I had a dentist appointment on Wednesday to prepare for a crown and to fill a cavity. I have never had this many issues before with my teeth. It is caused by a medication I take to control my arthritis. I have a lot more work to be be done. But on Wednesday I was trying to work with my dental team. My mouth is very small so with my chair tilted back as far as it goes, which is kind of backwards, and my head to one side and my mouth as wide as I could open it, and my hand trying to push my jaw in the opposite direction of my head to try to make more space for my dentist and the hygienist that was assisting her, I was focusing on breathing out of my nose and reminding myself to not clench up, which I tend to do, and I thought about my sister. Jamie Holloway, who also has a small mouth but she also has a trach. I was considering that immediately as I sat down, a bib was hung around my neck and towel was put over that; Right where Jamie’s trach would be. I also know she can’t breathe lying flat so she would really be struggling in this position.
Later I texted her and asked her about it. She took a bit to answer me. But finally, she told me she doesn’t go to the dentist. I was very concerned. I asked her how she knows if there is a problem brewing in her mouth and she told me she does have issues. She has a broken tooth and nerve pain in her face. She said the last dentist she went to told her to take her trach out. They were unwilling to be creative or helpful at all.
Jamie doesn’t have that contraption in her neck that connects to her oxygen tank just for looks or for fun. She would love to be free of it but so far there is no medical procedure that will free her from the tubes and tanks that keep her alive. She has an auto immune disease that attacks her throat and lungs and she can’t breathe without her trach. She did tell me she might go back but right now she has a lot on her plate. Jamie has to have dilation surgeries on her throat and lungs regularly because the inflammation causes them to close on her. She is really struggling right now and we are all counting down to January 22 when she has her next surgery will be able to breathe better.
I’m writing this in case there is a dentist out there that has never considered that people with tracheostomies need dental care. They need dental teams that are willing to think outside the box to make sure they get what they need. Disabled people need to be able to go to places that are willing to accommodate them because they matter, they are important and they deserve to have the help they need just like everyone else.
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My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
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