Hi everyone,

As of today, we’ve reached 91 signatures and 26 shares. And genuinely, that support means more to me than words can express. Every single one of you who’s signed, shared or even just taken a few moments to read the petition... thank you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you 🥲 Knowing that 88 people have taken time out of their day to stand with me and this cause... that’s not a small thing. It’s a beautiful reminder that I’m not completely alone in this.

But if I’m being honest… I’m struggling right now.

This petition is about something incredibly personal, something that’s affected my quality of life since 2022: my ability to eat and sleep properly, my confidence, and my sense of belonging in the world. And I know I'm not alone. The comments, messages, and silent support all tell me the same thing — there are thousands, maybe millions, of others in the UK and beyond who are going through this too. Who suffer in silence. Who are dismissed, gaslit, or misdiagnosed. Who deserve to be heard, taken seriously, and given the medical support they need.

And yet… the silence is overwhelming. 

After the first wave of energy, things start to slow down. Days slip by. That feeling of momentum starts to stall. And with it, a creeping sense of doubt starts to set in... not about the cause, but about whether some people truly care or if they’re just too burnt out to speak up.

Look, I get it. I really do.

We live in a time where everything feels heavy. People are tired. Life is hard. And for many, TMJ is one of several invisible battles they’re fighting each day. Speaking out takes effort. Organising takes energy. And when you’re dealing with a condition that already robs you of your strength, it can feel like too much. I don’t judge anyone for that. If anything, I empathise deeply.

But here’s what I also know:

Silence won’t save us.

No government commission, no medical board, no department of health is going to spontaneously wake up one day and say, “You know what? Let’s finally take TMJ seriously.” Change doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when ordinary people make just enough noise to become impossible to ignore.

I didn’t expect this petition to change everything overnight. I knew there would naturally be peaks and troughs... moments of energy, followed by lulls of quiet. But still, I find myself staring at the number 91... and feeling a strange mix of pride and sadness. I’m proud of those who’ve stood up — fiercely proud — but I’m also grieving the absence of the voices I know are out there.

Where are the others?

Where are the thousands — the tens of thousands — of people who know exactly what this condition feels like? The ones who’ve seen countless specialists, been gaslit, misdiagnosed or simply ignored? The ones who’ve lost sleep, missed work, withdrawn socially... or developed anxiety, depression or even PTSD from being medically invalidated over and over again? 

I believe they’re out there. I believe they want change. But belief alone won't change the system. We need collective action. Not in six months... Not next year. Not when things are “less hectic.”

Now.

I genuinely don’t write this to guilt anyone. I write it because I care. Because if we don’t speak now, the system will continue to act like TMJ doesn’t matter. And we’ll continue to suffer in the shadows.

This isn’t a complaint. It’s a call from the heart.

I appreciate the healthcare system is under immense pressure. And I know there are brilliant clinicians out there who want to help but don’t have the resources, training, or institutional backing. But I also know there are others — within orthodontics, dentistry, ENT, and beyond — who are dismissive, uncaring, and in some cases outright negligent. People who are happy for things to stay exactly as they are. And that’s precisely why we must keep raising our voices.

So here’s what I’m asking:

If you believe in this cause, please share the petition again — publicly, privately, in group chats or forums.

If you know someone suffering in silence, please let them know this exists. That we exist.

And if you’re feeling the same exhaustion I’m feeling – I hear you. But if you’ve still got a few drops of energy left… please use them.

I don’t have a PR team. I’m not backed by any charity, celebrity or organisation. I'm just someone who’s been living with this for far too long, trying to make a difference in the only way I know how: by speaking up and hoping others will do the same.

To the 91 of you who already have... you’ve lit the flame. Now let’s see if we can make it grow even more 💪

Thank you for everything so far. This fight isn’t over.