Help me get the gender affirming care I need!
Hello, my name is Ruka; I'm a 33-year-old, legally blind, trans woman. I have severe gender dysphoria, and because of my visual impairment, I'm disabled. So, money is tight. I need GRS, and the surgery is covered by my insurance, but I need hair removal at the site of the surgery for them to proceed, And I also need to afford a one-month stay in New York City post-surgery for follow-up appointments and care. This is really important to me, and I've been doing everything possible to get this far; I just need some help with these last steps. Please, my entire life has led up to this, and I'm so close. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Love y'all.
A little more of my story, I grew up in a toxic abusive household. I never felt like I was able to be myself, in fear of being told I was crazy or being sent to a Christian conversion camp. My earliest happiest memory was being able to play on the girl's soccer team and felt at home on that team, and for those of you worrying about me playing sports with the girls, don't worry, the other girls outperformed me easily, haha. As I grew older and went through puberty I hated who I saw in the mirror, it felt so wrong cause I knew on the inside I was always a woman. I connected with the other girls in high school, and the boys often scared and confused me. Am I alone there? hehe Joking aside... this self-hatred and denial of myself because I did not know I could be the woman I was, I never knew what trans was, that information was kept from me, and that caused so much psychological damage. I struggled with depression, suicide attempts, and drug addiction (clean since 2015!) after ending up homeless as an older teen, all because of the gender dysphoria that I held from the world. I remember my most successful attempt at taking my own life at 20 years old, I faded as my heart stopped, feeling I was a freak... To be given another chance at life by the medical team that revived me. Even then it would be another decade until I finally came to terms with myself, as a woman, in 2020, I couldn't hide it anymore. Since I started living life as my authentic self I have grown so much as a person, made new friends, and felt happy to involve myself in my community. Something I never would have done if I kept hiding, and I'm certain I would have tried to take my life again. I love who I am now, the real me, and I'm so close to a body I can feel comfortable in. With your help, G-D allowing, and all the blessings I've seen in my life recently, I think this can happen. Every dollar is so greatly appreciated, and I promise when my transition is finished I will live my life helping others, serving my community and changing this world for the better, like I always wanted. To heal, and repair the world. Thank you!!!
Fundraising team: Fundraising team (1)
Ruka Scarlett
Organizer
Gainesville, FL
Adam McNeal
Team member