My Story
My path to jaw surgery has been long, confusing, and complicated. It first began when I started braces when I was 11 and entering 5th grade. For whatever reason, my body chose to make my life a little *spicy* and mess up my bite shortly after they were taken off in January of 2015. Later on, medical professionals speculated it may have been a consequence of puberty and receiving braces too early, or perhaps a hormonal issue (which has yet to be diagnosed.) Regardless, only in the last year or two did I receive an answer to my medical mystery and the past few years have been spent looking for someone to provide solutions.
September of 2013 at a 5th Grade Dinner & Movie Fundraiser
Throughout 2015, issues with my jaw progressively worsened from clicking and popping to jaw pain and locking. My mom also noticed I started grinding my teeth and snoring when sleeping. These TMJ-like symptoms interfered with my way of life and prevented me from eating, talking, and breathing normally. Eventually, I met with physical therapists and an oral surgeon for electric stimulation therapy, exercises/stretches to increase my painfully limited jaw opening, and a night guard to prevent grinding at night. By the summer of 2016, I had to leave my medical team behind because my family had to relocate from Atlanta, Georgia to San Antonio, Texas, but by then my jaw issues posed less of a nuisance in my life and I had learned how to manage them.
November of 2015 at a Physical Therapy Session
July of 2016 After Just Moving into Our New House
After moving to San Antonio, my mom and I continued going to many orthodontists and oral surgeons for consultations just like we did in Atlanta. On a side note, I’m truly very grateful that my mother has been my biggest advocate and devoted hundreds of hours to attend and arrange the countless appointments and physical therapy sessions (twice a week) we’ve gone through.
From 2015 to 2019, the medical professionals I met with had varying opinions on the best long-term solution for me, such as teeth extractions, undergoing braces again, various mouth appliances, artificial jaw implants, different types of surgery, and no surgery at all. It seemed like every orthodontist and oral surgeon had their own opinion about my medical case and a unique solution, which became rather overwhelming to think about.
The fact of the matter was that everything was speculation and it would be impossible to know for certain who was the right choice to trust, which is scary because this wasn’t just any decision of course, my health was on the line. It was like being at a crossroads in an unfamiliar forest and not knowing how to proceed. The wrong path could lead to disaster further down the road. But to sum things up, as I got older, it seemed the majority consensus was that I had idiopathic condylar resorption and jaw surgery was the best viable solution for lifelong health and my well-being, and so it began to become something my parents considered.
September of 2018 After a Competition Recital at Carnegie Hall
Due to idiopathic condylar resorption, the condyles of my mandibles are abnormally flatter than normal (for my age), which is why my lower jaw was receding and the reason behind misalignment of my upper and lower teeth. Only my four back molars touched, so I struggled to even bite off a piece of hamburger or beef jerky. That was actually one of the reasons why I used to be vegetarian for over a year. Also, since my lower jaw was receding, it narrowed my breathing passageway. This caused me to have difficulty sleeping and unconsciously wake up startled as if I was choking. My sleep schedule was already damaged from going to, as well as living far away from, an academically rigorous high school and my jaw caused me to have an interrupted sleep of an already insufficient 3-6 hours on a usual weeknight. I was a busy teen quite involved with school, piano, and other extracurriculars and as a result, always tired. Doctors also suggested that impaired breathing affected my mental function as well as make me more prone to headaches.
December of 2018 Playing Volleyball at the Beach
Upon first hearing about jaw surgery, it seemed so extreme and invasive. It definitely was a big decision to make, but given how cumbersome my jaw issues were becoming with my everyday life, I believed surgery would greatly improve my quality of life. Jaw issues prevented me from doing things that I love, such as playing volleyball with friends or family.
December of 2019 at the NASA Johnson Space Center
Well, that’s my story! My jaw surgery journey has intensified my desire to become a dermatologist as well as my appreciation for food. I want to go into healthcare because not only do I love science and have a fascination for the human body, but from being in the role of a scared patient, I understand how much of a difference a good physician makes.
It’s also made me realize the importance of taking care of your health. I’ve always been a foodie, but I particularly care about good food that promotes wellness and health after recovering from a past of disordered eating and body dysmorphia. Learning to love myself has been a separate difficult journey, but I’ve realized how important it is to fuel and nourish your body, because you feel so much better when you properly care for yourself. That’s why I love making delicious food that’s also good for you.
Some Things I’ve Made…
Greens with Avocado, Walnuts, Tomatoes, Mandarin Oranges, Celery, Apples, and Lemon Juice
White Rice with Furikake, Omelette, Fish Sauce, Cherry Tomatoes, and Black Pepper
Penne with Carrot-Marinara Sauce, Mushrooms, Meatballs, Parsley, and Parmesan
Quinoa with Almond Butter, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk
Breakfast Burrito of Kidney Beans, Spinach, Avocado, Scrambled Eggs, Shredded Cheese, Green Salsa, and Sriracha
Asian-Style Linguini with Mushrooms, Carrots, Scallions, and Soft-Boiled Ramen Egg
Greek Yogurt with Coconut Almond Granola, Peaches, Walnuts, Chia Seeds, and Cinnamon
Steelhead Fish with Green Onions, Onions, Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, and Spices
Whole Wheat Toast with Avocado, Spinach, and Sunny Side Up Egg
White Rice with Miso Glazed Salmon, Bittermelon, and Roasted Broccoli
Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream
Black Bean Brownies topped with Walnuts
Homemade Hummus
Mason Jar Salad of Cherry Tomatoes, Avocado, Bellpeppers, and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Mung Bean Che with Coconut Milk and Pandan Leaf
Apple Cider Vinegar Cole Slaw with Purple Cabbage, Pickled Radish, and Julienne Carrots
Lightened Up Bread Pudding with Whole Wheat Bread and Fuji Apples
White Rice with Chinese Stir-Fry of Baked Tofu, Gluten, Broccoli, Celery, Snowpeas, Carrots, Bellpeppers, and White Pepper
Pad Thai of Air-Fried Cake Noodles, Tofu, Broccoli, Bok Choy, Carrots, and Lime
Ceviche of Shrimp, Avocado, Tomatoes, Red Onions, Jalapeno, Cucumber, and Cilantro
Vermicelli with Pickled Carrots, Cucumber, Meatballs, an Eggroll, Nuoc Cham, and Mint
Assortment of Mango, Papaya, and Watermelon
White Rice with Honey Lemon Roasted Salmon and Roasted Broccoli
Lemon Cream Linguini with Spinach, Bacon, and Spinach
June of 2020 at the Hospital Hours After Lower Jaw Surgery
Here I am drinking some Boost through a syringe, although I must have still been pretty heavily affected by the drugs because I have no recollection of this moment.