HELP GABE RECOVER FROM BOTTOM SURGERY!

Hey everyone!

My name is Gabe, I’m a 22 year old trans man living in Portland, OR. For the past 2½ years, I have been preparing for gender confirming bottom surgery. I am excited to announce that I will be having RFF phalloplasty with Dr. Chen in San Francisco, CA on March 29th, 2023. :-)

Although this is uncomfortable for me to talk about publicly, words cannot describe how important this surgery is for me. Since beginning my transition 8 years ago, my gender dysphoria has prevented me from living my life authentically in countless ways. Over the last 2 years, I prepared for and underwent top surgery and a hysterectomy. Additionally, I have been surgery prep in the form of electrolysis and tattoo removal on my arm since January 2021. The logistics that go into planning these surgeries have consumed my life and cost me upwards of $12,000. To feel comfortable and at home in my body is something I've been waiting to experience my whole life, and bottom surgery will finally grant me that peace.

I am having RFF (radial forearm flap) phalloplasty. Phalloplasty is a multi-staged procedure, meaning I will have 1 initial surgery and 2 follow-up surgeries. My surgery requires an intensive recovery process, and I need to take 3 months off work for stage 1. I need to take a combined 2+ months off for stages 2+3. I expect to be recovering from surgery for the majority of 2023 and 2024. Here is my projected cost breakdown for the next two years:

COST BREAKDOWN:

= $30,000

STAGE 1: $14,750

STAGE 2: $4,875

STAGE 3: $10,375

I want to recover peacefully from my surgery and be able to start the next phase of my life. Despite working 40-50 hours a week at 2 jobs, my income is insufficient to support myself during the recovery process. The financial burden of my medical transition has prevented me from pursuing my dreams of starting my tattoo apprenticeship and earning my bloodborne pathogens license.

I’m currently funding the first stage of my surgery, which will cost $14,750. This is an exorbitant amount of money, and while I am working to afford these expenses myself, any donations would help me immensely. It would mean everything to me if you could share this in any way you can. Thank you so much for supporting me through this difficult and exciting time in my life and keeping me in your thoughts, I am beyond grateful that this is finally happening and so excited for the rest of my life!

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Gabe