Help Jess Receive Top Surgery

Hello!

My name is Jess. Most of y'all know me, but if you don't, thank you for showing interest in my story.

It's been a long and twisted road to get here, but...I'm getting top surgery September 18th! My gender journey started early 2023, and I spent months wracking myself over what my expression of gender looked like, what masculinity meant to me, and how I was going to sort of reintroduce myself to my own life, whether all at once or slowly. I feel like my approach and my way of interacting with gender is a little untraditional, and therefore still a little confusing to myself and to others, but I KNOW that top surgery has been the right thing for me quite a long time. Too many times looking in the mirror thinking, "Huh, I look really good...except for my chest sticking out," too many days walking around feeling so painfully aware of my chest, too many nights not being able to not think about it. Top surgery has been something I've been wanting for so long now, and I can't believe it's so within reach.

My financial situation over the last couple years has been a doozy. I've been very fortunate to recently be able to pay off my credit card and my car loan. This has lifted a massive amount of stress off my shoulders, but I'm nowhere near being able to afford a major surgery like this. I was hoping my insurance was going to cover more than they are, but alas, here we are. I am also without work at the moment due to my choice to preserve my mental wellbeing (I quit my terrible job), but am actively searching for the right fit to be able to pay these bills...and all the other ones.

I definitely do have a hard time asking for help...but I had a lot of people ask me about a GoFundMe when I mentioned top surgery, so I knew this was the right thing to do. To ask my community once again to help me. To support me in a moment of my life where I know I'm making the right longterm life decisions, but am just unfortunately lacking resources to take care of the logistics.

I really, really mean it when I say that anything helps. Any extra funds I will be receiving will go right into my rent and my bills (insurance, groceries, gas, etc.) as I spend a few weeks in recovery. You know I'll be back on my feet as soon as I can be.

I am writing this from an odd emotional place. I feel both depleted and at peace. I feel at this unique crossroads in my life, where I'm tying off loose ends and setting into stone things that have been important to me for so long. 2024 has been a year of massive change, and I am intensely grateful to those that have supported me this entire time in any capacity. I don't know how to give back all the love I'm feeling, but I will spend all my time trying.

Thank you for reaching all of this, engaging, and supporting. I love y'all.