“I’m dying. The one thing I didn’t want to do was die with no teeth.”
After three rounds of chemo had destroyed her mouth and her cancer diagnosis left her with a short life expectancy, Sharon knew exactly what she wanted. In the face of everything, one thing mattered most to her: to pass away with her own teeth and a beautiful smile.
Her first appointment was scheduled for March, but with time running out, Sharon was unsure if she could wait that long. Thankfully, Dr. Jaafar in Big Rapids and Dental Assistant Lindsey worked tirelessly to make sure Sharon received the care she needed. They managed to squeeze her in during other appointment cancellations, ensuring she got the treatment she deserved.
Dr. Mike Jaafar reflects on the effort it took: “This took careful coordination and a lot of work was done behind the scenes. From NDX Davis dental lab, to the front desk, and back to the clinical chair with the patient. To quote the greatest, Muhammad Ali, ‘Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.’ I feel like I was just doing my job.”
At MCDC, our mission is simple: to provide quality dental care to everyone. We serve our patients with dignity and meet them wherever they are on their journey.
Jennifer Saum, Big Rapids Office Manager, shares her feelings about the experience: “We are truly honored to have been chosen to support this beautiful individual. She mentioned too that she would be the first one in her family to expire with teeth in her mouth. Sometimes we just do not know the struggles that our patients face every day or the impact we make. Sharon has been a blessing to us all here in Big Rapids.”
We share this story because we feel incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to support Sharon and her end-of-life wishes. And, we want to celebrate our Big Rapids team members for exemplifying excellence: going above and beyond to show compassion and care for our patients’ dental and emotional needs.
