Sam's Top Surgery Fund

Hello and thank you for visiting my GoFundMe page! 

My name is Sam and I am a trans-identified cancer survivor. In 2009, I had stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma (a rare blood cancer) and under went a year of chemotherapy and radiation to my chest and neck. I am currently in remission, but my doctors are encouraging me to pursue a double mastectomy for the purposes of reducing my overall risk of developing cancer in my breasts. My mother died of breast cancer in 2012 after choosing not to continue her treatment. My aunt also had breast cancer in 2010. You could say that cancer--particularly breast cancer--runs in my family.

I decided to get a consult with Dr. Peter Raphael in Plano, Texas to  get a surgery estimate and pursue preauthorization from my insurance company, United Health Care. Unfortunately, my gender identity and gender affirmation care has made me ineligible for coverage. The insurance company is unwilling to pay for top surgery if it could in anyway overlap with my gender affirmation care. I appealed the decision twice, each time rejected for surgery on the basis that I am undergoing gender transition. 

Thus, I have to pay for my mastectomy out of pocket and the cost of surgery is beyond my means. I am still paying off medical bills I accrued in 2009 for cancer treatment and I am simply not in a position to take on additional debts. I have been saving for surgery since 2013 and I currently had $300 saved. I have had to tap into my savings after becoming under-employed. 

In summary, I need help paying for my surgery. I feel like I am walking around with ticking time bombs strapped to my chest and I know that surgery would also help me feel gender congruent. 

Thank you for reading my story. I am grateful for your support, even if you cannot donate. 

**Fast Facts**

I would meet my goal if 50 people donated $150.00.

I would meet my goal if 100 people donated $78.00.

I would meet my  goal if 200 people donated $40.00.

I would meet my goal if 250 people doanted $31.00.