Help Fix My Broken Jaw

Another Possibility

2009-04-01T12:14:00.001-07:00

It's amazing the people you meet when you aren't even looking! I met a gentleman at the golf tournament on Sunday, March 29, who has connections with a surgeon in Tijuana, as well as surgical facilities. When I told him about the cost to have the surgery done in Mexicali, he felt that it was unrealistic. I am contacting him to arrange for the medical information/records to be sent to the maxillofacial specialist he knows to see what he can do for me. I told him the budget is tight and that I still have bills in the US that have to be paid from the emergency room visit, so hopefully he will keep that in mind when communicating my needs to the surgeon. I am also petitioning the Flying Samaritans, a group of surgeons from the United States who come to Mexico to perform surgical procedures for underprivileged residents. In lieu of paying for the surgery, I would donate the balance of the savings account to assist in covering costs for their team. I will keep this blog updated as more information become available.

More Screening

2009-04-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

I had a second opinion from a surgeon in the US, had another series of cranial x-rays. I am still not convinced of the procedure to have done - re-breaking the jaw and removing the pieces. The quote from the Mexicali surgeon was out of the ballpark (with expenses, surgeon and surgical gallery, it was $9,500). I used a portion of the funds generated to pay for the US opinion and diagnostics, and travel expenses totaling $1,950.

Projected Surgery Date and Info

2008-12-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

I had an appointment with Dr. Rubio Mora to review the x-rays I had taken in Mexicali a couple weeks ago. He spent about 40 minutes explaining each x-ray, how the normal joint should look, what mine looks like now, and the reasons that reconstruction is not possible. The piece that had broken clean off the top of the mandible and folded in toward my middle jaw has re-attached itself to the top of the mandible at an angle that prevents my mouth from opening more than about 18cm. I also have some atrophy in the muscle, which causes my jaw to cramp, much like a charley-horse. The fragments of the bone where it shattered have melded to other parts of the joint further exacerbating the difficulty in movement.

It was disappointing to hear that the damage is too extensive to actually rebuild the joint. However, the doctor has detailed a plan of alternatives to reconstruction. First, he needs to re-fracture the area of the jawbone that has re-affixed itself, then remove the top portion. He will measure the extension of my jaw before he closes to measure the expected increase of mobility. He also explained that he will be able to see a lot more once he gets inside the TMJ and will do his absolute best to give me the result I am looking for. I will not have to have my mouth wired shut as there will be no restoration of the joint.

I will then begin a series of therapy to exercise the muscles to allow my jaw to function more effectively. Part of that process includes restoring my missing teeth, which will assist in balanced mobility. Because the lower teeth support the jaw when it's closed and to chew, having implants for the 4 missing molars is most important. Then later I will have bridges put in on the top to fill the gaps, as I can afford to have the procedures done. It is much less expensive in Mexico than in the US, and since I am having the same surgeon do most of the work, I should get an even better rate.

We have tentatively scheduled the surgery for January 2009 after the holidays. Dr. Mora Rubio will contact the hospital to find out the charges for the surgeons' gallery and anesthesia and will provide me with a detailed quote when I am ready to proceed with a surgery date. Hopefully, I have raised enough funds to pay for the whole thing; otherwise, I will need to discuss payment options with the doctor. I must, however, be able to pay for the hospital expense in Mexicali.

As soon as I have that information, I will post it on this blog. The quote will include recent visits to the surgeon as well.

FEE: X-Rays and gas

2008-11-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

It's amazing, you know? I had a complete panoramic x-ray and multilateral jaw x-rays for a grand total of 500 pesos. For just the panoramic alone in the US, my insurance compensated $125 USD. I also used 300 pesos for gas to make the trip, which is about 50% of the actual fuel cost to get there and back, since I had to go to the US for banking.

TOTAL MONEY USED: 800 pesos = $67USD @ 12:1

X-Rays November 18, 2008

2008-11-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I visited Mexicali to have x-rays through Dr. Mora Rubio. He was unavailable (in surgery all morning) and I couldn't hang out to see what he had to say. I will see him when he returns to San Felipe on December 13, unless he needs to schedule me sooner in Mexicali.

A Great Success! V Lounge Fund Raiser

2008-11-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

The silent auction and 50/50 raffle were a great success at the V Lounge Friday night. Many people came to support me and make donations, bidding on the items and having a great time. I would like to thank everyone personally, but that would be impossible. So, to all of you who have stepped up to help me when I need you the most...THANK YOU!

