Help Fund Robin's Gender-Affirming Surgery

I've been ready for this for over 3 years but...

I failed to get a surgery date at the clinic I really wanted to get into for 3 years and then they lowered their age limit and it's no longer an option. I looked into other clinics and found PAI which has been around in one form or another for almost 40 years and has a great reputation.

I inquired and was able to get a surgery date only 3 ½ months out. Now I've got to pull everything together in much less time than I thought I'd have. (Surgery dates at the other clinic were at least a year out.)

For those of you who don't know me, I'm a 58 year old trans woman who transitioned at age 51. After a decades-long career in IT, I became a licensed electrologist so I could earn a living while actually serving my community.

Because I was (mostly) unemployed/underemployed since 2020 and my business is only ramping up now, I just don't have the funds available for this desperately needed surgery.

For those of you who do know me.. Hey, It's me! I could really use your help with this.

Any funds beyond my costs will be donated to the Trans Lifeline ( https://translifeline.org/ ) which does great work. This is a crisis line by and for trans people and they will never call 911 on you. Both of those things are very important to me as a trans person who has had suicidal crises.

I'm a vegetarian and Thailand is notoriously carnivorous. I won't be able to eat the delicious street food both because it's full of animal products and because I have IBS and I just can't risk setting off a flare right after a major surgery. As a result, I'll have to buy food from a supermarket before my surgery so I can (hopefully) cook for myself for the 2 weeks after surgery.

I leave on May 23rd and arrive on Sunday, May 25th. The next 2 days are a whirlwind of pre-surgery appointments and then the big day arrives. Surgery is on May 28th. I'll be in the hospital for 5 days so that means I'll be back at my hotel on June 2nd or 3rd, and there I'll (mostly) stay until I head home on June 18th.

Budget Outline:

flight - $3400

procedure - $9300

hotel - $2100

care giver travel assistance – $1950

special food requirements – food budget - $400

incidentals (supplies needed while there) - $150

transaction fees for GoFundMe - 2.9%

Total = 17,800

None of this covers my loss of income for 6 weeks and my normal living expenses (mortgage, electric, etc.). I'm optimistic that I can cover those myself.

I'd appreciate any help with the surgery & trip expenses that I can get. This has become even more important for me given the current political environment in the US.