In Support of Sarah Samantha Mickle

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Hi everyone! My name is Taylor, I'm Samantha's best friend. Please take a few minutes to read Samantha's story and if compelled to do so, any donation would help tremendously. Samantha is a wife and a mother to her precious son. This journey is going to be difficult not only physically, but mentally as well. I ask that you keep Samantha in your thoughts and prayers throughout this long journey ahead. Thank you so much!

Samantha has been battling ankylosing spondylitis since she was a young child. With this disease, she has faced many obstacles, one of them being issues with her TMJ (temporomandibular joint). She has had small procedures done in the past to help ease her pain and discomfort. However, none have been successful. Over the years, Samantha’s symptoms worsened, causing extreme pain and difficulty opening her mouth which results in being unable to eat and the breakdown of her overall oral health.

Samantha has been seeing new doctors who have discovered severe ankylosis of the TMJ. With this discovery via MRI, they’ve found bilateral distortion of both temporomandibular joints with heterotopic bone formation and perforated discs. This damage is consistent with bone and fibrous ankylosis. In conclusion of this diagnosis, Samantha will need bilateral total joint replacements of the TMJ. If this surgery is not performed, the foreign bone will continue to grow causing severe pain, breakdown of teeth, and eventually causing Samantha to be unable to open her mouth at all.

Unfortunately, Tricare will not cover the cost of this surgery and will provide little to no reimbursement at all due to the doctor being an “out of network provider”

Total joint replacement of the TMJ has been quoted at $98,800. This does not include the costs of pre/post operative orthodontics that will be required as well as travel and lodging expenses during the two week stay that’s required at the time of surgery. Samantha’s surgery has been scheduled for June 6, 2025.

At this time, we are asking for any generous donations to help Samantha and her family cover surgery related costs and lodging expenses. All donations will go directly to Samantha and her husband to cover her surgery and lodging expenses.

Again, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read Samantha's story. If unable to donate, please share Samantha's story as it will help reach others who might not see it.

Once Samantha has had surgery, we will set up a meal train and options for people to volunteer to lend a hand with various things Samantha and her family will need help with during her recovery.

We ask that you all continue to pray for Samantha during this time as she now has her surgical braces on to begin the preparation process for her surgery in 9 months.

Sarah Williams
Beneficiary

Organized by Sarah Williams, Beth Williams, and Taylor Lucas.

Updates

Keep up to date as needs change.

Jul 19, 2024