Dean's (aka Dandy Issues Drag) Top Surgery Fundraiser!

UPDATE JANUARY 2025:

Hello everyone! I just wanted to give a bit of an update as well as a great big thank you to everyone who helped me be it through Donations, support and sharing this fundraiser in general!

On the 2nd of January this year I was was finally able to have my top surgery which was a success. Before I spoke about how I wanted to breath easy and to not be thinking about my chest 24/7. Since this day though its all I have been able to think about and how much this was the right decision for me.

I have never felt happier about myself. The love from those closest to me have kept me warm during the hardest parts of recovery and the quiet moments in the weeks that have followed have helped me work out what the next steps of my life post surgery will be.

I have now closed the fundraiser as I am no longer seeking funds for this part of my transition. I am, however, leaving the page active as a tool for future transfolks to use as a starting point template for their own top surgery as I know when I came to writing mine I wasn't quite sure where to begin.

(My only request is please do not copy word to word but rather as a starting place to share your experiences as your own)

Thank you to everyone who has donated and sending everyone lots of love and good energy for 2025!

All the best,

Dean / Dandy

[Original post]

Hi all!

My name is Dean (They/Then) and I am asking for your help today to try and raise some funds towards my top surgery fundraiser!

Having come into my trans identity in later life, I have decided to kick my 30’s off in style and formally start my transition (with my current main focus being top surgery!)

All my life I have had a lot of discomfort around my chest as it's quite large which for me makes binding extra difficult. Recently it has become more of an issue with it being the first thing I feel when I wake up, the only thing I see when I step out the door and now stopping me doing things I love such as exercise and going to the beach. This has begun to impact my mental health negatively and after spending the first quarter of my life in discomfort I want my 30’s to be a time of living and not just putting up with things.

I want to breathe easy. I want to be happy when I look in the mirror and not dissociate. I want my body to reflect who I am and the joy I have found in other areas of my life in recent years. I want to take what I used to consider the biggest form of hurting myself and turn it into what it actually is, which is doing the kindest thing for me long term. It's taken along time to know that I don't need validation from others that my identity is who I am at a core and I want to live by the ethos that has gotten me through my life in all aspects - “Choose Joy”

THE NITTY GRITTY!

At the start of the year I had originally planned to fully fund this process through my drag king persona of Dandy Issues, however, this month I have had a sudden change in living circumstances meaning that it is no longer possible to achieve this.

Most private surgeries providing Top surgery within the UK range between £8-10K alongside additional costs such as appointment fees and after care on top. I am hoping to raise £8000 from GoFundMe to help with topping up what I have already saved for the surgery.

Anything else on top of that raised for me will go towards other forms of gender affirming, which will primarily be counselling to practical support through this process, changing my name formally through a deed poll, getting all my important documents in my new name.

Times are hard and I know that we are all essentially passing round the same five pound note but if you do have any change, or can help in any way I would be very grateful!

Sending everyone who donates lots of love and good energy their way!

Dean x