Hannah, 46 years old, is surrounded and cared for by her loving and supportive family. Born with Cerebral Palsy, and later diagnosed with epilepsy, she has faced more obstacles than most will in a lifetime. At birth, her occipital lobe was underdeveloped, and by just 11 months old, she developed cataracts in both eyes which has caused her to be legally blind. Her resilience, combined with the unwavering devotion of her mom, dad and older sister, serves as a powerful testament to strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Hannah keeps the mood light and positive with her smart and quick sense of humor. She enjoys teasing her Dad the most, gently calling his name repeatedly until he answers, then replying with a loud “raspberry” and tickled laughter. She loves music, especially her Grandpa’s singing, and has a variety of music playing at all waking hours. Though she is mostly non-verbal, she has a few words she uses quite well, and she communicates her desired meals, etc., in what her family affectionately dubs “Hannah Language” using “numm” for yes and a raspberry for no.

ENDS has provided routine dental care, as well as dentistry procedures in the hospital to Hannah for over a decade. Her family describes ENDS as absolutely invaluable, and that having Hannah’s teeth cleaned and repaired continues to provide lasting joy in her life. They are not only appreciative of ENDS dentists, Dr. Cassondra Palacios and Dr. Brian Summers, they also appreciate the hospital staff at Albany General Hospital as exceptional in the care they provide. Thanks to all of them, Hannah continues to enjoy her favorite food, ice cream, without any dental pain.

The ENDS program is a partnership established by the following Oregon Dental Care Organizations: Capitol Dental Care, Care Oregon Dental, and Willamette Dental. The ENDS program connects Hannah and other patients with providers like Dr. Palacios and Dr. Summers thanks to the dental care benefits made possible by Oregon Health Plan (OHP). The care and compassion delivered by ENDS’ providers and the dental benefits provided by OHP ensure patients receive the treatment they need to continue living a happy and healthy life.