I am a single, divorced mother of three (ages 22,17, 10).  Three months ago, my oldest daughter was abandoned by her fiance when he discovered she was pregnant.  She had just been laid off her job at a lawyers office due to cash flow problems at the firm.  She has always suffered from depression and gastroenteritis, and she has been incapcitated by this break up.  At 7 weeks, her placenta tore, so she has been unable to seek employment to help alleviate the expenses.  She has no insurance.  The doctor alone will cost $3,100 if no other complications or special services are required.  She has already incurred 1 trip to the emergency room for the torn placenta.  I take home $1,918 a month with $875 going to rent, an average of $250 (winter) and $350(summer) in electric bills, $60 to $70 in gas bills, $70 in water bills, in addition to telephone, gasoline and food bills.  The $500 a month that must be paid to the doctor thru the 7th month takes me to my limit.  I am seeking a grant to help alleviate some of the expenses until my daughter is well enough to participate in the funding of this pregnancy.

Hi. My name is Katie Rouse. My teeth have been very bad since I can remember. When I was twelve, my mother brought me to the dentist for the first time. I had four cavities filled. I was covered under medicaid and I also received retainers around that time. I chipped a tooth and had it fixed a couple times and we talked about braces, but my dentist said my teeth were so soft they would be afraid of them breaking. They also noticed at this point that my teeth were rotting from the inside out and perscribed me extra floride tooth paste which would slow down the procces. My mother than took me off of the medicaid before I was 18 so that she could enroll her self in a program that would allow her to receive 5,000 dollars to help her buy a house when I turned 18. She had no other isurance coverage for me, only for herself. My father only paid 64 dollars a week in child support so I saw no help from him either. I didn't have insurance until I could get a full time job and afford it on my own. I resented my mother for a long time because of her decision. I felt it was unfair and cruel to let me suffer. I have forgiven her now and she has appoligized and wishes she could help. When I was 19 my teeth were so bad that I couldn't eat much and I was taking about 32 hundred mg of ibuprofen a day. This went on for about a month, but I started running high fevers and developed numorous infections in my gums. My regular dentist couldn't see me, so I called an oral surgeon in my area. He got me right in and schedualed an appt. immediatly. I had 6 teeth pulled by him, and 2 years later I developed an absess at the root of my tooth and had that one removed as well. My job situation changed and my boyfriend bought a house. I pay him rent to help him pay the mortgage, but I don't make enough money to get insurance. I have tried looking for other jobs, but we only have one vehicle so our hours have to be the same. He has a decent job and makes enough money to make ends meet. Right now my money buys us groceries, pays for gas and small bills. I also pay him 300 a month towards the 1000.00 dollar house payment. I've applied for loans, but my credit is very poor. I made stupid decisions when I was younger and my credit now suffers for them. My father and I have mended our relationship, and he has since offered to help, but he was diagnosed with oral cancer a year ago and had 80% of his tounge removed. He can no longer work because he suffers from severe seizures since his radiation. He lives on 1150.00 dollars a month in social security. The only way he could help is to take out a loan, but since he doesn't work he cannot get approved. I can't bring myself to take about four of his paychecks even though he would give anyone the shirt off his back. I'm getting off track now, and I appologize. I really just need to catch a break. I don't have one single photo of myself smiling with my mouth open. Not in school pictures or anything. My confidence is so low. I can't even eat some of the healthy foods that I love. I have tried dieting, but my teeth are so brken and soft that I can't bite into carrots, celery, granola bars. Also, a lot of my teeth are broken to the point where my nerves are exposed and even biting into an apple irritates them. I can barely even brush my own teeth. I feel disgusting, and I can't even beleive that I found a man who loves me the way I am. He wants to help, but we would have to be married for his insurance to cover me and that isn't an option right now. Even with insurance the out of pocket cost is rediculous. My biggest wish is to be able to laugh and smile with my friends and family without being so sad about myself. I want to go my high shool reunions with out the same teeth they remember me with. I want to feel well. I want to be healthy, and I don't want to live on Ibuprofen anymore. It mean the world to me to be able open my mouth and show the world a beautiful healthy smile. I pray to God everynight for a miracle, because that is exactly what I feel like it will take for me to afford the extractions and the dentures that I need. I'm only 24 years old, but I don't want to live another day with a sore, unhealthy, unaatractive mouth. My friends know me as a happy funny quick-witted person, but they don't see the tears behind my jokes. I don't want be sad anymore. istead of hiding my sorrow, I want to share my joy. So please help me put a bright ,shinning, healthy smile on my face that I can show to the world.

