replaced with a fake. My smile will change and I will always know deep down inside that i was not given these teeth.

Maybe you think I'm being overly dramatic, maybe you understand where I am coming from, but I am having a really hard time with coming to terms that I will soon look different. I never understood people that willingly get plastic surgery to dramatically change their features, why would you ever mess with that?

Long story short this is coming at a really bad time. Bub and I just purchased a home and we had to fork over a lot of money at closing up front (I won't tell you how much because that is tacky and neither here nor there but let's just say we could've bought ourselves a reaaaally nice car with the money we handed over in one lump sum)

As I said before insurance will not cover this process for me and will end up costing me around 6,000-7,000 dollars. I would never ever ask anyone to "donate" money to help me pay for this because I am no more deserving that anyone else out there. I am no better that anyone and am not entitled to anything like that.

Instead I am releasing a new print into my shop where 100% of the profits will go to my "Leonora Needs A Decent Smile And Not A Hole In Her Mouth" Fund. Please, do not feel obligated to purchase this artwork. Even if you just share it on your facebook, twitter or blog that would help me tremendously. I am going to be selling 2 versions: 1 as an 8x10 for $20 and 1 as a more affordable 5x7 for $9. Also I personally love the colors I picked for this print, but I am also selling one in black and white to go with any home decor. Any little bit will help me and I thank you in advance for any and all support you can give me.

13 comments:

  1. gaaaaah, this mega sucks! i will def help spread the word and hope that it all works out. so sorry you have to go through all this! :(

    i feel like i need to come over and make you laugh. all i need is a blanket and an air mattress and i know i could totally do the job!

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  2. ugh L! This is the WORST! So sorry! I will SPREAD THE WORD.

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  3. ohmygoodness Leonora!! I 'm so sorry!! I can't believe that insurance would be so terrible to at least not pay a PORTION of this!! PS I LOVE this print!!! xoxo

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  4. Duuuuuuuude that is more than either of my c-sections with all the cool drugs and hospital stay AND all the babies costs too!!!! insurance is lame sometimes.

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  5. I tooootally understand the whole feeling like you're going to look totally different and your face won't be your face anymore. You really aren't being silly or dramatic or whatever.

    If it helps, I was really worried when I had to have a melanoma removed from my face 2 summers ago. (It was a pretty big one, the total incision was like 3 inches long right on the front cheek area and I still have a scar. Plus it was bad enough they had to go back a second time and cut out more for "safe margin" reasons). I do look different, but not THAT different and it wasn't as bad as I feared it would be once I got through it and came out the other side.

    Besides, with the force of personality you've got going for you, you're gonna be you no matter WHAT your front teeth look like. Pinky swear. For reals. :)

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  6. I knocked out a front tooth once. :( I still have issues really smiling because I'm so self-aware of my teeth and their imperfections. *hugs*

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  7. OH honey buns! I am so u so sorry you have to go threw this! I had my first EVER tooth extraction last year. The dentist had to give me an RX for Valium so when I arrived a few days later i'd be happy as a clam to get it removed. I was in excruciating pain and agony for about a week before it was time I had to find out what was going on. My BP was so high (200's/100's) and I screamed at all hours of the day and night as if I was in a horror film. Luckily,no neighbor called 911. It is awful when people need there teeth worked on. The dentist terrifies me. Even though I had braces (thanks to my father for Kaiser Insurance back then-Epic $300 is all it cost with some co-pays) when I was 15. Now, I am going to be in need of another extraction. I allowed all my wisdom's to grow in with the disapproval of my dentist last year mind you,i'm 26. After switching jobs I no longer have any insurance coverage. So,im preying that my insurance kicks in before I have to get another extracted. I support you girl!

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  8. Ugh, don't you just hate insurance? I have hearing loss and it's the same thing with my hearing aid. They don't cover any of it (apparently hearing is, you know, unnecessary). I'm sorry about your tooth though. If I had a job right now I'd totally buy that print. It's so cute :)

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  9. I'm right there with ya! I was 12 when I hit my mouth on an old-fashioned wooden highchair. Split my front tooth right in half - 3 days after my dad got out of the military (so no more insurance). I have a root canal, and a fake tooth, which is totally noticeable since it doesn't match its partner. They told me it would need to be replaced in about 15 years, it's been about 28years. And my dentist wants around $800. I feel for ya! And I'll do my best to help share your print! ;-)

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  10. I'm sorry insurance sucks! I totally shared this and can't wait to get my prints from you :)

    Jamie
    greyskysaturday.wordpress.com

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  11. I'm so sorry!! This totally sucks! I will spread the word!

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  12. Wow. That is horrible. I wish you good luck with sales & any/all tooth problems.
    My heart goes out to you. And your mom --- what a horrible thing to watch your daughter like that! Wow.

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  13. Dental issues are terrible. :( I'm so sorry to hear about that!! Is it any wonder that dentists are terrifying? Haha.
    Good luck with your fund!x

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