TLDR: I am emery! a trans person in IL. And two years on T as of 12/5/24. I’m a grad student with an assistantship and health insurance! My health care provided by United no longer will be covering my top surgery at all. I am sad but not giving up and I am moving forward even if I have to pay for it out of pocket. I am seeking community support to help make my dream come true. I have jumped through so so so many hoops to get this far and I can’t keep waiting. My life depends on it. I am a super privileged white person- consider also donating to trans people of color, folks in Palestine or other very deserving causes. If in addition to that you have $5 or $10 dollars to send my way it would genuinely change my life. Or if you could share this post:)

Hi I’m Emery. I am a 25 year old trans masculine grad student currently in IL. And officially 2 years on T as of 12/5/24. For the past two years I have been seriously fundraising to be able to get top surgery. (Also known as a double mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy). I have been steadily trying to reach this goal through financial means, seeing a psychiatrist, taking testosterone medicinally and more. I even went so far as to enrolling in graduate school as young as I did, so that I would have guaranteed health insurance and a schedule that would allow me to take six weeks off for recovery.

now here is the bad news: the health insurance offered by my university recently changed their plan for grad students which has essentially lead to changing the coverage for this surgery with this surgeon cost roughly $1800 to now no longer being covered whatsoever. One of my peers seeing a different surgeon received a quote for over $6000 for the same procedure. Now that this procedure is not being covered I now no longer have enough saved. I am fundraising roughly $6000 through go fund me to try and get some help so that I can stay on track to get surgery in January, travel the two hours two and from surgery, and some small expenses required for recovery. I have painstakingly saved money for years and now without getting my rightfully deserved insurance coverage I fear surgery may be out of reach. Please consider helping me. I am a white person, mostly able bodied, masculine and am generally very, very privileged. I am not looking to be the only charity you donate to, or donate money you’re unable to give.

I am having a hard time accepting help or asking for it for this surgery. I have privately raised over $1100 from close friends, but with this recent change it is no longer enough. I have limited familial support. I have been so hesitant to publicize this out of fear of some of my family finding out.

I have decided that I cannot keep waiting for my life to begin and that I need to more forward and get surgery as soon as possible. I cannot bind my chest due to medical reasons and cannot wait to feel at home in my body.

I have applied to grants and funds for trans people needing help with surgery, but i won’t know if I am awarded until it is almost too late.

even a donation of $5 or $10 would mean the absolute world to me. There’s no expectation at all for anyone I’m close to to donate, but if you’re able to interact with this fund raiser or share it may reach someone with the financial means to donate. Times are tough, and getting increasingly tougher. I appreciate those who have read this far. Much love.