Suzanne is a teenager who wants desperately to live life free from pain and discomfort. TMJ symptoms have forced Suzanne to stop doing what most teenagers take for granted—hanging out with friends, going to school, and participating in sports and music.
Suzanne decided to do something to help herself and began researching TMJ diseases and disorders on the Internet. She discovered the Association’s website and was comforted to know that an organization existed that truly understood what she was going through.
Suzanne wrote, “I am 16 years old and have had TMJ since I was born. As I have gotten older, it has worsened. My jaw has started to give me a speaking problem and causes so much pain. I have to live with this pain because my parents don’t have health insurance, and we can’t afford major reconstructive surgery that will cost way over $30,000. My parents have struggled for years to get me as much help and comfort as they could. Now we are kind of at a halt with no money. I’ve seen so many doctors and have had so many opinions that all ended up the same. I am young, but if I can make it struggling in school with the pain and dislocation, I know other people can too. I hope that one day someone will find a cure, so I can actually be a kid for once and do things that I want to do, like sports and stuff. That is my one dream.”
Suzanne hopes by sharing her story she can reassure teens and provide them a sense of comfort in knowing they are not alone and that there is hope.
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