Thank you.
If you have been with FTL for awhile, you may have seen how I recently underwent a HUGE, life changing surgery on my jaw. I suffer from severe degenerative joint disease that has affected my transmandibular joint (TMJ) on both sides--in layman’s terms, my jaw joint. The joint atrophied away to nothing, causing a complete shift in my jaw law line. I was in CONSTANT pain. I mean constant. Every second of every day was spent in pain. Yes, I would have good days and bad days, but even on my good days, I was reminded of the relentless pain and inability to chew, on the bad days I couldn’t even move my mouth to speak. I haven’t bitten in to anything in years. I completely lost the ability to chew anything. I lived on Boost, applesauce, Hershey’s milk chocolate (the little squares could melt in my mouth) and ice cream--for YEARS. Now, I am not telling everyone all this for sympathy. I am telling you this so you can realize the impact of buying your child an outfit from Foxtail Lilies had on my life.
After years of doctors, dentist and orthodontist appointments I finally received the answer I was so desperately searching for. Unfortunately, that answer involved a 9.5 hour operation, a week in the hospital, traveling out of state for surgery, and a long, hard recovery period. To top it all off, the surgeon was not covered by insurance and had to be paid all out of pocket, upfront before the surgery.
I fell into a depression. I just couldn’t imagine one more morning, waking up and unable to open my mouth wide enough to brush my. Going to bed having pain every night. I’d put on a tough face at my “real” job and try to not let the pain get to me. By the time I would get home from work, I couldn’t hold back anymore and I would break. The only thing that truly kept me positive and afloat was Foxtail Lilies. I took all that pain and suffering and threw it into Foxtail Lilies. Whenever I was home, I was working on it. I can’t describe the feeling I have when I am “Foxtail Lily-ing” as my husband likes to call it. I am able to shut my brain off and just focus on what is in front of me. My pain and all the associated stressors were not longer the first thing on my mind. It was my escape.
When Sarah and I first started Foxtail Lilies, we thought it would be a good way to get some clothes for free for our kids, maybe make a little extra spending money. Fast forward to now--3 months out from bilateral total TMJ joint replacement and jaw realignment surgery. I CAN EAT! I CAN CHEW! I HAVE PAIN FREE DAYS! Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be where I am right now. It is literally a dream come true, and I have our Foxtail Lilies’ customers to thank for that. Running Foxtail Lilies has given me the confidence and the perseverance needed to get through my day to day tasks. It gave me a reason to keep going. And for that, I will always be thankful.
~Dana Fischer