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Help abuse victim get a new smile

$7,500 of $75,000 goal
Given by 114 generous donors in 12 weeks

Help single mum and abuse victim get a new smile

Auckland

Ellie - not my real name, I featured in a stuff article last year regarding having my teeth broken after being subjected to abuse at the hands of my ex partner. After leaving the abusive relationship, I was left with life long injuries and a mouth full of broken teeth that has led to dozens of hospitalisations, septic arthritis, seizures from infections spreading to my brain, endocarditis, heart issues and have been septic a number of times. I have been turned away from several dental charities because the work is too extensive.

I am raising a child on my own with no support and lost my job due to the health complications caused by reoccurring dental infections. As each year goes by, my teeth deteriorate more and more and the cost to repair them becomes much higher. And the pain from infections is excruciating. I had to DIY my own dentures to try hide my broken teeth but they're falling apart and don't address the underlying infections that has caused so much damage to my body.

As 2025 approaches I'm facing yet another year of having to live like this and more damage being done to my body from the ongoing infections. I'm facing another Christmas where due to the very little money I do have, has to go on medical expenses from frequent doctors appointments to get more antibiotics that have become less and less effective and unable to provide my child with what a Christmas should be.

Full story is in my images

Use of funds

Dental costs - including appointment, x-rays, and full restoration (implants).

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Latest update

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First 2 teeth out! - GRAPHIC PHOTOS WARNING   18 December 2024

I Had the two most infected teeth extracted with great thanks to everyone who donated and allowed me to be able to have them removed. The teeth barely even looked like teeth. I'll be able to get about 8 taken out total but I still have a lot of damage to my heart because of the on going infections so they said it would be better to do 1 or 2 at a time. It didn't hurt having them taken out this week but the pain after was hard. Im still having to ask if this is really happening because never did I think I would get one donor and I got over 100! Having my teeth removed didn't seem as traumatic as it would be. It was uplifting because it happened from over 100 people I don't know who cared and wanted to help and its something I've never experienced and it was freeing getting the two teeth out so far removed because I felt like I was getting rid of another part of my ex partner and felt a sense of finally being able to move forward! The broken teeth just felt like I had been branded and my ex would always be a part of me no matter how hard I tried because he branded me by breaking my teeth and taking my smile. And now I'm taking it back! One step at a time. I've always been scared of the dentist but as soon as the teeth came out, I felt free again.

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Latest donations

Guest Donor
Guest Donor 1 day ago
Private
Robyn
Robyn 6 days ago
Thinking of you and wishing you a lucky 2025
$50
Linda
Linda on 19 Dec 2024
I am so glad that the first tooth extraction went well and thank you for sharing your story
$20
Cath
Cath on 18 Dec 2024
Two down: the rest to go. Great idea to do two at a time. Hope this helps with the next two.
$100
Guest Donor
Guest Donor on 17 Dec 2024
ood luck. Hope all goes as well as possible
$100

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Ellie Lee (alias)'s avatar
Created by, and paying to a verified bank account of, Ellie Lee (alias)
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This campaign started on 3 Oct 2024 and ends on 3 Apr 2025.