Hello, My name is Henry, and I'm a disabled 31-year-old transgender man living in Sacramento, California. Maybe some of you seeing this are finding out I'm trans for the first time, so, uh... surprise!?

I have been actively trying to get the top surgery procedure covered by insurance since 2016, though every single time in the past, I'd run into issues with doctors, disability, insurance, letters, moving, etc. Once we moved and I was able to swap to a PCP that specialized in trans care, I was given the news that no local surgeons would operate on me due to a strict "BMI under 30" requirement to be approved by medicare, but that if I went to LA to get it done, they'd be less stringent about it.

I had been dieting for a year and had already lost 40lbs, but the fact that no local surgeon would even put me on a waiting list for consultation while I lost the other 30 was offputting, so I decided to go for it. On July 11th, 2022, thanks to anybody who donated to me previously, I was able to be seen for consultation by Dr. George Rudkin at UCLA.

My surgery date has finally been set for March 2nd, 2023! However, even though insurance will cover the procedure, I still need some help raising funds to stay within LA for a little over a week.

Traveling within CA is very costly. Hotel stays in LA are especially expensive, as are transportation and food. I make less than 900$ a month on SSI, and at least 650$ of that goes toward my rent, and because I won't be able to take care of myself for a week post-operative, I'll need someone with me the entire time, which will cause them to lose work as well.

I really wanted to be able to draw and make the funds myself, but I have developed terrible carpal tunnel that has prevented me from working freelance all year, and I still owe commissions/refunds. I've been trying to downsize what I can on eBay, but admittedly I don't have many things to sell to begin with.

I'm setting a goal of 4,000$ in hopes that I can come even close to meeting it, and I have broken down the rough estimate of the costs I need here.

I'm rewriting this GFM a day after my birthday, as having this procedure is all I want this year, so thank you all very much for reading this, donating, or spreading the word. I appreciate you!