Help Fund Levi's Top Surgery

This is my friend Levi. He lives in Cape Town, South Africa, and I'm in Vancouver. We've never met in person, but we've had lots of Zoom conversations over the last two and a half years, and he's hands down one of my favourite people to chat with. His curiosity and joy are contagious. There's just something about talking to Levi that leaves you feeling like you matter, and you're appreciated.

 

Levi is a wonderful writer, and you can read his whole story in photo-essay form on his Instagram account, @levi.is.present (link here ). Spoiler alert: his story includes a pre-med scholarship that allowed him to study in Chicago and lead the school tennis team, a courageous journey of recovery from a life-threatening eating disorder, and during that recovery process, a realization that he is transgender.

 

Levi has spent the last three years back in South Africa studying, coming to terms with this part of his identity, and getting on hormone therapy. He came out publicly on Trans Day of Visibility this past March!

 

His biggest dream right now is to get top surgery, which would dramatically improve his mental and physical health. He consulted with his doctor and learned that sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has halted publicly-funded top surgeries for almost 2 years in South Africa, which means his estimated wait time for top surgery is now likely 25 years . Privately-funded surgeries are available more quickly, but cost the equivalent of $6700 CAD. Although Levi is working to try to build a career as an online educator and tutor, and is saving whatever he can, it will still take a long time for him to save enough for surgery.

 

I don't think Levi (or any trans person) should be forced to wait 25 years OR pay $6700 out of pocket. So will you join me in helping pitch in toward covering Levi's costs?  

 

Regarding the GoFundMe, Levi wrote to me, " I'm still in shock (the good kind) and don't have words to quite capture my gratitude...To this day, I'm surprised when people want to do nice things for me. So the shock I'm experiencing has multiple levels to it (all good ones that are rewriting my story from "unworthy" to "Beloved")."

 

Please join me in helping Levi rewrite his story - let's tangibly remind him of how worthy he is of efficient gender-affirming healthcare!