Rapper Flavor Flav donates to Kenosha family facing thousands of dollars in dental bills

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) — A Kenosha family facing thousands of dollars in dental bills found help from an unexpected source.

"Rhiannon is so sweet. I'm gonna cry. She's the most loving human being I've ever met," said Shirley Tutor-Perez. 

Eleven-year-old Rhiannon's grandmother, Shirley Tutor-Perez, is looking for help.

"She needs five root canals -- one is a molar, the other four are her four adult front teeth," Tutor-Perez explained.

She's turning to the community to get her granddaughter the help she needs.

"The cost out of pocket was $4,970, which we don't have," said Tutor-Perez.

Tutor-Perez says Rhiannon's ADHD medication was demineralizing her teeth.

"In June, she needed two root canals. We did not know about this medicine and the side effects. From June until November, she needed five root canals," Tutor-Perez explained.

So, she turned to social media for help and found it in an unlikely place.

"He got back the next day. I fell off my bed. I was like, oh my gosh. I saw he donated $100. That's great, that's awesome," said Tutor-Perez.

Tutor-Perez was inspired to reach out after the rapper supported the Olympic water polo team last year.

"He was there with the team, and it was amazing what he did. He didn't have to," said Tutor-Perez.

Flavor Flav donated, and with the power of social media, the online fundraiser went from $400 to $1,700 in just one day.

"I know things are tight for everybody and it's $5,000, but if you get 1,000 people to donate $5, $50, if you can give anything, it doesn't matter. Every single dollar helps," said Tutor-Perez.

CBS 58's Pavlina Osta reached out to Flavor Flav for comment and has yet to hear back.

The rapper posted again on Monday asking if there are any dentists in the area willing to help.

Tutor-Perez says three offices have reached out. She has an appointment set up for Thursday to see if they are able to help with the cost.

If you'd like to donate, click here.