Meet Nena.
Angelica, a dedicated Front Desk Patient Coordinator at KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Trenton, met Nena earlier this year at church. With no family support, Nena relies on social services from outreach activities at her church. Financial struggles led her to sell seasoned fruit on the side of Trenton’s streets. She longs to see her family in Guatemala.
Ongoing conversations and support from Angelica revealed that the condition of her teeth was holding her back. Nena suffers from periodontal disease, and was in dire need of new dentures. They were unaffordable.
KinderSmile Foundation’s collaboration with RAM, Remote Area Medical, and Mercer Street Friends on the weekend of November 8th and 9th, was the perfect opportunity to make her dreams come to reality.
Knowing that this was a first-come-first-served event, Angelica picked Nena up on Saturday morning, and brought her to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, where our grand two day event took place.
Nena was the last patient of the day to become eligible for a set of FREE dentures! They would be printed overnight, and inserted on Sunday.
Before sunrise on Sunday morning, the RAM denture team encountered a delay. Wifi connection was lost overnight, and the dentures were not printed. But as we often have to do on KSF’s Global Outreach trips, they pivoted, and did everything in their power to ensure that they would not head back to Tennessee before Nena received her new set of dentures!
Nena patiently waited in the school all day, arriving at 6am in the morning when the doors first opened. What that meant is that we had the opportunity to tend and care for her throughout the day. Abundant food donations from community partners enabled her to receive meals, community resources, and so much love every step of the way.
The incredible weekend of GIVING ended on Sunday afternoon, in RAM’s mobile digital denture lab. Nena left with a smile, confidence, prayer, and immense gratitude for the services she received. Aligned with KinderSmile Foundation’s priorities, she is linked to a permanent Dental Home for continuity of care.
The KinderSmile Foundation team and volunteers ended the weekend with hugs, tears, and so much appreciation! Thank you!
For many of our families, barriers in access to care are a painful reality. KinderSmile Foundation was established to address disparities and bridge the gap, but we need YOUR help!
The impending loss of Medicaid and social services for families are threatening to further limit access to care, rather than prioritize the health of the community.
We are turning to YOU, our partners, supporters, donors, and friends to help us make a long lasting positive impact. Please give the GIFT of a SMILE and advance health equity for the community in need! #ItTakesAVillageKSF