Strangers Donate to Buy Full Set of Teeth for Young Alabama Man

A 25 year-old Alabama man caught a virus two years ago that not only caused congestive heart failure and led to multiple surgeries including a heart transplant, it also led to the loss of all of his teeth.

Victor Boglin feels fortunate to have been given a new heart and new chance at life. But, as lucky as he was, he was still 25 years old with no teeth.

He couldn’t afford dentures and insurance didn’t cover them.

Lucky for Victor, his girlfriend learned about a charitable website that raises funds for deserving strangers.

52-Lives.org founder Jaime Thurston put out the call to friends and followers, many in  her home countries of Australia and England, and raised the $1000 needed to pay an Alabama dental college for the top-to-bottom work.

In July, Victor was recovering in a hospital fighting his body’s reaction to the new heart, but reading that strangers all over the world are donating to help buy him dentures was keeping his spirits high. By August, his new teeth were installed and he was dreaming of giving up the soup and bananas for a nice steak.

“You have completely changed this man’s life,” Jaime wrote to her followers. “This is what 52 Lives is all about – Good people spreading kindness to strangers.”

“I was excited, I was surprised and in awe,” Boglin told a local newspaper. “It’s kind of unbelievable.”

To show his appreciation and give back, he wants to teach others about keeping their hearts healthy.