Help close the gap with Alice's SRS

My name is Alice, I'm a deaf, 27-year-old trans woman who has been transitioning for over 6 years medically. I've known since I was six years old that my pathway would lead me to this point somehow, though of course in those times I didn't have the words, confidence, or understanding to voice who I needed to be. I prayed to every god, demon, genie, fairy, anyone who could magically fix me so that I could become "right".

But magic didn't save me, so in 2013, equipped with a more sound understanding and the beginnings of an incredible support network, I began my journey to correct what I felt was wrong. I started hormonal treatment on April 1st, 2014, changed my legal name shortly after, and have more or less completed so many of the hurdles to live the life I do now. My journey is not yet complete, however, with just one major hurdle in the way.

In 2018 I went for my initial consultation with the surgeon who will be performing my Gender Affirmation Surgery. The financial obstacle was always my largest challenge when it came to overcoming that hurdle, and today it is the last obstacle.

Struggling with the notion of an insurmountable task, I've overcome mental health struggles, I've overcome so many doubts and uncertainties (anyone who says there were never any would be lying) and in September of 2020, I bit the bullet and booked my surgery. Come hell or high water, 2021 needed to be my year.

I suppose a part of me was much too optimistic for the Covid response; I had hoped that we would make it through by now, and there'd be no more lockdowns and no more impacts to my work. In September, Melbourne was in the middle of an incredibly long lockdown, but things were looking up. I thought surely, once the lockdown was over just one month later, that'd be all there was. But now, 9 months later, we're in lockdown again, and my goal feels unattainable on my own.

I feel ashamed at the idea of asking for help, especially with such a personal matter, but I feel I've no options left to me. On the advice of friends and family, I've decided to hope for the help of the greater community to help with just the last hurdle. The specific target is for help closing the gap to finalise the surgery, as well as to ensure that I am able to maintain my house and home in a long recovery period during which I will be bed-bound and completely unable to work.

Thank you so much if you've read this far, for even your consideration in helping. Your help will be life-changing, and most likely life-saving.

Btw, my best friend made me promise to include this: "Give Alice money or else there'll be no more juice and my personal army of snails will take over the world "