Help Kate get a working jaw!

Due to a lifelong chronic illness (Ehlers danlos syndrome), Kate has always had extreme issues with her jaw. And for the past two years, she has been in and out of the hospital multiple times a week, had multiple surgeries, resigned from her dream career and study to become a paramedic, and has been eating soup and oatmeal for a very long time!

Imaging and surgery has shown that there is extreme and severe damage to her jaw, to the point that she can barely open it. One sneeze or cough can cause it to dislocate and end in spending 10 hours in the hospital to get it relocated.

Kate requires a complete jaw replacement surgery which should last her around 25 years.She been to see many surgeons throughout the country, however, due to her extremely complex damage, young age and underlying conditions; there is only one surgeon who is willing to operate on Kate’s jaw to give her her life back. Unfortunately, this surgery is not covered publicly, and is excluded from her medical insurance. The surgery is estimated to cost around $75,000 NZD.

Once she is able to have the surgery, she plans on returning to study, this time studying mental health nursing- and looks forward to eating a proper meal! Please help Kate get her life back; free of fear, pain and hospitals. Every little bit counts- Thank you.