In Support of Bridget & Family

Hi, my name is Angel, and this is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to write.
My mom has spent years fighting battles that most people never see. She has lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, seizures, and has gone through so many medical problems that sometimes it feels like life just won't give her a break. Even when she's hurting, she still gets up every day, goes to work, takes care of our family, and somehow finds a way to smile for everyone else.
For a long time, the steroids she needed caused her to gain over 120 pounds. Instead of giving up, she worked incredibly hard and lost all of that weight. Then she started losing her hair. Watching her learn how to wear wigs and slowly regain her confidence showed me what determination really looks like. Every time life knocked her down, she found a way to stand back up.
But this time is different.
My mom lost her teeth after years of dental problems and had to go through extractions, bone grafts, and major surgery. The temporary dentures she was given didn't fit correctly and caused a severe allergic reaction to the acrylic they were made from. Now she struggles to eat, talk, and smile without pain or embarrassment.
I've watched her cry when she thought no one could hear. I've watched her force herself to go to work even when she was exhausted and hurting because our family depends on her. She has never been someone who asks for help. If anything, she's usually the one helping everyone else.
No amount of determination or willpower can fix this part of the journey. The only real solution is permanent implant treatment, and it's more expensive than our family can afford.
If you're able to help, every donation will go directly toward my mom's dental treatment, specialist care, and the procedures needed to help her eat, speak, and smile again. If donating isn't possible, sharing this page would mean just as much.
My biggest hope is that this story also starts a conversation about how expensive dental care has become in America. So many people live every day with pain, infection, missing teeth, or disease because they simply can't afford treatment. No one should have to choose between their health and their financial future.
If, by some blessing, more money is raised than my mom needs for her treatment, every remaining dollar will be donated to a dental charity so someone else can have the chance to smile again too.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story. More than anything, thank you for seeing the incredible woman that I've always been lucky enough to call my mom.