Cancer Patient Helped at Dental Mission
Linda hurried through Sanctuary of Hope’s front door last week
having walked a number of blocks in the biting cold wind. The 48-year-old
woman could not remember the last time she had seen a dentist and she knew
she desperately needed care. But dental care was not the only challenge
that she faced. Cancer had been a part of her daily life since 1989.
Linda remembered the exact date of the heart-stopping news: May 31st.
In the midst of two divorces, she had fought hard to see her teenage daughter
and autistic son grow up. Linda tearfully told us that when the cancer
had spread into one of her lungs she was forced to make an extremely difficult
decision. For his best interest, she had to give her son to another family
in the foster care system. She had no choice but to rest during the days
between chemotherapy treatments.
This mother survives on a small disability check and food stamps. Dental
insurance does not exist in her world. In addition to fighting cancer,
Linda also suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and depression.
A glimmer of happiness came into her life when she found out that Operation
Blessing was going to hold a free dental clinic in Portsmouth, Virginia.
While she sat in the dental chair getting a cleaning, it felt good to
know a stranger cared about something that seemed so small to the average
person.
Linda was one of 42 patients that received dental care last weekend.
Volunteer medical professionals filled, pulled and cleaned teeth in the
Sanctuary of Hope’s multi-purpose room. All of the patients represented
local families living in low-income situations. All either did not have
dental insurance or could not afford the co-pays. We were able to give
each patient an average of $182 of free care.
Our dental mission is Portsmouth, Virginia was first of at least twelve
planned for this year! Volunteer teams will be helping poor and uninsured
families living in states including Virginia, North Carolina, Florida
and California. Stay tuned for exciting developments including the launch
of our first mobile dental van!
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