Quinn's Top Surgery
Donation protected
Hi, I’m Quinn! On the outside, I’m an average nerd: I’m 22, I work full-time; I like camping, drawing, and hiking. My cat is my best friend. I’m a Taurus. I am also a transgender male.
How?
If you’re wondering what that means, here’s a breakdown of my experience: I was born and raised as a female, but the whole “girl” thing never sat right with me. I tossed and turned for years wondering what on Earth was wrong with me until I slowly came to terms with the fact that I’m not a girl at all; I’m a boy!
Coming to this conclusion wasn’t easy. First off, I had no idea that I had the option of being transgender. I didn’t even know what “transgender” meant until high school. Blundering through those years as awkwardly as I could, I came out slowly and then all at once. I chose the name Quinn due to my Irish heritage. Some friends were kind enough to use that name along with male pronouns; some were not. Some not-friends found out and made a big sour mess out of the whole experience. By graduation, I was in pretty rough shape.
When I shipped myself off to college, things became a little clearer. I was able to live as a male to my professors and peers. In the two years that I attended higher education, I was taken seriously as a man for the first time in my life. This support encouraged me to finally start taking hormones that would lower my voice, change my muscle structure, and give me a sweet beard. In a life full of anxiety and uncertainty, starting hormone therapy was the first decision that made me feel truly confident and happy in years.
My two years of hormone therapy (or “second puberty”, as I affectionately call it) have been amazing. I smile in pictures. I make new friends wherever I go. I travel and go outside and make art. I have never been more proud of myself than I have these past two years.
What?
Which brings me to my campaign. Hormones are one thing, but the next step in my medical transition is gender affirmation surgery. Testosterone may help me look and sound a certain way, but I have been binding my chest for five years and the associated risks are too big to ignore. Every day, I wear a medical compression garment that straps my breasts close to my chest. With some clever layering of shirts, it creates the illusion of a flat chest at the cost of my comfort. I have experienced chafing, pinched nerves, rib and back pain, difficulty breathing, and extreme gender dysphoria from binding my chest. No matter how tightly I bind, the reminder of my anatomy is always there and has caused me great emotional distress over the years.
Why?
This campaign is intended to help me cover the costs of my top (breast removal) surgery. Top surgery would be life changing for me. I have been dealing with doctors, insurance, and multiple surgeons for a year now trying to make this thing work. Next to hormones, it has been my biggest goal since coming out; now that I’m finally there, I really need your help!
My surgeon, Dr. Richard Bartlett, is one of the best gender affirmation surgeons in the country. I was endlessly impressed by the care that his patients have received and the results of his procedures. I am very excited to announce that I will be getting my surgery with Dr. Bartlett. However, there are inevitable expenses with any surgery and top surgery is no exception. I am currently trying to raise $5,000 in order to fully cover my surgery.
While I work two jobs, I am still struggling to come up with the cash to pay for this procedure because I have a short window in which I can do so. I also need to pay for prescriptions, recovery supplies, rent, bills, and food during the healing process. For my health, I will be taking a leave from work after surgery so I need to make sure that these expenses are covered.
Please consider donating what you like. Every dollar counts. If you are unable to, I fully understand and ask that you consider sharing the link to this fundraiser. Anything helps!
How?
If you’re wondering what that means, here’s a breakdown of my experience: I was born and raised as a female, but the whole “girl” thing never sat right with me. I tossed and turned for years wondering what on Earth was wrong with me until I slowly came to terms with the fact that I’m not a girl at all; I’m a boy!
Coming to this conclusion wasn’t easy. First off, I had no idea that I had the option of being transgender. I didn’t even know what “transgender” meant until high school. Blundering through those years as awkwardly as I could, I came out slowly and then all at once. I chose the name Quinn due to my Irish heritage. Some friends were kind enough to use that name along with male pronouns; some were not. Some not-friends found out and made a big sour mess out of the whole experience. By graduation, I was in pretty rough shape.
When I shipped myself off to college, things became a little clearer. I was able to live as a male to my professors and peers. In the two years that I attended higher education, I was taken seriously as a man for the first time in my life. This support encouraged me to finally start taking hormones that would lower my voice, change my muscle structure, and give me a sweet beard. In a life full of anxiety and uncertainty, starting hormone therapy was the first decision that made me feel truly confident and happy in years.
My two years of hormone therapy (or “second puberty”, as I affectionately call it) have been amazing. I smile in pictures. I make new friends wherever I go. I travel and go outside and make art. I have never been more proud of myself than I have these past two years.
What?
Which brings me to my campaign. Hormones are one thing, but the next step in my medical transition is gender affirmation surgery. Testosterone may help me look and sound a certain way, but I have been binding my chest for five years and the associated risks are too big to ignore. Every day, I wear a medical compression garment that straps my breasts close to my chest. With some clever layering of shirts, it creates the illusion of a flat chest at the cost of my comfort. I have experienced chafing, pinched nerves, rib and back pain, difficulty breathing, and extreme gender dysphoria from binding my chest. No matter how tightly I bind, the reminder of my anatomy is always there and has caused me great emotional distress over the years.
Why?
This campaign is intended to help me cover the costs of my top (breast removal) surgery. Top surgery would be life changing for me. I have been dealing with doctors, insurance, and multiple surgeons for a year now trying to make this thing work. Next to hormones, it has been my biggest goal since coming out; now that I’m finally there, I really need your help!
My surgeon, Dr. Richard Bartlett, is one of the best gender affirmation surgeons in the country. I was endlessly impressed by the care that his patients have received and the results of his procedures. I am very excited to announce that I will be getting my surgery with Dr. Bartlett. However, there are inevitable expenses with any surgery and top surgery is no exception. I am currently trying to raise $5,000 in order to fully cover my surgery.
While I work two jobs, I am still struggling to come up with the cash to pay for this procedure because I have a short window in which I can do so. I also need to pay for prescriptions, recovery supplies, rent, bills, and food during the healing process. For my health, I will be taking a leave from work after surgery so I need to make sure that these expenses are covered.
Please consider donating what you like. Every dollar counts. If you are unable to, I fully understand and ask that you consider sharing the link to this fundraiser. Anything helps!
Organizer
Quinn Castine
Organizer
Providence, RI