I wish to have a beautiful smile
Chairalis
18
genetic disorder
Chairalis’ Wish Brings Confidence and Strength for a Brighter Future
Like many 18-year-olds, Chairalis loves to spend time with her friends taking selfies on her cell phone. But recently, her rare genetic disorder took a toll on her dental health. She lost all the enamel on her teeth, leaving them vulnerable to decay. For a girl who loves to smile, the deterioration of her teeth caused her to feel ashamed and embarrassed. She began to hide her teeth in photos and avoided smiling in most situations due to her rising insecurities.
Chairalis has been locked in a battle against her illness since she was 11 years old. In addition to its effect on her teeth, her condition also progressively destroys the nerve cells in her brain and spinal cord, leaving her in constant pain. Over the past year, Chairalis has also experienced increasing difficulty walking and talking.
“She went from being a very special girl to being a very, very brave girl,” said Carlos, Chairalis’ dad. “I have to be brave just like she is. She is my super woman.”
On top of all the hardships she’s faced, the loss of her smile caused Chairalis to feel increasingly hopeless. That all changed when she connected with Make-A-Wish®. She knew that her heartfelt wish was to recapture her confidence by restoring her beautiful smile.
Soon, Make-A-Wish connected Chairalis with a dental team who was determined to give her a gorgeous smile that she could wear with pride. “Not liking your smile, not liking your teeth is a barrier – your spirit is held back and your ability to connect is diminished,” said Dr. Summer Lerch, Chairalis’ new dentist. “Chairalis is going to end up with a perfectly balanced smile.”
As she sat in the dentists’ chair undergoing procedures, Chairalis dreamed about what it would feel like to look in the mirror and see a beautiful set of teeth grinning back at her. This vision kept her hopeful and motivated throughout long hours of treatments. When she finally had the chance to see her new smile for the first time, Chairalis’ face lit up with amazement, her eyes filling with tears of joy. She could hardly believe that the bright, dazzling smile in the mirror was her own.
“Her wish has helped her a lot,” Carlos said. “She’s more secure and able to smile and express herself. Plus, her inner beauty now shines through her new, beautiful smile. Words can’t describe what it’s like to see my daughter smile. It’s motivation to keep fighting alongside her day by day. My daughter wished for her smile back. It doesn’t get any better than that!”