You can E-mail me at K_A_Rouse@hotmail.com or find me on myspace at www.myspace.com/katie_anna

Thank you so much for any suggestions or help that you can offer.

i am bipolar and have not been able to afford my meds since november.  I thought i was doing okay, but bad things keep happening.  My son is in rehab for addiction, my mother has had two heart attacks, and my daughter had a spine surgeyr for scoliosis and got staph in it and they had to do a second surgery and she had a picc line in for 3 months.  Im divorced from an abuser of 23 years.  Im do medical typing and only get paid when im typing.  When i had to take care of my daughter and help my mom, i lost so much and had to take the equity out of my house.  I do not have any health insurance as I am considered an independent contractor so I have to pay for self insurance and it doesnt cover any of my bioplar medications.  Just my paxil was 228.00 for 30 pills, and I cannot afford to buy it anymore. Im so depressed that Im sleeping and giving up.  IM losing my home and its for sale right now.  I cant afford to go back to the psychiatrist because the bipolar meds they prescribe for me are brand name and my insurance will not cover.  i cannot afford a better plan.  theres so much more, i am just so desparate to get back on my depression medications without being manic so i can care for my family and just keep dinner on the table.  Im 45 and its becoming too much.  Im in menopause and cannot afford the hormone treatment which is also contributing to my depression.  I have lost about 30 pounds from anorexia from the depression.  Its 5 pm here now and i havent eaten all day.  i really just wish someone could help me.  The drug plans that offer free drugs, they take up to 90 days, and they only give small supplies, and i dont even qualify.  My income is considered to be at the federal poverty level, but yet when i turn for assistance, they say i make too much.  what can i do?  im so tired.

I am a woman that have overcame many obsticles in life.  I am an overcomer, have determination and pray a lot. My life is shared with my husband and 3 special needs sons. I need to tidy up a bit their world and be more profitable. I also belong to a wonderful non profit organization - Operation Roger - who transport pets across america to their forever homes.

I am 23 years old and am having terrible pain because of my teeth.  They are so bad I haven't been able to work and I have no insurance.  Please email me at Marhel3@yahoo.com if you can help.

Hello, I ran across this website through a search engine looking for free dental help. I am a 58 year old female and look like I am in my late 30's, fun, and a great personality, except I can't be the real me because of my teeth. I haven't been able to work for a few years because I have this constant vertigo. so my fiance' supports me.Because I don't work I have no income or insurance of any kind. The teeth I have left on top(5)are good so I probably would only need a partial. I have six teeth left on the bottom and two are loosening up which would leave only four. Because I don't have many left to come out the cost would not be astronomical! When I was growing up my parents couldn't afford dental care and when I got married, the so called husband was not a good provider so I have been living with this dilema for a long time now. I'm not asking for the world and I usually like to give rather than receive, but under these circumstances I am the one who needs help desperately. Once I have my confidence back there are alot of things I would like to do to help other people. If any one is willing to help, I would be for ever in your debt(within reason) THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

Please help us. Mom, 78 yrs old, has lung cancer. She has no insurance and lives on Soc Sec only.She has medicare Pt A only. Please donate to us at my paypal acct.

ddpianoman@aol.com

I'm a 48 year old mother of 4, and I had a hard time finding good and affordable dental and medical insurance,   I am working part time, and have no money or insurance, I bought  up some from an outside insurance company,  and my money ran out, Ican't pay my bills and buy insurance at the same time now I'm in such pain, and my face is swollen and my gums is very infected ,   I don't know where to turn,     I can't take much more of the pain!!, so I'm asking for you to make a  pleage so I can get dental help, what ever you pleage I will return it in a prayer for you and your family.

thank you,

lynn3

I'm 28 years od, and had just started a new job when I became very ill. I have Type I diabetes so any illness is a struggle. I ended up having pylonephritis (a severe kidney infection when enlarged my kidney) and was also septic (the bacteria was in my blood). I spent 17 days in the hospital and another 3 1/2 weeks going back to an outpatient center for IV antibiotic therapy. I was unable to work for 2 months, and unable to return to full time for a month after that.

