Gender-Affirming Surgery Support for Dria

My name is Alexandria. I have been on the NHS waiting list for gender care for seven years and like many trans people, had lost any hope for getting the life-changing surgery that I need. Private treatment has been my only option. I managed to get a surgery date, but then a deeply traumatic event earlier this year meant I had to be off work, unpaid for months. This ate away at any savings I had and made getting surgery impossible without asking for help or serious debt I can’t afford. I really didn’t want to make a GoFundMe, but my friends convinced me that trauma, necessary surgery, and the failures of the health system shouldn’t have to also impoverish me. The money I am asking for is a fraction of the full amount of the surgery, but it would help get me out of the worst of the debt and make sure I can afford the recovery time I will need post surgery without needing to rush back to work and make myself more unwell. I want to feel joy about the surgery I am getting and not just feel the dread of how I am going to live and survive these next few months, on top of the general dread and fear of being trans in Britain. It would mean the world to me if you could please help me try to feel that joy a little bit.

About Dria (El, Saerlaith, and friends): I (El) remember as Dria hosted Glasgow Trans Collective’s first fundraiser, watching as she made her way through quiz questions, effortlessly making people laugh, making them feel welcome and sharing this cause that is so important to her. When Dria first told me she wanted to form a group to support trans people who were facing danger, I remember as soon as the desire and the idea arose in her, she was asking around for help, bringing people together to share food, company, skills, and ideas—and then Glasgow Trans Collective was born. Dria doesn’t just contribute to organising, she helps create and support good organisers, good friends. I think of her in Food Not Bombs, spending countless Saturdays cooking, and encouraging time for members to come together, have fun, and take care of each other. She carries this attitude into so many areas of her life that I'm sure if you know Dria you have felt her instant and sincere care and warmth too. Being her partner, being her friend is a deep joy and an honour. She has helped so many of us feel confident, happy, supported and we desperately want that for her too.