Hi!

I'm River, a 20 y.o. student who just recently moved alone back to CA after living in Finland for the past 7 years. After nearly six years of planning and waiting, I finally have a date set for my top surgery this coming October.

I am extremely privileged to have my hormone replacement therapy currently covered by my insurance -- as when I had started it in Finland I was paying completely out of pocket. Trans healthcare there is notoriously inaccessible and up until February 2023, any gender-affirming action, (including marker or name changes) required medical sterilization. Because of those restrictions, I was unable to pursue any surgery while living there. Having access to this now marks such a profound turning point in my life.

My insurance does cover a good portion of the surgery, but the copay is still a substantial amount given my current resources. Because of deportation, my parents are unable to see me in the states and I am supporting myself with a part-time job while taking a full course load. I will be using that income to help cover the copay as much as possible, but at the same time, it also needs to stretch to cover my rent and living expenses. I'm also chronically ill and need to pay for other medications as well. I'm planning on going through the recovery process in my dorm without family support or access to a car.

I'm hoping to raise funds to help cover:

Even if my goal isn't fully met, any amount helps alleviate the financial stress of recovery, especially when I will be unable to work for several weeks while my body heals. Any support, whether it's a small donation, sharing, or a kind word means the world. Thank you all :)

RW

also- if you would like to donate directly, my v3nm0 is @rsprintsanu