Hi my name is Alia, some of you might know me from social media, from the ballroom scene in montreal, or even from university and school. If you've been following me you have seen my journey the past years transitioning into the woman I am today. Growing up in Jordan to come to canada at 18 years old to find myself was not easy. I lost friends, my family, and my financial supports. Yet, I gained the most beautiful thing in the world, to be comfortable in my own identity and be free. Life finally started making sense the moment that estrogen pill touched my body. Transitioning empowered me to love myself and to continue school where I am now working as a lab scientist at the hospital researching HIV and infectious diseases. I have gained true family by choosing me, and I am walking everyday living my true self head high doing things that most trans women just 10 years ago never dreamt of, let alone a Palestinian Jordanian trans woman.

While my battle with gender dysphoria has been a bit rough, I remain hopeful and grounded in knowing my highest self is within me. Hormone replacement therapy has helped heal a lot of the dysphoria within me however, some things I can only achieve through surgery. I have my first facial feminisation surgery booked on October 14th here in Montreal. I have been receiving aid through a scholarship from the government due to my academic achievements which has helped me save up for the surgery. Unfortunately, I was not given an exemption from my tuition for the last year of my Masters which is at an international student rate at around 12,727 CAD for the fall semester. While I planned to have a bit of tuition debt until the end of next semester to cover my surgery costs, I have come to realize recently that not paying my fall semester in full prevents me from registering in the Winter semester. If I get the surgery and remain in debt to McGill, I risk being deported back to Jordan where my safety is at risk.

.The surgery is a Septorhinoplasty and costs around 12,750 CAD. I have already paid 2.75 K through gender affirming insurance. If I go on with my surgery as scheduled I will have a tuition debt of around 3500 CAD which I must pay by December 31st.

I am pleading for help as I believe in the power of the community and most importantly I have faith in my story and journey

Thank you

Alia