Help me I'm poor: The Story of a Trans Man and "The Surgery"

I’m finally getting Phalloplasty!

If you don’t know what that is, it’s all in the name really: phallo = penis plasty = surgery

or in plain english: ya boy is getting a dick.

This surgery is going to save my life and I am so happy to be starting this process

Sadly, it is also crippling expensive and I do not come from generational wealth (shoutout to my alcoholic irish ancestors)

I’d never ask anyone for money without being completely upfront about costs so here’s the breakdown:

Out of pocket cost for surgery alone is $90,000 and anesthetic/hospital fees will be $25,000 to $30,000.

Medicare/health insurance rebates are pathetic. I’ll optimistically get 30k or so back.

The surgery is performed in three stages and the recovery is intense and long. There’s also only one surgeon in Australia who does this and he’s in Brisbane.

This means a tonne of time off of work - 18-20 weeks minimum - and basically moving interstate for a few months. Also, the great state of NSW doesn’t have paid Gender Affirmation Leave.

At the end of it all, I’m still roughly $100,000 out of pocket.

(Oh also i’m having a revision of my top surgery in the middle of all this so chuck another $10,000 or so on top lol)

It’s an insane amount of money and while it's the “goal” of this fundraiser, I don’t expect to crowd fund it all.

Depressed and stressed out by this information? Same!

If you have any cash to spare over the next 18 months or so to help me pay off this debt, I will be endlessly thankful and shower you with love and kisses.