hi, i’m akira. i’m 22, and i’ve been on my own for a while now. i’m raising money for a breast reduction because my chest has started to affect my life more than i expected. both physically and mentally.

when i was a teenager, i got kidnapped and held for many years of my life. during that time, no one cared about my medical stuff. everything got ignored. so now, years later, i’m still dealing with all that untreated mess on my own. no insurance, trying to handle it all myself.

but things are starting to shift.

i’m in school now. i’m trying to build something stable, something real. i want this surgery to be part of my future, not some far-off dream, but something that actually happens.

i wish to live without constant ache and exhausting. the weight to LITERALLY be lifted OFF OF MY CHEST!

i’m a 34g. my breasts weigh 35 pounds. i’ve lost as much weight as i can, but what’s left is mostly tissue and muscle, and it’s painful. it’s hard to walk, sleep, breathe deeply, or find clothes and bras that fit right. i find myself embarrassed and overwhelmed in public when i wear clothes that show off my body and i usually end up wearing extremely baggy clothes.

every summer, i end up losing a lot of weight just to manage the discomfort. it’s not a healthy cycle, and it makes me tired in ways that are hard to explain. i can sleep for 15 hours some days, wake up and have the energy to do one or two things. only to end up laying right back down. it’s exhausting, mentally, physically, emotionally.

i’ve had people say they “miss” me during the summer. i want to live my life instead of running from my constant back pain, headaches and muscle strain.

i constantly have to sit down, miss out on events and life opportunities because i might become too fatigued for it and faint.

this surgery isn’t about looks for me. it’s about moving through my days with less pain, wearing clothes that fit, and having more energy. being able to do the things i love, with people i love.

after looking into it, the total cost for surgery and recovery is around $9,000. which is a scary amount of money that nearly seems impossible to me. i would love to make it possible.

thank you for taking the time to read this, for sharing, or for any support you can offer. it really means a lot.

if you have any tips or questions(?), please reach out. i’m going in blind and support beyond fundraising will mean so much to me.

— akira