Ben’s Surgery and Well-being Fund
Donation protected
Hi,
My names Ben Pittman, I’m a 25 y/o transman living in Atlanta, GA. I’m involved in the community here, actively support local artists and musicians when I can and love skateboarding with my friends. Earlier this month I had a physical exam and found out that some of my medical problems are from binding my chest for 5+ years and have been advised to have top surgery. I also have been advised to have a hysterectomy to avoid further problems with the cysts I’ve been dealing with for years. These are things I’ve known I would need to take care of but without the support of my family since I came out and problems with employers, housing, etc. like a lot of the trans community I’ve been in survival mode every day. If it doesn’t have to do with getting through the month, it usually gets put on the back burner. My health insurance runs out at the end of March (I turn 26 that month) and I don’t know what is going to happen after that. I’m trying to get what I can taken care of before then. It’s a lot to handle at once and I’m scared because I can hardly afford healthcare as it is.
I’ve never done this before, it’s extremely difficult being vulnerable and asking for support but I’m doing everything I can just to get by. For years I’ve made a point to hide my struggles but I’m at a point where I don’t know what else to do. I work very hard to build a better life for myself and slowly yet surely I’m getting there but I’m scared to lose most everything again.
I’m looking forward to life without binding my chest which has created limits as far as exercise and work goes. Due to the nature of working in the service industry, which can be physically demanding, it really affects how much I can work daily. When my name/gender marker finally matches I plan on exploring other options as far as careers go. These days I also don’t skateboard as much as I want to because of the soreness from binding and wearing any sort of compression for my chest makes it harder for me to breath or move as easily. Summers are impossible because of the extra heat/tightness in my chest. Not binding isn’t an option because that also creates issues physically and with dysphoria.
Anything helps go towards medical bills, co-pays, therapy, hormones, prescriptions, transportation, recovery time off work, etc.
Can keep this updated as I just started the process of booking appointments with different doctors and know very little so far.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate you!
Take care,
Ben
My names Ben Pittman, I’m a 25 y/o transman living in Atlanta, GA. I’m involved in the community here, actively support local artists and musicians when I can and love skateboarding with my friends. Earlier this month I had a physical exam and found out that some of my medical problems are from binding my chest for 5+ years and have been advised to have top surgery. I also have been advised to have a hysterectomy to avoid further problems with the cysts I’ve been dealing with for years. These are things I’ve known I would need to take care of but without the support of my family since I came out and problems with employers, housing, etc. like a lot of the trans community I’ve been in survival mode every day. If it doesn’t have to do with getting through the month, it usually gets put on the back burner. My health insurance runs out at the end of March (I turn 26 that month) and I don’t know what is going to happen after that. I’m trying to get what I can taken care of before then. It’s a lot to handle at once and I’m scared because I can hardly afford healthcare as it is.
I’ve never done this before, it’s extremely difficult being vulnerable and asking for support but I’m doing everything I can just to get by. For years I’ve made a point to hide my struggles but I’m at a point where I don’t know what else to do. I work very hard to build a better life for myself and slowly yet surely I’m getting there but I’m scared to lose most everything again.
I’m looking forward to life without binding my chest which has created limits as far as exercise and work goes. Due to the nature of working in the service industry, which can be physically demanding, it really affects how much I can work daily. When my name/gender marker finally matches I plan on exploring other options as far as careers go. These days I also don’t skateboard as much as I want to because of the soreness from binding and wearing any sort of compression for my chest makes it harder for me to breath or move as easily. Summers are impossible because of the extra heat/tightness in my chest. Not binding isn’t an option because that also creates issues physically and with dysphoria.
Anything helps go towards medical bills, co-pays, therapy, hormones, prescriptions, transportation, recovery time off work, etc.
Can keep this updated as I just started the process of booking appointments with different doctors and know very little so far.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate you!
Take care,
Ben
Organizer
Ben Pittman
Organizer
Atlanta, GA