We're in Alamosa, Colorado, and this is our first mission of mercy that we're going to
have for the state.
It's nice to be a part of the giving back of the professionals in this area to see them
give back to the needy and the people that are maybe of underprivileged.
The mission of mercy is an opportunity for volunteers to provide dentistry and dental
care to individuals who are unable to either afford or get to a dentist for dental care.
This is exciting for us.
This is our first mission of mercy here in Colorado, so we're thrilled and it's really
neat the way the community here has rallied around and supported us as well.
It's an exciting day.
The numbers of people that have chosen to arrive here this early is very impressive.
I think it shows how much we need good, appropriate dental care for individuals in our state.
It's really interesting to see people from all different walks of life out here coming
to get this kind of assistance that is not readily available to the general population.
I'm not going to have to wait for Christmas for my two front teeth now.
But it's a great crew here today and a phenomenal amount of dedicated people that are donating
their time.
Really appreciative of that.
I thought if I got one filling, then I would have been happy with one filling, right?
But you know what?
He did all my front teeth.
See?
See?
All of them.
Okay.
And he did the one down here.
And he did the one on top.
And I mean everything.
Yes.
I'm thrilled.
I'm excited.
This is a wonderful thing, yes.
It takes a family or an individual from what would be an overwhelming financial situation
to have dental care to a situation that's manageable for the remaining work that they
need to have completed.
We've been really impressed with the organization, the fact that we've been able to see and service
this many people in such a short time.
The patients are so enthusiastic and they're so thankful for what we're providing here.
They gave very professional care, just like you'd expect at any dentist's office, including
giving a toothbrush out, which I appreciate, as well as instructions on how to brush our
teeth.
It was a very comprehensive and complete dental treatment from A to Z.
So I'm very thankful that this was organized and put on here in the valley.
This is an amazing thing.
Really enjoying what we're doing as a community and as a nation of people who can't afford
dental care.
I think it's fantastic.
I think to see four states come together and help each other put together a project that
will benefit people is just a wonderful thing.
It's really magic to see relationships built in a project such as this.
As I walked through here this morning, I had a tremendous and kind of an overwhelming sense
of my restoration in humanity.
I think this is great that so many people have come together to help so many people
with such a need.
Some patients have driven as far as 200 miles to participate in this event.
So even if it's dental hygiene and a tooth cleaning and getting word that their teeth
and structure are healthy, it's a benefit to these patients.
I came to my first mission of Mercy because this is something I've been working for almost
my whole career.
There isn't very many people that don't have a friend or a relative that needs dental work
and has a hard time affording it.
Not that we're going to solve all the problems in the state, but this brings attention to
it.
And this is the pedal to the metal dentistry and people are getting healthier today.
I am 40 years old this year and I went to the doctor for physical and I weighed 90 pounds
and he was like, well, do you have stress or what's the problem?
And I said, no, I don't have stress.
I can't chew my food and I can't afford a dentist to get it fixed.
I just think it's a great event for us and next year I understand it will be in Fort
Collins and after that Denver, Colorado, and I hope they will give the same amount of support
as Alamosa County has in the San Luis Valley.
I think I came because it sounded fun.
As crazy as it sounds, I knew that it would be fun.
We're raising awareness throughout the country with the lay public, the voting public, with
the congressmen, the legislatures, the dentists themselves and a lot of people that they're
but by the grace of God, I may be one day away from being one of them myself.
All of these people with all of this need, if we can raise some awareness, if we can
make a difference and you see how many people out there become a part of that, that it's
just a snowball that you've got to follow and just help to grow it.
In order to put on a mission of mercy like this and to put it on properly, we need money.
We need money from individuals, we need money from corporations and long range, we need
money from governmental sources so that we can do what we're doing and give the care
to people that deserve it.
This is a project that's spreading like wildfire all over the country, many states.
We had Connecticut here looking because they want to do their first one, Texas of course
does it, Nebraska, Kansas, Virginia, so it's spreading all over the country.
I've gotten more bear hugs and seen more tears than you can imagine from patients who are
so grateful that probably wouldn't ever get any care.
I've had individuals that said I haven't smiled and in 15 years I had an individual,
he's a big guy and I did all of his anteria restorations and the big hug I got from him
I won't ever forget.
Two o'clock in the morning I looked out my window and I almost broke down in tears to
see that whole line of people standing out there, so it was just great to see so many
people show up that we could help.
It's just been one of those great experiences again like I've had when I worked at other
missions of Mercy.
I think the first one in Colorado can be considered extremely successful, the people are happy,
the workers are all happy, the dentists and their staff are all happy, it's just been
marvellous.
