Help me afford top surgery and support my recovery!

Hi! My name is Rose. I am a trans nonbinary person living in Amsterdam, originally from the U.S. (St. Louis, Missouri). I've lived here for almost 5 years. In that time I have been growing into myself with the love and care that comes from planting myself in a community which has been at times supportive, confronting, rewarding, and challenging.

I am scheduled for gender affirming (top) surgery about a month from now in Porto, Portugal, with Dr. Gustavo Coelho. While I originally found out about his practice via reddit reviews of other trans people, I have since heard positive reviews of people here and had a consultation with him that increased my trust and confidence in pursuing this option. As you may or may not know, the waiting lists for gender affirming care in the Netherlands are extremely long, and I hoped I might be able to wait a bit longer so that I could have my surgery covered by health insurance here, but imagining spending another two years waiting feels unbearable. [As for having the surgery in the U.S., I don’t have health insurance there.]

I love to dance and swim and play, and these are all things that require being physically present in my body–something I have felt deeply uncomfortable with for a long time. I spent years numbing myself but decided that I wanted to enter my 30s honestly and bravely–even if that is super scary and may alienate me from some friends or family I grew up with. This is a big decision and it’s not one I take lightly–I have been binding my chest and wearing extra-tight sports bras for years, which aggravate my anxiety and make it hard to breathe. I am excited to be able to breathe deeply, to stand up tall and face the world around me.

My fundraising goal is 8000 euros, which includes the cost of the surgery and associated medical costs, the cost of travelling to and staying in Porto for two weeks to attend post-op check-ups, and the living expenses for the time I will be unable to work. I will be really happy to raise even part of that budget. It would greatly reduce the stress and anxiety I have related to supporting myself in that time, and reduce the stress on the people around me as well!

To my friends and family who have been supportive in any shape over the course of my life (and especially during the bleaker times), thank you!!

I would really appreciate it if you could consider donating to my fundraiser, even the smallest bit helps! <3 and please share it!

Alternatively, if you want to keep me company, to take me on a walk, to offer some words of support, or to share a meal please contact me :)

[If you are not supportive of my decision, I hope you can keep that to yourself or do some research before sharing your insights.]