Amir's Surgery Recovery Fund
Donation protected
Dear Fabulous Community,
Hi! In case you don't know me, my name is Amir and I am 38 years old, trans, mixed race, disabled and low income. I'm a poet and educator, currently residing in San Diego. I've been involved in various forms of activism since I was eighteen. I'm in need of some financial support from my community to help with my recovery from top surgery.
Here are the details...After decades of wanting top surgery, but not being able to afford it, I'm happy to announce that Medi-Cal is going to cover my surgery. My date is set for November 9th, 2016!! That's less than a month away. I just found out my date. Cue my dorky happy dance.
(For those of you who don't know what top surgery is, it's a surgery that some transgender and gender non-conforming people get to reconstruct their chest into a more "masculinized" chest.)
As far as my gender fluid identity, I feel that having top surgery is really going to help me feel more comfortable in my skin, hopefully cause me less anxiety, depression, and physical pain from nearly twenty years of binding. I've literally been constricting my breathing and crushing my ribs for twenty years, which hurts. I look forward to learning how to breathe again!
Although Medi-Cal is covering the surgery, I still need some financial support to help with my aftercare costs. I am already low income and disabled, and as a result don't have any savings. I anticipate the recovery is going to be rough for me, due to my existing medical conditions, chronic pain and nerve pain. I won't be able to do any sort of work, like teaching workshops, or taking care of puppies for a couple of months.
I don't want to have to hustle for bills and aftercare costs, like meds not covered by insurance, food, bodywork, and rides to appointments. Living on the edge is incredibly stressful, and I'd like to ease the burden for myself for a couple of months while I recover and just be able to focus on healing.
So here are the financial details and approximate costs for two months (This is a rough estimate)
$1,200 will go to monthly bills and food
$200 will cover rides and/or gas to friends to follow up appointments, and bodywork sessions
$400 for bodywork and/or naturopathic healthcare over two months
$300 meds and supplements needed for recovery not covered by insurance
$300 Fees incurred by GoFundMe and PayPal
Anything I make over my goal will go towards covering costs past the two months.
My goal is to raise half the funds I need by November 15th and all the funds I need by December 15th.
Other ways to support me:
I'd greatly appreciate any financial support you can offer, but I also know times are tough for many people. If you can't donate, please spread the word, and share this campaign.
If you are in the San Diego Area and want to be a part of my care team, which involves helping me stay well fed, changing bandages or drains (if you aren't squeamish) making sure I'm hydrated, taking meds, and/or keeping me company in my comfy room and (watching movies, playing video games, lounging around, reading with me etc...Please reach out and let me know) All of these different ways of support are really important to me and I honor them.
If you are outside the San Diego Area, I really like cards, letters and care packages. They make me feel all melty inside. Message me and I will happily give you my mailing address.
I've been waiting so long for this surgery, and I'm so excited that it's finally happening.
Thank you for being my community!
With Love,
Amir
Hi! In case you don't know me, my name is Amir and I am 38 years old, trans, mixed race, disabled and low income. I'm a poet and educator, currently residing in San Diego. I've been involved in various forms of activism since I was eighteen. I'm in need of some financial support from my community to help with my recovery from top surgery.
Here are the details...After decades of wanting top surgery, but not being able to afford it, I'm happy to announce that Medi-Cal is going to cover my surgery. My date is set for November 9th, 2016!! That's less than a month away. I just found out my date. Cue my dorky happy dance.
(For those of you who don't know what top surgery is, it's a surgery that some transgender and gender non-conforming people get to reconstruct their chest into a more "masculinized" chest.)
As far as my gender fluid identity, I feel that having top surgery is really going to help me feel more comfortable in my skin, hopefully cause me less anxiety, depression, and physical pain from nearly twenty years of binding. I've literally been constricting my breathing and crushing my ribs for twenty years, which hurts. I look forward to learning how to breathe again!
Although Medi-Cal is covering the surgery, I still need some financial support to help with my aftercare costs. I am already low income and disabled, and as a result don't have any savings. I anticipate the recovery is going to be rough for me, due to my existing medical conditions, chronic pain and nerve pain. I won't be able to do any sort of work, like teaching workshops, or taking care of puppies for a couple of months.
I don't want to have to hustle for bills and aftercare costs, like meds not covered by insurance, food, bodywork, and rides to appointments. Living on the edge is incredibly stressful, and I'd like to ease the burden for myself for a couple of months while I recover and just be able to focus on healing.
So here are the financial details and approximate costs for two months (This is a rough estimate)
$1,200 will go to monthly bills and food
$200 will cover rides and/or gas to friends to follow up appointments, and bodywork sessions
$400 for bodywork and/or naturopathic healthcare over two months
$300 meds and supplements needed for recovery not covered by insurance
$300 Fees incurred by GoFundMe and PayPal
Anything I make over my goal will go towards covering costs past the two months.
My goal is to raise half the funds I need by November 15th and all the funds I need by December 15th.
Other ways to support me:
I'd greatly appreciate any financial support you can offer, but I also know times are tough for many people. If you can't donate, please spread the word, and share this campaign.
If you are in the San Diego Area and want to be a part of my care team, which involves helping me stay well fed, changing bandages or drains (if you aren't squeamish) making sure I'm hydrated, taking meds, and/or keeping me company in my comfy room and (watching movies, playing video games, lounging around, reading with me etc...Please reach out and let me know) All of these different ways of support are really important to me and I honor them.
If you are outside the San Diego Area, I really like cards, letters and care packages. They make me feel all melty inside. Message me and I will happily give you my mailing address.
I've been waiting so long for this surgery, and I'm so excited that it's finally happening.
Thank you for being my community!
With Love,
Amir
Organizer
Amir Rabiyah
Organizer
San Diego, CA