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Community Corner

OPEN LETTER TO DENTISTS ~ A SAD YET HOPEFUL STORY

This is a letter I found. It turns out the person who means the most to me has sent it to a few dentists with no response. I hope all of you will read this and pass it on. 

 I'm leaving it intact as I found it, with the exception of changing her and her sisters names. 

 She selflessly has helped this community, charities and individials alike. 

  She has even helped this very publication of New Port Richey Patch, with and without them even knowing it.

  I'm absolutely sure she would come out publicly to thank anyone who may respond. Here it goes :

  Hello,  I know this is a bit long but every thing in this letter is important so I pray someone will have mercy and take a few minutes to read it.  

  All I ask is that you please read this and make a decision from there. I don't mean any of it to be a " Woe is me" tale. I have struggled NOT to wallow in self pity, if I had frankly I would have been gone a long time ago. Some things just are what they are and it can take a long time to even begin to comprehend them and start to try to heal from them.   
    I am a 46 year old female. To give you a little idea of what I come from I will tell you this. The first fracture to my back, skull and other major injuries were inflicted by my mother when I was still in single digits. When I became of age where I was out on my own I obviously could no longer be physically hit so the emotional and mental abuse intensified, all thought I didn't think it was possible it sure was. I will not get into any more as I am not trying to gain sympathy, if I was to give a just a few detailed paragraphs it would frankly have most people in tears. I'm merely trying to explain just a little of what fed into the condition I am in now.  
  All of these things and so much more have left me with PTSD. I was made to feel absolutely terrified of many things including seeing a Dentist. Please understand, this is a REASON NOT an excuse. This, as most things that transpired, was calculated and done with full intent. It took me almost 40 years to stop asking the wrong questions. What did I do? What didn't I do? What can I do? What can I not do. Until I finally realized I needed to ask "What could be missing in a mother that she not only was unable to show the caring that even a stranger would be capable of showing me."   Later in life when I told a professional about this and they were confident that with the proper doctor she would be diagnosed as a borderline personality with sociopath tendencies.  
  My father had insurance when I was a child right through the time I was 23. I was covered even though I didn't live with them. I was told this 2 days before my 23 rd birthday by my mother, another fully calculated action.  
  My sister was taken to an orthodontist at a young age she had a couple of crooked teeth. My mother didn't want her to be made fun of etc. Her teeth were no where in need of help as mine were. My front teeth have never closed. I was very much tortured by other children due to this as far back as 4 years old, I can remember it. Needless to say the higher the grade in school the worse this got. It didn't subside as an adult either. Along with what I endured at my own mothers hands, she made sure that even my own family tortured me over my looks. She taught my siblings & cousins to be cruel to me & to use this as the main way.  My deformity has stopped me from many things in life. At the same time I have put myself out there more than most probably would have under the circumstances. 
   My mother taking my sister only fed into the belief that It MUST have been me, I must have been unlovable. worthless and every other thing I was told I was and wasn't and would never be.  I found out much later on in life that people with what my mother has, which boils down to being born with no soul, usually do single out one child.
   I can remember over hearing my only Aunt asking "Why hasn't "Mary" gotten help she clearly needs it way more than "Sue" I was very young. Her answer was the same one I had heard all my life, but much less graphic. "The dentists said they would have to saw her jaw bones"
  I was VERY young, I believed her.
  She used to threaten me by the age of 6 that " I will take you to a dentist and let them saw your jaws."  Imagine the image that conjured in a 6 year old child's mind.   I know it sounds idiotic that I still believed it even in later years but that's what years of being terrorized especially by the one person who is supposed to love and protect you with every fiber of their being can do to even an intelligent person. Of course she would have had no way of knowing what would have needed to be done as she had NEVER EVER so much as had seen by a Doctor for my teeth.  
   I don't drink so drugs etc. After all I have endured and surpassed the best I could I consider this a miracle in it's self and am grateful. I know many who would have or sadly have turned to these things to take away the pain.    


  There is so much more to this but again I am not trying to give you a sob story.   I am how ever begging for help. I have been to a dentist 2 times in my entire life. Once to have my two left back molars extracted, the other recently for xrays etc. Other than that nothing, not even a cleaning. The extractions were done in a hospital up North, Hackensack University, where the dental clinic was.
  The dentist who did it was just so very wonderful. Being at a hospital was also very reassuring. Unfortunately we moved soon after so that was the end of that. 
   The dentist I saw recently was a very nice man but I simply can't afford $170 per extraction. Basically I need all my teeth pulled & dentures it seems.     I fear that I may even wind up having oral cancer at if I don't get help soon. But I am still hopeful of it not being too late. 
   All the teeth in my mouth cause constant debilitating pain, save maybe 2-4 of them. My gums are in terrible shape as well. I'm running constant fevers.
   A combination of no insurance and PTSD has left me with no means to get help. Not financially or emotionally.
  I truly want to live more than I want either of these things to stop me.
   Is there any way you could find it in your heart and what I am sure is an endless schedule and pile of pleas for help, to possibly see me and what I believe would result in literally saving my life? 
   I don't have credit which I found out is worse than bad credit. I do work & would make payments. I would sign any needed paper work etc. for this too. I have been knocked down for credit care etc. I have no family to turn to for help.  
 I how ever do have true gratefulness for the littlest things in life. This would be the absolute infinite act of kindness and caring anyone would have shown me in my life.
   I also promise to "suck it up" if you decide to help me. I will over come the PTSD, the understandable fear of the unknown and much more and not make it harder for you to help me than need be.
  My life being saved is way more powerful than any thing I have been through which has caused the PTSD to begin with. I firmly believe that if I am blessed enough to be given the oral care I have so desperately needed all my life will actually help to dissipate this also!     I leave the decision in your hands now. I understand the magnitude of what I am asking of you and will understand if the answer is no. I won't lie, I am praying for a yes. 
  I SINCERELY Thank you for your time no matter what your decision turns out to be, I appreciate that in itself so much.

  Thank You so much for your time and consideration.
  "Mary"

  Well, I don't know about any of you, but I cried when I saw this and asked her about it.

  I'm watching her health literally decline daily before my eyes.

  If you or anyone you know might be able to help PLEASE PLEASE pass this onto them.

  Thank you,
 Bill.

You can contact me at Bill19659@gmailcom

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