Help Manlychan Get Surgery
Donation protected
Hey everyone; thank you for taking a moment of your time to read about a situation that's been plaguing me for a while now. It's taking quite a bit to open up and muster the courage to speak up, so please bear with me.
This is an extremely personal issue, and it's taken a very long time to be open about it again publicly. I hope you can understand that talking about transgender issues in regards to myself has made me very uncomfortable because over the past few years I've gotten accustomed to people assuming I'm a cis man. However, being trans is not something I or anyone else should be ashamed of or feel as though it needs to be hidden for them to be valid. So, with that being said, I'm going to be open about my own issues. Unfortunately, because it's taken me so long to feel comfortable enough to speak up, my health is beginning to decline in the worst of ways, so I've decided to reach out and ask for help.
I've been attempting to have a mastectomy going on 5 years now. A mastectomy (known as top surgery) is a surgical procedure meant to remove fatty breast tissue while retaining the nipples to ensure a flatter, more masculine appearance. It's a common procedure done for people transitioning from female to male.
I have continuously gotten turned down due to issues with my insurance, as well as my income being too low for me to qualify for a loan. Back in 2015, I started a GoFundMe for the same purpose and raised $600 out of the $10k+ consultation price I was quoted at that time for this procedure. Unfortunately the money I was able to scrape together eventually went towards living expenses since I was unemployed between then and 2016.
The good news is that after months of searching and getting repeatedly turned down, I was finally able to find a place cheaper than the original quote I was given. However, my Aetna insurance plan outright doesn't cover the gender reassignment procedure I require for my physical and mental wellbeing. I'm covered by my parents' insurance until I turn 26 next year, which means I won't be able to afford my own health insurance following my birthday. I was hoping their insurance would cover my surgery before I was dropped from their plan, but it will not.
The new quote of $6,500 I was given during my most recent consultation covers everything; it confirms the surgery date and covers anesthesia, blood work, the procedure itself, and all other fees included.
At this point, due to this procedure being postponed for so long due to a lack of funds, I need a mastectomy not only because I will finally be comfortable in my skin, but also because I've been having a lot of health issues from wearing a chest binder every single day since 2011. I deal regularly with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) as well as damaged ribs from so many years of binding. It has been a living nightmare riding my bike to work in the 100+ degree Texas heat while wearing a binder that restricts my breathing and having so many other issues happening with my chest.
I'm at the point now where I'm continuously in pain and it's a struggle being able to do anything, including trying to get to work just to make ends meet. Money is tight, the situation's only getting worse, and I feel incredibly hopeless and fear that I won't be able to get the help I need for this procedure.
I also plan to move in January 2019, so I have roughly 3 months until I'll be too far away to get the surgery done at this location. The American Institute for Plastic Surgery is very trans-friendly and has the lowest, most affordable price I've been able to find within reasonable traveling distance. I live close enough that I can recover from home and be able to return for check ups. I want to have this done as soon as possible because I won't be able to do heavy lifting after the surgery and I want time to heal before the move.
Sharing this GoFundMe would be the best way to help me out if you're personally unable to donate towards this absolutely mandatory surgery. But if you could donate just $5, it would help tremendously! Thank you so much for your time!
This is an extremely personal issue, and it's taken a very long time to be open about it again publicly. I hope you can understand that talking about transgender issues in regards to myself has made me very uncomfortable because over the past few years I've gotten accustomed to people assuming I'm a cis man. However, being trans is not something I or anyone else should be ashamed of or feel as though it needs to be hidden for them to be valid. So, with that being said, I'm going to be open about my own issues. Unfortunately, because it's taken me so long to feel comfortable enough to speak up, my health is beginning to decline in the worst of ways, so I've decided to reach out and ask for help.
I've been attempting to have a mastectomy going on 5 years now. A mastectomy (known as top surgery) is a surgical procedure meant to remove fatty breast tissue while retaining the nipples to ensure a flatter, more masculine appearance. It's a common procedure done for people transitioning from female to male.
I have continuously gotten turned down due to issues with my insurance, as well as my income being too low for me to qualify for a loan. Back in 2015, I started a GoFundMe for the same purpose and raised $600 out of the $10k+ consultation price I was quoted at that time for this procedure. Unfortunately the money I was able to scrape together eventually went towards living expenses since I was unemployed between then and 2016.
The good news is that after months of searching and getting repeatedly turned down, I was finally able to find a place cheaper than the original quote I was given. However, my Aetna insurance plan outright doesn't cover the gender reassignment procedure I require for my physical and mental wellbeing. I'm covered by my parents' insurance until I turn 26 next year, which means I won't be able to afford my own health insurance following my birthday. I was hoping their insurance would cover my surgery before I was dropped from their plan, but it will not.
The new quote of $6,500 I was given during my most recent consultation covers everything; it confirms the surgery date and covers anesthesia, blood work, the procedure itself, and all other fees included.
At this point, due to this procedure being postponed for so long due to a lack of funds, I need a mastectomy not only because I will finally be comfortable in my skin, but also because I've been having a lot of health issues from wearing a chest binder every single day since 2011. I deal regularly with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) as well as damaged ribs from so many years of binding. It has been a living nightmare riding my bike to work in the 100+ degree Texas heat while wearing a binder that restricts my breathing and having so many other issues happening with my chest.
I'm at the point now where I'm continuously in pain and it's a struggle being able to do anything, including trying to get to work just to make ends meet. Money is tight, the situation's only getting worse, and I feel incredibly hopeless and fear that I won't be able to get the help I need for this procedure.
I also plan to move in January 2019, so I have roughly 3 months until I'll be too far away to get the surgery done at this location. The American Institute for Plastic Surgery is very trans-friendly and has the lowest, most affordable price I've been able to find within reasonable traveling distance. I live close enough that I can recover from home and be able to return for check ups. I want to have this done as soon as possible because I won't be able to do heavy lifting after the surgery and I want time to heal before the move.
Sharing this GoFundMe would be the best way to help me out if you're personally unable to donate towards this absolutely mandatory surgery. But if you could donate just $5, it would help tremendously! Thank you so much for your time!
Organizer
Michael Corley
Organizer
Fort Worth, TX