I've accumulated quite a large amount of debt due to hospital and doctor bills. Originally the total was almost $90,000. The hospital discounted my bill due to my low income, but I still owe almost $37,000. I'm grateful to be alive so paying that sum is nothing to considering I almost died. Howeveer, my finances just won't allow me to pay too much each month. I basically live paycheck to paycheck. I've applied for state assistance but I'm too old, not disabled according to their guidelines and I don't have any dependants.

So I'm looking for anything that could help. I'm not asking someone else to pay my debt, I'm just asking for some help because the hospital is not even giving me a chance to make payments. They said if I cannot afford a monthly payment of $350 then my aacounts would go to collections.

My husband is disabled and we have no insurance.  He has an inoperable spine disease, diabetes, etc.  We are having trouble paying our monthly bills and buying his medications.  Please let me know if there are any options available to us.  We also have three dependent children to support.

My name is Joe.  I'm 25 and I'm from Illinois.  I'm a regular guy, with a regular job.  As most of you know, most jobs offer little dental coverage, if any.  My $8/hr job, as much as I love it (wink), does not provide any at all. 

PAYDAY: can I afford overpriced dental work?  Let's see.  After taxes, medical insurance (which I never "get" to use, ironically), rent, bills, fuel, and car insurance; I am left with enough grocery money to properly feed myself for about three days a week.  Thankfully, through food banks and "fish fry mondays" at work,  I'm still kickin'.  Hunger isn't my problem... but I sometimes go days without eating for fear of the constant pain I'm in for hours following any meal. 

I am missing most of my teeth in the back and the only contact points that I can chew with are a couple of broken, abcessed teeth that cause me to wince in terrible discomfort when exposed to simple, room-temp water... an unbearable feeling that is intensified tenfold when I use them to chew even the softest of foods.  Because of this, my peak weight of 210 pounds now hovers around 170... not healthy for a man who is 6'4".  I tried a non-solid diet of soups, V-8 (yuck), nutrition drinks, soggy cereal, etc.  That lasted about three weeks and I'll just say that my body didn't dig it.  I had a lack of fiber in my diet that, if continued, would've caused digestive tract problems.  Are we having fun yet?

As you may know, abcessed teeth that aren't treated promptly can lead to fatal, yes FATAL infections in the neck, face, and brain.  I can imagine the coroners report might read:

AGE:  25          GENDER:  MALE        CAUSE OF DEATH:  "LACK OF DENTAL INSURANCE"

My county has an emergency dental assistance program, but funding has run out until next year.  Unfortunately, the amount offered by said program wouldn't be sufficient for my needs anyway.  DEAD END.  Free dental clinics won't touch an abcessed tooth. DEAD END.

While I am facing the most danger with the two abcessed teeth, I have other teeth that are en route to the same agonizing destination and the ultimate need I have for myself is extraction of all affected teeth, as none of them can be saved, and getting replacement teeth that would allow me to eat fruits, veggies, and meat again.  Or ice cream.....ooooooh...I havent tasted ice cream in at least 4 years.  Things that people take for granted, haunt my dreams.

My smile is less-than-perfect and I'm positive that I could get a better job if my smile was a little more inviting.  There is not one existing picture of me where you can see my teeth.  Always that same awkward, "I dont like this at all"  half-grin : .  My grandma hates that.  She says, "You're so handsome, why won't you smile the right way?"

The right way?  What is that?  I have never known.

I need help! I am 19. I went to the Emergency Room and I don't have insurance. I regret going now because of the bill. I am so scared.. I DON'T have insurance, I don't have money, I'm a college student, and I really don't know what to do. Please help.......... the bill is around $13,000, and I'm not even sure if there are any other medical expenses adding to this.

I cannot pay for this and I don't know what to do.... please help.....

