Sheryl Parsons is hoping for a life-changing lottery win, but not for herself.
The Nottingham mother wants the money to help her daughter Jordan get dental treatment after years of serious health challenges left her with only about 11 teeth remaining.
Jordan, now 33, survived childhood leukemia, meningitis, and septicemia before later facing liver failure and receiving a liver transplant in November 2021.
The family is now trying to raise enough money for dental restoration, estimated to cost around £19,500 privately.
At the center of the story is a mother’s search for a second chance for her daughter after a lifetime shaped by illness, treatment and recovery.
A Mother’s Lottery Hope for Her Daughter’s Smile
For Sheryl Parsons, lottery tickets have become a small hope that she can help fund the treatment Jordan needs.
Sheryl has continued buying lottery tickets because she hopes one win could provide the money needed for her daughter’s dental care.
“I do the lottery now and again, just to try,” she explained.
Her reason is simple: she wants to help Jordan access treatment that has otherwise been difficult to afford.
“I don’t care about anything as long as I’ve got the amount [of money] to help her,” Sheryl said.
The family has also turned to fundraising. Jordan’s aunt, Karen Priestley, created a GoFundMe campaign to support the cost of dental treatment, with fundraising goals reported at around £7.5k.
Jordan’s Medical Journey Began in Childhood
Long before the dental problems emerged, Jordan had already spent years facing serious health battles.
Jordan was diagnosed with leukemia at age 5. During that period, she also experienced meningitis and septicemia.
Her leukemia later went into remission when she was 11 years old. But the medical challenges did not end there.
In 2019, Jordan was diagnosed with liver failure. According to reports, doctors told the family she would have around two years to live without a liver transplant. She received that transplant in November 2021.
The family has linked the decline of Jordan’s teeth to years of intensive medication connected to her leukemia treatment, liver problems, and transplant. The available reports have not independently confirmed the exact medical cause of the dental damage.
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The Dental Struggle That Followed Years of Treatment
After surviving multiple serious illnesses, Jordan faced a new challenge as her teeth began deteriorating.
Jordan’s family noticed her teeth starting to crumble and fall out over time. Sheryl described her daughter as having “maybe got about a dozen” teeth left, with six on the top and five on the bottom.
The issue has affected more than Jordan’s appearance. Her family says the condition has changed everyday activities, including eating.
Jordan now struggles with certain foods and relies on softer options, including pasta. “She struggles to eat,” Sheryl said.
The dental problems have also affected Jordan’s confidence. Her mother has described her becoming more withdrawn and less comfortable in social situations because of the changes to her smile.
Why The Family Is Searching for Financial Help
The cost of treatment has become the biggest barrier standing between Jordan and the dental care her family hopes she can receive.
Private dental implants have been estimated at around £19,500. The family has been fundraising and exploring other options to help cover that expense.
Reports state that NHS access to dental implants can be limited, with eligibility generally focused on certain circumstances, including trauma, oral cancer, or congenital cases.
The family’s medical history has also influenced their choices. After exploring dental treatment abroad, they decided not to move forward with surgery in Turkey because of concerns connected to Jordan’s health background.
Details about whether Jordan has begun treatment or whether the full cost has been raised remain unconfirmed.
A Fight That Continued After Survival
Jordan’s story shows how the effects of a major illness can continue long after the original health crisis has passed.
Her journey has included childhood cancer, remission, liver failure, a transplant, and the dental problems her family believes followed years of treatment.
For Sheryl, the goal isn’t simply to replace missing teeth. It is about helping her daughter regain comfort and confidence after years in which health problems shaped so much of her life.
“She’s a young girl, and she’s had no life, really, for a long while,” Sheryl said.
The family is still searching for a way to make the dental treatment possible. After years focused on keeping Jordan healthy, their hope now centers on helping her reclaim a small but meaningful part of everyday life.
For many people, a smile is something ordinary. For Jordan and her family, it has become something they are still fighting to get back.
What would you do to help someone you love regain a piece of life they lost?
