Gender Affirming Surgery

Hi :)

I have [finally] made a fundraising page, for my gender affirming surgery.

A flat chest, is something that I have waited for my entire life. When I was a child, I would cry to my ma, wishing I was a boy so that I wouldn’t have to endure these growing pains.

If you’re part of the trans+ community, you’ll know how it feels. During puberty, my relationship with my body became incredibly difficult — and I didn’t have the words to explain it. I felt [and still feel] betrayed, disconnected, and overwhelmed.

This surgery will be life changing, with less burden/shame to carry. I look forward to simple things: being topless at the beach; feeling the sun on my back; not wearing a binder for 8+ hours a day in 25°C+ weather; wearing my favourite shirt and feeling the fabric against my bare chest; standing tall, with confidence.

I am fortunate enough to have not yet experienced any major health issues. This surgery will be the first I’ve ever had, and I know that it will be mentally, and physically challenging. Though, this is a small price to pay for the joy that will follow after.

It would take me a really long time to be able to afford this on my own, hence why I’m calling on my community — I want to try everything I can to make the goal of going into my 30s with a flat chest and a feeling of home materialise.

The figure of £10,000 is a rough estimation of all the costs I will incur in order to complete the surgery comfortably. Alongside any generous donations, I will be saving towards this myself, and have lots of creative fundraising ideas too!

The cost of top surgery/double mastectomy varies. And I am still to decide on which surgeon I will book with. Wherever I decide to go, I’ll be away from home. And likely outside of the UK, due to the ridiculously high price of the surgery here [£9,995+].

During the recovery period, my partner Lucy will be my primary carer. After surgery, for the first few weeks there are a lot of physical things that I will struggle to do for myself. Lu’s brother, and my best friend — Nathan, will also be there to share the care, and weight of the experience. Having both of them there with me is crucial to my recovery. Lu would take a month off of work, and I would need at least 8 weeks — potentially longer, depending on how my recovery goes.

£10,000 is the rough figure cost for surgery, travel and accommodation. In addition to these costs, we’ll also need to save the funds for food, essentials and bills during this time. It’s an overwhelming sum of money to raise, especially in such a short time frame too.

I’ve seen trans+ folks, measuring their lives on a timeline of pre-transition, and post-transition. And I’ve heard from a lot of people that, their 30s have been some of the best years of their lives. And I believe it. I feel it coming.

I know that, top-surgery, to me, will bring immense release. I have always felt crushing discomfort in my body. And though I am grateful for this vessel —

I ache to feel home.