I have contacted the Medical Services and they tell me that I could be able to get a uninsured discount and that I need to talk to the Hospital.. I called the Hospital and they are sending me a financial aid form to fill out and send back... is that all that I can do? I want to see if there are other aid out there for me............ I really just don't know what to do.

     I have very low self esteme  I won't get out of my house I stay very depressed my children and my husband our very embarrsed by my looks I don't have no chin  I really need help I want to get out of the house and be a very normal person  I have had two sets of teeth by a very good dentist  but they won't just fit.  I always wanted a pretty smile can someone help me I am very desperate.  I don't have no insurance. please help me       joy smith

I am 23 and got in an accident; Both my lungs collapsed I had four broken ribs and it took them four hours to get me to a hospital. I had just been hired for my first  full time job and the insurance was 9 days of kicking in. Now I am starting my life out with over $27,000 debt. Thanks to God that I am alive and well. Without him I would not be here. I may have to file bankruptcy and I am looking for any way to get out of this. I do not make enough money to put a dint in the sum. The hospitals want their money now and I am getting constant calls from debt collectors. If you can help please contact me. zrwalker@dnr.in.gov

I would just like to find out if anyone has any new and updated information on my request for dental help. My earlier post stated I needed desperate dental work. I am a cancer survivor and after treatment I developed fibromyalgia which leaves you in pain about 98% of the time. Taking pain med and chemotheaphy damaged my teeth from the inside as well as the outside. The result, they are breaking off and I have developed infections one after the other. I do fear for my heart as repeated infections can cause damage. I also suffer from bipolar disorder which doesn't help any of the other problems, just makes me worry more about what to do and fear that I may have a manic attack and do something stupid. On the other hand I do find myself slipping into a deep depression and fear another trip to the hospital, which is impossible as again no health insurance. I do not like being this way and in the past have worked so hard at trying to maintain a productive lifestyle. All I need is the path to lead me in the direction of finding help to get the issue taken care of.

Thank anyone who has input!

Hello,

I am a 28 year-old female, recently employed after almost two months with no income. 

I will not be receiving my first check for over a month, and am now facing a major medical crisis, having just been diagnosed with mid-stage heart failure due to Marfan's Syndrome.  I currently have no insurance and anticipate a struggle having any insurance carrier cover the pre-existing condition.

I am in need of short-term assistance while I attempt to get back on my feet.  I can not guarantee when I wouldbe able to repay any aid I receive, but do promise successful repayment.  In all honesty, all I'm looking for is someone to give me a chance, and believe that I can beat this.

Thank you.

     I have very low self esteme  I won't get out of my house I stay very depressed my children and my husband our very embarrsed by my looks I don't have no chin  I really need help I want to get out of the house and be a very normal person  I have had to sets of teeth by a very dentist  but they won't just fit.  I always wanted a pretty smile  can sone help me I am very desperate.              I don't have no insurance. please help me            joy smith

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Feel free to participate in this public group space.

Two easy ways to do this:

1. Add a comment or a question here - on this page... or on any other page in this space.
   
2. Or, if you want to start a separate thread - make a new page.

Either way is good - the important thing is your participation. On Aidpage, people support each other by speaking out and by paying attention to each other - as simple as that.

Hi, I'm a semi recent college graduate with very low income, I am a dog walker for a living :) I am struggling with deferring huge loan payments, and I have a huge amount of credit card debt

I cannot afford to get my cavities filled, and my whole mouth is rotting and only getting worse.  It's been years since I could go to the dentist. I'm wondering if there are any dentists with a good reuptation out there willing to do the necessary procedures at a very low cost or for free.  I'm also curious if anyone knows about dental offices with financial assistance available, or that are privately funded.  Any financial contribution towards getting cavities filled would also work, I just need help soon!  The pain is getting bad, not to mention I'm losing friends over the...bad breath side effects of so many cavities. 

Thank you for any support you can offer me!  Even advice! :) 

Feel free to participate in this public group space.

Two easy ways to do this:

1. Add a comment or a question here - on this page... or on any other page in this space.
   
2. Or, if you want to start a separate thread - make a new page.

Either way is good - the important thing is your participation. On Aidpage, people support each other by speaking out and by paying attention to each other - as simple as that.