Support Avon's Top Surgery!

Hey, my name is Avon (they/them) and I am a non-binary person in Chicago raising funds for gender-affirming top surgery.

Although this is something I deeply contemplated and have pursued now for multiple years, it has been inaccessible to me throughout much of that time. When I first began to understand my own experience with chest dysphoria and body dysmorphia in 2020, I was underemployed and uninsured. I thankfully moved to a salaried position with benefits shortly thereafter, and was grateful for the stability and immediately began accessing health and dental care that I had forgone for several years prior. Despite having increased access to healthcare, my employer of 4 years’ insurance explicitly did not cover any gender-affirming care, and they ignored, thwarted, and ultimately rejected organized proposals to expand coverage and include it into the policy despite being the second largest org in the industry at the time.

Now, it feels like the stars have aligned. In April of this year, I finally consulted with the surgeon on a Friday, started a new job on the following Monday, and have since been approved under my new insurance plan to receive this long-dreamt-of surgery. The surgeon’s office called me back, and to my surprise, her availability was open several months ahead of what I was anticipating (in part as a response to the political climate that is actively working to strip all transgender people of access to care, so that’s bittersweet to put it mildly). My surgery is scheduled for August 21, 2025.

I am incredibly, incredibly privileged to be in the situation that I am in.

Still, I am asking my community and loved ones for assistance raising the money I will need for the surgery and recovery.

Cost Breakdown:

This being a new job, I have to hit nearly the entire deductible ($2,500),

will be receiving reduced pay under short term disability (if the claim is approved, TBD) or taking multiple weeks of unpaid time off after maxing out the entirety of my accrued PTO (anywhere betw. $800-1900 in reduced wages),

as well as procuring supplies needed during recovery such as a post-op binder, pain and nausea medication, silicone scar tape, gauze, ointment, post-op wedge pillow (~$300 est.)

Totaling ~$3,600-4,700

on a much shorter timeframe than I had begun saving up for.

Having this surgery will improve my mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. I look forward to the day where the way my body appears matches how I see myself in my mind, having improved posture instead of unconsciously slouching to conceal my anatomy, re-engaging in sports and going out dancing, being more comfortable in my skin than ever, feeling the warmth of the sun on my chest at the beach, radiating queer/trans joy and generally feeling myself!

I am sincerely grateful whether you can donate $5, $50, or $500. If you cannot donate money (I get it, we're in a recession), I appreciate this link being shared to gain traction and visibility. A little closer to surgery, there'll be a mealtrain people can sign up for, and I invite direct donations of new/gently used/extra recovery supplies.

Thank you for reading, and for contributing to the actualization of me living my most aligned, authentic, and joyful life!

With love & gratitude,

Avon

Give Back Commitment: Any funds raised that exceed my personal needs will be recirculated back to the Queer and Trans community through donation to Trans-centered non-profits and other gender-affirming surgery fundraisers to decrease barriers and support my siblings’ access to life saving care.