The event raised almost $800! I will report the bottom line once I exchange pesos...waiting for the rate to drop again. I will be seeing the surgeon in Mexicali on Tuesday to have the x-rays done, so we are well on the way to making something happen.

Again, thanks to everyone for your support!

Anonymous Donation Received

2008-11-02T20:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks to an anonymous contributor, the new balance of the account is $5,668! We will achieve this goal!

Appointment Scheduled

2008-10-29T17:17:00.001-07:00

I am scheduled to see the maxillofacial specialist the weekend of Shrimp Festival. Hopefully I will have something positive to report!

The next days, weeks, months!

2008-10-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

The Sunday following my trip to Dr. Rubio, I thought it best to return to the states and get assistance from insurance to pay for the reconstruction. In order to start the process with AHCCCS in Arizona, I needed to visit an emergency room, which I did. The evaluation was completed and I was referred to complete the application process with the Department of Economic Security (DES), which I did, and was subsequently denied.
REASON: Failure to provide last date of employment.
MY REPONSE: The college I worked for stated that I could not request this information, that it needed to be obtained by DES. The caseworker told me to reapply and that my ER bills would be covered with the new application. UNTRUE
ACTION: Re-appliedFiled a new application in February 2008 and was denied again.
REASON: Failure to provide proof of self-employment income.
MY RESPONSE: UNTRUE. Fax submitted 2/26/2008 with date stamp proved that the statement was received. There was additional information included in the fax, on the SAME LETTER, that was accounted for.
ACTION: Appealed denialGranted appeal, I thought this would be a victory. Simply not the case.

Saw general physician on May 27, 2008 and was referred to oral surgeon (maxillofacial specialist) Drs. Sabol and Buhrow. Saw Dr. Buhrow on July 15. It took that long to get the approval from Care 1st Arizona, my assigned HMO.Doctor wanted to perform a procedure to get movement back into the area where the joint used to be. He said it would make it so the joint would move more freely and give me better range of motion. I did not understand the point of cleaning out the place where a joint no longer exists, but figured he is the professional and knows what he's asking for.Two months later, I was informed that the procedure was denied and got a letter to the fact as well, stating that AHCCCS does not cover TMJ treatment.

TREATMENT???? I HAVE no TMJ joint to TREAT!I appealed the decision and was denied again in September, stating that the procedure is "not medically necessary".So here I sit today, a year after breaking my jaw STILL with the broken jaw.I also have a series of dental work that needs to be done but cannot be completed until I can open my mouth (clearly). I have a scar that has healed surprisingly well, which is the LEAST of my concern at this point.I just need help to raise enough money to have my jaw fixed and post-treatment in Mexico. I will be returning to the Mexican maxillofacial specialist, Dr. Rubio, for this treatment.

Estimated cost of surgery: TBD by consultation (a year ago, the procedure would have cost appx. $4,000 including hospital stay)
Emergency medical services UNPAID by insurance: nearly $5,000

What Happened?

2008-10-29T17:12:00.000-07:00

I broke my jaw in an ATV accident on October 12, 2007 while visiting San Felipe with my son. I was seen at Hospital San Felipe next to the Police Station, and they treated me famously. The doctor spent about two hours piecing my chin back together. Little did they know that my entire TMJ on the right side was smashed. I also had a tooth on top that had mushroomed into my jawbone.

I visited an oral surgeon in Mexicali five days after the accident to have the tooth extracted and for an evaluation on the damage to my jaw. Dr. Rubio was exceptional, provided me with caring treatment and a thorough evaluation of the jaw. He stated that the jaw was broken and needed to be repaired.

Donation Received!

2008-10-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to one of the local ladies for her $500 check. That will be going into an interest-earning account so the PayPal fees won't be assessed. That brings the balance up to $813!

Donation Received

2008-10-09T17:57:00.001-07:00

Thank You! Account Balance: $313.82

Donation Received

2008-10-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

Thank You! Account Balance: $290.10
As you all know, PayPal takes a percentage of your donation: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. That's why the total amounts look so strange.

Donation Received

2008-10-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

Thank You! Account Balance: $193.30

Donation Received

2008-10-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

Thank You! Account Balance: $145.05

Donation Received

2008-10-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

Thank You! Account Balance: $96.80