<div>Ash's journey to top surgery
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<div>Hi, my name’s <strong>Ash</strong>.
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<div>I’m a <strong>trans Indigenous</strong> person (Gamilaraay mob) living with multiple <strong>disabilities</strong> and I’m raising money to get <strong>top surgery.</strong>
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<div>But this isn't just about wanting surgery. It’s about years of living with chronic pain, navigating my identity, finding a community where I finally felt comfortable, and taking steps towards becoming more comfortable in my own body.
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<div>I want to share a little bit of my story so you can understand why this surgery means so much to me, and why I’m asking for your help.
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<div>When I was as young as <strong>8</strong> years old, my chest started to grow. By the time I was <strong>10</strong>, my back was already killing me. What 10-year-old has chronic back pain? <strong>Me</strong>.
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<div>Now I’m 19, and my chest has grown beyond what I ever could have imagined. I’m currently a <strong>14JJ</strong>. Did you even know that size existed? Each bra costs around <strong>$115</strong>, just for one bra. I’m very lucky to have an incredibly supportive family, and my <strong>Gran helps pay for my bras</strong> when they wear out after holding up around <strong>3kg of weight every moment</strong> of the day.
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<div>The surgery is deemed as a medically necessary mastectomy.
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<div>Living with this has affected so much more than just what I wear. I have <strong>Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome</strong>, which means the <strong>extra weight</strong> on my chest puts even <strong>more strain on my body</strong>. I experience excessive pain in my shoulders, back, neck, ribs and more, and it affects my everyday life and mobility.
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<div>Alongside all of that, I always knew I wasn’t quite like everyone else.
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<div>In <strong>Year 4</strong>, I had my first crush on a girl. It ended badly, but eventually, when I <strong>started high school</strong>, I discovered my community. A colourful group of people of all shapes, sizes and labels: the <strong>queer/LGBTQIA+ community. </strong>
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<div>After exploring different labels, I found myself calling myself <strong>non-binary</strong>. For the first time, I finally felt comfortable with who I was. Well… on the inside. <strong>The outside still didn’t quite match</strong>.
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<div>On my journey, I’ve been lucky enough to try out new pronouns, names, gender-affirming care and more. I started on hormone blockers, then changed to testosterone, which I’ve now been on for more than three years.
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<div><strong>My next step is top surgery. </strong>
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<div>The surgery will cost approximately <strong>$15,000 in total</strong>, including my hospital stay, surgeon, anaesthetist and other costs. I’m currently living on a <strong>Disability Support Pension</strong> due to my medical conditions, so this is something <strong>I simply can’t reach on my own. </strong>
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<div>Top surgery would mean <strong>so much</strong> <strong>more</strong> than changing the way my chest looks. It would help <strong>ease my dysphoria</strong>, <strong>reduce the physical strain</strong> I’m living with, and give me a chance at <strong>feeling more comfortable and free</strong> in my everyday life.
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<div>I’m also incredibly lucky to have a beautiful, supportive and very queer family where everyone is celebrated. When my aunty came out, I made her a gender reveal cake with a trans flag and pink sprinkles pouring out. As of right now, <strong>10 members of my family have come out too</strong>.
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<div><strong>I’m proud to be the first domino, opening the door for everyone else. </strong>
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<div><strong>Now I’m asking my community to help me take this next step for myself. </strong>
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<div>If you can donate even a <strong>few dollars</strong>, it would mean the <strong>absolute world </strong>to me. Every single dollar gets me closer to being able to have top surgery, and <strong>closer to living in a body that feels more like mine</strong>.
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<div>Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for considering supporting me.
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<div><strong>Lots of love, </strong>
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<div>Ash
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Renee Milton

Cara James

Anonymous

Fiona Findlay

Julie-ann Younger

Griffith Merrick

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Emilie Boudette

Alexandra Woodley-Rayner

Debra Daniels

Tahlia Clark

Anna Brown

Susan Carlyle

Janet Dudley

Shel Carlyle

Genevieve Carlyle

Help Ash get this off their chest... aka get Top-Surgery

Help Ash get this off their chest... aka get Top-Surgery

Still $10,906 to go. Help us build momentum.