Cracked Roots & Roses 27: Pro Bono

After I was fired from the dealership but before working at the title company, there was a brief period when I didn’t have a job. I spent most of that time trying to find my way back to the Lord. I can only describe this season as being like Adam when he was cast out of the garden and tasked with making his own living. Adam went from paradise to toil because of his own disobedience. That was me—lost and struggling—and it was my own fault.

I would watch TBN most of the day and spend a few hours at the public library putting my resume together and uploading it to Monster. One day, while watching TBN, I heard a man say that God cares about what you care about, so don’t be afraid to make your desires known to Him. I thought about that. I wondered why my life was in shambles. What happened to my son? My marriage? My future? My thoughts drifted from those heavy concerns to something unexpected: my smile.

I didn’t have one. It was strange because I’d never been concerned about my lack of smiling before. I had always had a gap between my two front teeth and a small one at the bottom. I smiled with my mouth closed and avoided talking too much because I had been teased about it when I was younger. Deep down, I never liked my teeth and wanted braces, but I knew they were out of reach. We were poor growing up, and as a newly divorced single mom, I still couldn’t afford them.

So, while the man on TV continued talking, I simply said, “Lord, I want a pretty smile.” That was it. No elaborate prayer, no pleading—just a simple desire spoken aloud. Then I left it alone.

A few days later, I was watching Maury while lying on the couch eating microwave popcorn. I threw a handful into my mouth and bit into a kernel. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot down my neck and up the side of my head. I sat up, spit out the kernel, and with it came half of a back tooth!

In a panic, I called my sister, who was a dental assistant at a private practice in Oak Park. She told me to stuff cotton in the space and assured me she’d get me in with Dr. Brundage, the owner of the practice, the next day. She said she would explain my situation to him beforehand.

The next day, Dr. Brundage squeezed me into his lunch hour. After examining my tooth, he sat me up and said, “Okay, I have good news and bad news. The tooth is broken in half and has to be either repaired or pulled. I can pull it for $25, but if I do, it’ll leave a hole, and over time, your other teeth will shift, making the gap in your front teeth even bigger.”

My head dropped. I didn’t even have $25, and the idea of a bigger gap crushed me. The broken tooth hurt too. Feeling defeated, I quietly said, “I guess you’ll have to pull the tooth,” as I tried to take off the bib and leave.

Dr. Brundage sighed and said, “You know, sometimes I do pro bono work. Your sister told me you’re currently out of work. How about I do the root canal and crown for you—free of charge?”

I froze, staring at him in disbelief. This man, a stranger, was offering to do thousands of dollars’ worth of work for free. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Go make the first appointment with your sister on your way out.”

I did, but my sister didn’t believe me and went to confirm with him. The following week, he numbed me, did a deep cleaning, and completed the root canal and crown—all for free. I was relieved and thought, That’s enough. I won’t ask for more.

As he removed the bib, he casually asked, “Have you ever thought about closing the gap in your teeth?”

“Of course,” I replied, “but now isn’t the time.”

He smiled and said, “Well, I do pro bono work from time to time, and I’d love to give you braces.”

I was stunned. Tears welled up as I remembered the simple prayer I had prayed. I nodded yes as I wiped my tears, and he said, “Tell your sister to make your first appointment for next week.” She again didn’t believe me and confirmed with him.

The following week, I had metal braces with clear bands. For the next two years, Dr. Brundage tightened my braces monthly and cleaned my teeth regularly—all for free. My sister, who had to pay for her procedures with a discount, couldn’t understand why he was so generous to me. But I knew why. It was God showing His kindness, just like He did when He gave me my first car.

When my braces came off, Dr. Brundage recommended permanent retaining wires to keep my teeth in place. He said adult teeth often shift back and didn’t want to risk my smile reverting if I lost the retainers or stopped using them.

The devil tried to use the popcorn to bring pain, but God used the popcorn to change my life. I now smile brighter than ever, and I’m eternally grateful to Dr. Brundage.

A few months after my braces came off, my sister told me his practice had exploded. He had to hire more dentists and staff because of the sudden increase in new patients. I knew why—it was his harvest for sowing kindness into my life.

Dr. Brundage passed away in 2021 from advanced dementia, but his legacy lives on in my smile. This entry is dedicated to him. Thank you, Dr. Miles Brundage.