Hi! Let Me Introduce Myself

My name is Ivy, I am an educator, historian, graduate student, and transgender woman currently based in Connecticut. I am writing this fundraiser on the day of my 31st birthday. I began transitioning over a decade ago and across the past decade, I've worked a range of jobs, including as a museum educator, a designer, an adjunct lecturer, a sex toy saleswoman, a food service worker, and as a paraeducator with the American public school system. During those same years, I've also been lucky enough to be able to give back to other trans people through volunteer work in by-and-for-trans crisis services, programs for trans youth, and through organizing and fundraising for a number of pride and public history initiatives. All of this work has been deeply meaningful, but like so much care labor in our communities, it has also been shaped by precarity.

Why I Am Fundraising

I am fundraising today for my upcoming facial-feminization surgery. I have wanted this procedure since before I even began transitioning and am beyond excited that it is finally happening. My surgery is scheduled for June 18th, 2026 at Mt. Sinai in New York City. For this procedure I will be undergoing a T-osteotomy on my chin, a mandible shave on my jaw, and a combined rhinoplasty and septoplasty on my nose.

FFS will not only deeply transform the relationship I have to my own body and the dysphoria that often shapes it, but also allow me feel a greater degree of safety and peace in navigating public space. Despite having health insurance for the first time in years, I have been informed that none of the costs of this surgery will be covered by my insurance. As a result, I will be paying for this surgery out of my own savings and through a medical loan. I have already committed what savings I have towards this procedure and any amount you donate will lessen the amount of medical debt I will need to take on.

The Costs

Procedure costs for this surgery will be $15,000

Anesthesia costs and facility costs will be $8,000

Travel and hotel costs will be $800-$1,000

Costs for my partner to take time off work and assist with my healing will be an additional $1,000 in lost income

The total costs of this surgery will be ~25,000

My Fundraising Goal

My immediate goal is to fundraise $3,000-$6,000

Although my dream fundraising goal is to raise $15,000 through this GoFundMe.

Any funds you donate will go towards paying for 1) my surgery deposit, 2) procedure costs, 3) anesthesia and facility costs, and 4) hotel and travel costs between NYC and Connecticut.

If We Exceed the Fundraising Goal

Any unused funds or money raised above my fundraising goal will be donated to Trans Lifeline, a crisis hotline run by and for trans people that has provided free and direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis since 2014. If you are able to make a donation to my campaign, or if we reach my funding goal, please consider also matching your donation with them or another organization that provides direct support to transgender people.

I know how tight money is, especially in this moment of crisis, war, and genocide. If you can't give right now, I would appreciate any support you can give by sharing or boosting my fundraiser. Whatever support you can give at this time, thank you. I'm beyond excited to get this surgery and it means the world to me to receive all of your love and support.

Ivy <3