A surgeon from Watertown, N.Y.-based Oral Surgery & Periodontics NNY performed a free procedure for a woman with head and neck cancer who needed all of her teeth removed in order to continue radiation treatment, local FOX affiliate WWNY reported March 31.
Dorthoy Gagnon was repeatedly turned down for the dental procedure because her insurance didn't cover it. When her care team at the Walker Cancer Center in Watertown reached out to Reed Attisha, DMD, MD, the oral surgeon offered to see Ms. Gagnon the next day.
He ended up performing the surgery for free.
"Every day I wake up and I thank the Lord that I'm able to get up, provide for my family and be healthy," Dr. Attisha told WWNY. "So giving back to the community is a must. She needs this treatment in a very timely manner. When someone has cancer, every day that passes without treatment is devastating to the prognosis, so I'm happy to help."
"I am so grateful for this dentist office," Ms. Gagnon told the news outlet. "If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have a second chance on life."