For most of my life, I’ve worked hard to build a life that looks good from the outside. I have a career that brings me a modest amount of joy, a home, a car that runs well, and a child who is happy, healthy, and kind.

I pay my bills, show up for friends and family when they need me, stay engaged in my community, and do the everyday things responsible adults do.

But there is also a very real part of my life that people don’t see — the constant effort it takes to live in a body that doesn’t feel like home.

I am a transgender man, and I am raising money for top surgery.

I’ve been relying on chest binders just to move through the world in a way that feels somewhat comfortable. Binding helps, but it comes with a physical and emotional cost. It can make breathing harder, limit movement, and serves as a constant reminder that something about my body doesn’t match who I am.

Top surgery wouldn’t solve every problem in life, but it would remove one of the biggest daily barriers I live with. It would allow me to wake up, get dressed, and move through the world without the constant strain of physically hiding part of myself.

Like many people, I work hard and cover my normal responsibilities, but a surgery like this is simply more than I can afford on my own.

I do have health insurance, but the surgeons available to me in Maine are not able to perform this procedure in a way that meets my medical needs. Because of that, I have to travel out of state, which means insurance covers less of the procedure and none of the travel costs.

If you’re able to contribute, even a small amount truly helps. And if donating isn’t possible, sharing this fundraiser can make a real difference too.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for helping me finally feel at home in my own body.