Gwen's Transition Surgery Fund
Donation protected
Evening!
I'm a baker and a transwoman, two things that mesh together fairly well! Sadly, they both butt heads severely over that little thing called money. I've currently turned to crowdfunding to attempt to raise funds for a major part of the end goal: surgery.
Why do I need help? Surgery is expensive, no matter how you look at it. Especially trans surgery, as many insurance providers absolutely exclude it from any form of coverage. All my available options fall under this category, so I have to raise every penny myself. I'm highly unlikely to be able to raise the money on my own being in a traditionally low paying job and paying off student loans.
My goal is to schedule with doctor Marci Bowers. The surgery itself will cost $23,000. Additional costs pile on to that of course: letters from therapists, potential hair removal from the surgery site, travel to/from the surgeon, and lodging for the week following the operation. While not a cost exactly, money must also be stockpiled to make up for the work missed during this time and potantially for weeks after.
So how'd I get here in life? I ignored every sign up until college (and boy were there signs trying to smack me in the face...). There I hit the absolutley cliche of more types of classes and people introducing me to new information, I said "hey, this trans thing sounds way too much like me," and I crashed HARD. Full blown depression, downward spiral into horrible grades and essentially flunking out of college (I quit right before I could actually flunk out officially).
Transferring into the culinary field I found the night life of graveyard shift baking a welcome relief. Between the limited contact with people and the fact that a lot of overnight bakers were a little weird but completely accepting of other's weirdness I felt finally comfortable to leap out with a yell of "I am woman, hear me ROAR!"
... Ok, it was a little more timid than that. Point remains that I'd found a career where I could feel absolutely comfortable being myself. One where I can spend my days throwing around huge sacks of flour, diving in and out of mixing bowls, racking up bread, and basking in the heat of ovens. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it puts a smile on my face and I wouldn't do anything else.
Which loops back around to the main point. Bakers aren't paid much at all. Anything will help for this! Even if you can't personally donate, pass along this page to anyone you think might be willing to help. It would be greatly appreciated!
I'm a baker and a transwoman, two things that mesh together fairly well! Sadly, they both butt heads severely over that little thing called money. I've currently turned to crowdfunding to attempt to raise funds for a major part of the end goal: surgery.
Why do I need help? Surgery is expensive, no matter how you look at it. Especially trans surgery, as many insurance providers absolutely exclude it from any form of coverage. All my available options fall under this category, so I have to raise every penny myself. I'm highly unlikely to be able to raise the money on my own being in a traditionally low paying job and paying off student loans.
My goal is to schedule with doctor Marci Bowers. The surgery itself will cost $23,000. Additional costs pile on to that of course: letters from therapists, potential hair removal from the surgery site, travel to/from the surgeon, and lodging for the week following the operation. While not a cost exactly, money must also be stockpiled to make up for the work missed during this time and potantially for weeks after.
So how'd I get here in life? I ignored every sign up until college (and boy were there signs trying to smack me in the face...). There I hit the absolutley cliche of more types of classes and people introducing me to new information, I said "hey, this trans thing sounds way too much like me," and I crashed HARD. Full blown depression, downward spiral into horrible grades and essentially flunking out of college (I quit right before I could actually flunk out officially).
Transferring into the culinary field I found the night life of graveyard shift baking a welcome relief. Between the limited contact with people and the fact that a lot of overnight bakers were a little weird but completely accepting of other's weirdness I felt finally comfortable to leap out with a yell of "I am woman, hear me ROAR!"
... Ok, it was a little more timid than that. Point remains that I'd found a career where I could feel absolutely comfortable being myself. One where I can spend my days throwing around huge sacks of flour, diving in and out of mixing bowls, racking up bread, and basking in the heat of ovens. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it puts a smile on my face and I wouldn't do anything else.
Which loops back around to the main point. Bakers aren't paid much at all. Anything will help for this! Even if you can't personally donate, pass along this page to anyone you think might be willing to help. It would be greatly appreciated!
Organizer
Gwendolyn Gifford
Organizer
Pflugerville, TX
