***updated May 22, 2023

Hi! My name is Samantha and this is my GoFundMe.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks again for helping! Every little bit helps and I appreciate you dearly.

This will be a hub for fundraising efforts as I work toward my surgery date of August 9th, 2023. You can see a quick breakdown of costs below and where any money earned will be spent. If you want to learn more about me, my story, and how I got here then keep reading!

Cost analysis...

Estimated Total: $15,450

-(PayPal Donations: $2,785)

MESSAGE for PayPal

-(Misc. Donations + Savings: $8,000)

Amount Needed: $4,665

Costs not included:

+Physical Therapy: $900

+Hair removal for grafts: $3,150

I'm not one to jump into things. In fact, I've been toiling over this surgery since 2019. When I thought I had things figured out the pandemic hit, and when things started opening up again my living situation wasn't secure enough to risk a recovery as intense as this. It's been YEARS in the making and we're finally here...

I started my transition in 2016 and its been a wild ride. The process has changed my life for the better in so many ways. Not even that, I'd argue it saved my life. Now, after 6 years of finally living I'm hoping for the chance to actually feel alive. You can't really put dysphoria into words (I describe it like being forced to wear clothes & a haircut you feel terrible in...all of the time). And there aren't words to describe how excited I am to finally be rid of it. I can't imagine a life without the mental strain and anguish that comes with being painfully out of place in your own body. But now, finally, it's almost real. That life really can be a reality! And you can help make that happen.

Healthcare can be a nightmare. Especially for trans people, queer people, and for women. I'm fortunate to have an amazing job and community that supports me, but that doesn't save me from the inescapable web of insurance, endless hoops to jump through, and unneeded costs to navigate. It's annoying, it's a headache, and it's here to stay.

Started from the bottom:

Now we're here:

For this journey...

I'll be flying to San Francisco, CA and staying in Fairfax, CA. The surgeon I've chosen is Dr. Min Jun. He's one of only a handful to specialize in robotically assisted peritoneal flap vaginoplasty. He trained for transgender care in Siberia under Dr. Miroslav Djordjevic and learned this technique from Dr. Rachel Bluebond-Langner and Dr. Lee Zhao in New York. The reason I've chosen him in particular is because of the type of surgery he performs. Robotic assistance ensures the greatest accuracy and leads to the lowest level of risk during both surgery and recovery.

After the surgery, I will need to stay in the hospital for a minimum of 3 days. Then I will need to stay within 30 minutes of the clinic for a minum of 3 weeks. That way if anything happens the surgeon can treat me immediately and will be able to check the recovery process in person. I'll have an appointment with him once a week during this period. After the 3rd week's checkup, I'll be approved to fly home! (hopefully...oh boy)

Once I return home I won't be able to return to work for another 3-4 weeks. They anticipate I'll be able to do light physical activity but won't see a full return to normal until the 4-6 month mark.

As for the nitty gritty...the recovery process is very bloody and very gross. I'll spare you the details bc you can look that up if you want.

Aaaaanyway, thanks again for stopping by! And even more thanks for helping with a donation!! I couldn't do it without you. I hope to see you as a better me in the very near future :) cheers!

-Samantha <3