Greetings, my name is Claudia and I am a transwoman. While that is a part of who I am, there is so much more to my story. I am a veteran who retired honorably after 20 years of service with the USCG. I am a wife, a girlfriend, a graduate student, a big sister, and a daughter to my step-mom. I am a soccer fan, a hockey lover, and a born New Englander now living in California and attending a Midwestern graduate school. Above all, I am a human being who wants to live happily and authentically for the first time in my life.

Throughout most of my adult life, I battled depression and struggled with my identity. After many therapy sessions and deep reflection, I finally embraced who I truly am. When I began hormone replacement treatment, I started to feel confident, outgoing, and genuinely happy. For the first time, I am almost off all my depression medications because I am living as my true self. The next step in my journey is gender affirming surgery. Unfortunately, my health insurance, Tricare, and my graduate student program do not cover this surgery, even though it is medically necessary for my well-being.

The funds I am raising will go directly toward my surgery, hospital stay, and medications during my recovery. This support will help me continue living authentically and maintain my mental health. Throughout my life and military career, I have always been the one to help others, so asking for help is not easy for me. If you could please support my journey, it would mean the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering a donation.