Patient Stories
Kimberly’s Story
Kimberly Rumsey is not only a patient of the Interfaith Dental Clinic, she is a changed woman. For most of her life, poor oral health and covering her mouth when she smiled or turning her head to laugh had become a way of life, something she had just learned to live with.
About a year ago, a crown fell off of one of her molars and she knew that she must address it because she has a heart condition. While she had neglected her oral care, she had not neglected to treat her heart condition. Fortunately, she did know that what was going on in her mouth could affect her heart, which really scared her. What also scared her was that at the time, she was a single mom. She had gone through a failed marriage and a failed business. She had been quoted thousands of dollars to fix her mouth and she knew that she couldn’t afford it. Kimberly spoke with a friend who does local mission work and she told her to contact Interfaith.
She was accepted into the program and that is where she began her journey. “I think the coolest thing was how dignified I felt when I came here because like so many, I was reluctant to reach out for help. I had always helped others, not the other way around. Everyone from the front desk all the way back was so amazing. I just love Dr. Pierce! She gave me the beautiful smile that everyone says I have now. I hear that all the time now “you have such a pretty smile.” I never get tired of it!” states Kimberly.
So now she is brushing, flossing and keeping her check up’s. She is putting aside money to make sure that she never goes back to square one. She also decided that she can’t have this beautiful healthy smile and not have a healthy body, so she has transitioned from a size14 to a size 4! “When you feel good about yourself, you can accomplish so much more.”
Kimberly is so grateful for what has happened to her at Interfaith. “God helped me land here, and in turn, I decided that as a stylist, I too have a talent that I can use to give back to the community. I’m not a wealthy stylist, but I have time and talent, so I have started volunteering my services monthly to the women at the YWCA domestic violence shelter. I believe clearly that giving is living. My new smile is kicking open doors for me and I know that one day, I will be a donor to this clinic.” Kimberly shares, “Interfaith has given me my dream smile. They have validated my confidence and turned my life around! I truly love this place!”