Help Jade Live Her LIFE (FFS surgery)

Hi

I’m Jade Guanaro Kuriki-Olivo • I’m a multiracial trans woman and artist doing what I can to stay afloat in this world • When I first started to transition I told myself I would never get gender affirming surgery • I had a brain tumor removed in my 20s • the fear of being under the knife again • left me telling myself NEVER go under the knife unless it absolutely necessary • I’m now 7 years on hormone replacement therapy and IT’S F****** NECESSARY • as trans people we don’t always know where the journey will take us • I’ll be honest I’m in a lot of pain over this • it keeps me from doing so many things • I had scheduled my facial feminization surgery and had dates set • when all of a sudden my insurance wasn’t accepted by the hospital I had planned to have surgery at • I’m in a weird place where I make alittle too much $ to have the insurance that would cover these procedures (even though it’s not enough to live off of) • I’m also broke enough that I could never imagine getting these procedures done on my own • I kept hoping all of sudden to start making the money I should as an artist • but actually when you’re a trans woman of color in the art world • who knows when that day will come • I watch as my contemporaries make the income from their work I could only dream of •

I have issues with asking for anything • but the suffering I do behind closed doors doesn’t compare to the uncomfortable feeling I have posting this • putting my heart out there • I want to feel comfortable in my skin • I want to feel free(er) • I want to step outside my door for no reason • not because I HAVE to do a task and that’s why I’m out the door • I spend endless on makeup because I won’t leave my house without it • I’m putting my heart out there • I don’t have an exact estimate for my surgery but my surgeon mentioned around 40,000 • so that’s what I’m attempting to raise • I’ve spent most of my transition raising money for my community and it feels strange to ask this for myself • you know apart of me was like • fuck society • I told myself you don’t need surgery because that would be a decision based off trying to fit into society • I didn’t want such a huge decision to be based off the painful reactions and situations I had out in the world • I didn’t want a decision I make about how I look based on others • but now I realize it’s impossible for me not to make a decision based off the trauma I’ve had as a trans women in public • Most of this choice to have facial feminization surgery is because I deeply want it for myself • but I also recognize if this was truly a world absolutely free of transphobia I actually don’t know what my surgery decision would be • maybe it wouldn’t matter • but in this world at this time in history • it’s a necessity to me • I don’t know if I would be alive today if I didn’t come out as a trans woman • please help me live the life I know I can live if I get the help I know I need • as tears roll down my face • please support however you feel possible • if you’ve ever loved me please share please repost please donate

With all my heart and all my love

Jade

go fund me photo by Lexi Webster