My name is Elias Woods. I'm a 36 year old trans man and I am raising money for my chest surgery. I've been on testosterone for almost 4 years. The road, thus far, has been incredibly important for my mental health and has allowed me to begin to be at piece with myself.  The next steps in my transition will be grueling and expensive and I could really use some extra support.

For quite some time I have had an aversion to my chest. I haven't looked at it in years (in the mirror or otherwise), I have never been fully intimate with my partner (or 4 years) and I have been wearing a binder almost non stop. The binder is a compression top that keeps my chest flat. It is expensive, it doesn't breathe well and it (at times) causes me muscular and nerve pain in my back. In the summer It causes me to overheat and also adds to my mental discomfort because I want to be able to wear something that I'm comfortable in or do something as simple as go for a swim without having severe anxiety. Also, as the summers become more humid, it is becoming unsafe for me to wear a compression shirt during the hottest weeks. It would really make a huge difference in my life not to have to wear them any more.

Chest surgery, for me, is not only about my mental wellbeing but also my physical health; it is no longer a question as to whether this is necessary. This  procedure will give me more agency over my life and provide a space that allows me to be truer to myself.

I have to pay my deductible in full before I can book the surgery. The dollar amount that I am raising funds for will cover that and help me with after care during a 6 week recovery period. I am also adding everything that I can from my personal savings and tax return.

Thank you for taking the time to check this out. I don't want anyone to feel obligated to do this but even the smallest amount can really help here.