As the political climate around transgender people grows darker and darker, the time for people to have their gender-affirming surgeries is NOW.

For me, this surgery is going to finally end a long line of medical trauma related to my chest as well. As a teenager, I had a large benign cyst removed from my left side, which made me completely asymmetrical. After the removal, I had a reduction to make everything more cohesive and symmetrical. That surgery left me even more asymmetrical than I already was, with the doctor telling me, "the asymmetry will even out as the swelling goes down."

It never did. At this point, with so much trauma already, a double incision mastectomy is the only autonomous decision to completely end this chapter of my life.

I have been waiting over 12 years for this surgery and it's finally here in just over 2 weeks (August 18th). Because of it being so soon, I am asking for donations to cover my rent, utilities, and groceries for the 3 weeks that I will be out of work. I am trying to raise at least $800.

Please spread this around, donate if you can, and any amount is appreciated as every bit counts.