I'm a trans girl who started my transition 5 years ago, and recently I was able to get a name change as part of my journey. Unfortunately, my household is not the most supportive, and I am facing significant financial challenges as I work toward gender reassignment (bottom) surgery. I have explored insurance options, but the maximum coverage I can receive is only 10%, leaving me with a large amount to pay out of pocket. On top of that, I need to travel out of state to California for the surgery at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic in Palo Alto, and I also have to cover the costs of laser hair removal as part of the preparation process.

Living in my current body is both physically and emotionally degrading. Every day, I experience discomfort that affects my well-being and makes it difficult to feel at home in my own skin. Getting this surgery would be life-changing for me—it would allow me to move forward with a greater sense of normalcy, improve my relationship with my partner, and finally feel comfortable in my body. I am working hard to save for this goal, and my boyfriend is supportive, but without help, paying for a surgery that is barely covered by insurance is simply not possible for us.

I hope to pay for this surgery in full to avoid interest, but any donations—no matter the size—will help cover the costs, especially while I am unable to work during recovery. I will keep this GoFundMe active as I continue to pay for laser hair removal out of my own pocket over the next year in preparation. I am deeply grateful to anyone willing to support me and my partner as we work toward this goal in a climate that can be challenging for people like us. Thank you for reading my story, for your support, and for sharing this fundraiser with others who may want to help.

FYI, leftover funds, which I doubt would be any, will go to things such as college or moving in with my boyfriend eventually.