After a lifetime of quietly carrying something most people never knew about me, I finally came out. It was nerve-racking, but liberating. And it changed everything.

Hi, my name is Lindsey, and this July I will be having Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) in San Francisco — a life-changing step in my journey that I have been working toward and saving for over several years.

FFS is a set of surgical procedures that reshape facial features to be more feminine. For me, this includes forehead contouring, brow lift, rhinoplasty, scalp advancement, lip lift, tracheal shave, fat grafting, and orbital rim contouring. These aren’t cosmetic luxuries — they are procedures that will allow me to finally see myself when I look in the mirror.

I have spent years saving every dollar I could to make this happen. I am proud to say that through hard work and determination, I have saved enough to cover the surgery itself.

However, getting to San Francisco, staying there during recovery, and taking care of myself in the weeks that follow is a separate financial challenge — and that is why I am reaching out.

This journey hasn’t been easy. Family has been complicated, and I have navigated much of this path with a small but deeply loving circle of support. My aunt, a registered nurse who was going to travel with me to help with my recovery, is now unable to come — and that loss has been hard to sit with. She is having her own surgery around the same time, so I am now figuring out how to move forward and find the support I need on my own.

My goal is to raise $5,000. Every dollar will go directly toward what I need to get there and heal safely. More specifically, your donation will assist me in obtaining: a caregiver to help me through the first week of recovery, the roundtrip flight and the lodging accommodation.

I know times are tough and many are struggling. If you are unable to give financially, even just reading this page and sending a small prayer for a safe and speedy recovery will mean so much to me . Sharing this page also costs nothing and could make all the difference as well. I’m not someone who asks for help easily. But I’m learning that letting people in — letting people care — is part of this journey too.

If you are able to give, even a small amount — thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This surgery is not the beginning of my story — it is a chapter I have been writing for years. July is when it finally becomes real. I am so grateful for every single person who has shown up for me, and for anyone reading this who chooses to be part of this moment.

With so much love and gratitude,

Lindsey