For most of her life, Janine Burnes has been plagued with debilitating chronic pain. What began as excessive migraines when she was young was further complicated with multiple head and neck traumas as an adult, along with what was later diagnosed as untreated TMJ.
The results of a freak neck accident in 1992 set in motion the cascade effect of injuries to both bone and soft tissue, with extensive (and expanding) nerve damage. All of these injuries led to a condition of diagnosed intractable pain with spasm, nerve pain, and migraines/vomiting on a daily, unrelenting cycle - which in themselves can be life-threatening episodes, requiring the intervention of ER personnel in many cases. This combination of conditions placed her in the stratosphere of patients that are not able to be helped with medication, exercise, pain management or alternative therapies - despite her repeated participation in multiple medical trials.
As a result, through the years, Janine has experienced severe bone degeneration throughout her body - particularly her mouth - so that previously untreated conditions (TMJ and bone loss) continued to be exacerbated. Doctors have identified that at least a part of her daily pain level is contributed to by the large volume of dental surgery that she desperately needs (estimated by a local dentist to be in excess of $45,000). This includes replacement of bone in her jaw, as the deterioration caused by her chronic illness makes it impossible to repair or replace many of her damaged teeth.
Unfortunately, Janine's disability has resulted in a lack of income (other than Social Security), and her ability to maintain even her basic daily health needs has been compromised for some time; her dental needs for literally decades. Originally from the East Coast but currently living a rural area of western Wyoming, travel for her weekly medical treatments can range from 100-450 miles, round-trip. Yet despite her continuing daily struggle for survival under exceedingly difficult conditions - Janine continues to attempt to work as a designer, artist, and gardener (among her many other talents). And whenever her health allows, she researches and advocates support for chronic pain sufferers through government and political channels. Friends of Janine's realize that while finding a way to completely alleviate her pain may be impossible (as she has been told by so many doctors before) -- we can help with the cost of the massive dental work that she needs -- which medical professionals have identified as a contributing factor to her daily pain levels - and which should provide some level of pain relief benefit to her when complete. Those who have seen her on a daily basis know that any relief - no matter how small - will make a huge difference in Janine's quality of life. Our wish is to encourage others to donate to this cause to help her to meet these critical health and financial needs.
