Help Jade Live Her LIFE (top 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’s absolutely necessary • I’m now going on 8 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 • my body dysphoria is getting to a point • where affirming myself is the only way to move forward • pursing the next chapters of my medical transition is all I can think about •  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 have issues with asking for anything • but the dysphoria • I have behind closed doors doesn’t compare • to the uncomfortable feeling I have posting this • I want to feel (more) comfortable in my skin • I want to feel free(er) • I’m putting my heart out there • I don’t have an exact estimate for my surgery but I’m trying to raise 15,000 including anesthesia • surgeons fee • OR fee • rent • bills • recovery • and making up for the opportunities I can’t take during recovery • 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’ve had out in the world • I didn’t want a decision I make about how I look based on others • but now I realize • a lot of factors including trauma around the body • go into making these decisions • Most of this choice 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 surgical decisions 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 medically transition 

With all my heart and all my love

Jade