Help Me Evict My Beard!

Hello internet traveller,

In case we have not met, my name is Elizabeth. I am a university student with learning disabilities. This puts me at a disadvantage financially as it is difficult for me to find balance between employment and education. I currently survive off of student loans and financial aid. 

I am a transgender woman. I started my path just over 2 years ago. This has been one of the best and most defining decisions of my life, and has proven to be a blessing in many ways. However continueing this process while continueing with my education has been proven to be financially impossible. Between my tuition, textbooks, and living costs I am not left with much income to spare. This precarious situation is an incredibly stressful one. There have been many times when I had to decide between the medical care that I need and the roof over my head.

Unfortunately for me, my facial hair removal has been a lengthly and expensive process. It is not covered by my provincial medical plan as it is seen as "cosmetic," despite it being the greatest source of my gender dysphoria, as well as a great source of anxiety and insecurity in my every day life. The depression and anxiety triggered by my facial hair growth has had a significant impact on my quality of life, and educational outcomes over the last couple of years. I would shave everyday if I could, but my skin is too sensitive. Shaving daily causes me to break out in embarassing, painful, red rashes that no amount of makeup could hope to cover up. My facial hair and these rashes clearly from shaving are a barrier to being seen for my authentic self, and I am much more likely to be misgendered or dangerously outed on these occasions.

Luckily through the generosity of family, friends and even strangers through this fundraiser, I have been able to make significant progress in the removal of my facial hair. However, I still have a long way to go. I have very persistent and thick hair in a multitude of unfortunate and unwanted shades. I have been able to eliminate much of the dark growth, but I still have a long and arduous treatment path of electrolysis ahead of me. In order to continue with this neccessary gender confirming treatment, I need to have the funds to move forward. I am rapidly running out of the donations already raised and I am concerned that I may have to discontinue my treatment for an indefinite period. This is a problem because treatment needs to be regular and consistent to be effective. If I fail to keep up with treatment, stunned and damaged foliciles will grow back healthily and I will lose progress that was painfully gained. 

A donation of any size is incredibly helpful and has a real tangible impact on my life. A half hour of electrolysis costs 45 dollars, about the cost of a movie night. An hour costs 90 dollars, evened out over a month that costs about a latte a day. Even donations of 5-10 dollars add up quickly and are immensely helpful. I would love and appreciate if you can even just share this for me. I also want to give a big shout out to everyone who has shared and donated my page so far! I would be so much farther behind on my path to authenticity, and so so much less happy, without your tremendous love and support. 

Love,
Elizabeth Sophia.