Hello! My name is River and I’m raising funds to help me afford top surgery.

I’ve known that my gender identity and sex assigned at birth were different since I was 12, but I’ve never had the right language and opportunity to define my gender until the last five years. There were several factors that helped me form my identity as transmasculine- going to an all female college, living with an abnormally large chest on a very small frame, and a desire to finally feel comfortable in my skin, to name a few- and I finally feel ready to take the steps necessary to live an authentic life.

I am seeking top surgery before beginning hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because of my particular body type and my specific transition goals. Unfortunately, choosing to begin my transition this way limits my surgery options in the state of Tennessee, which is why I am choosing to go to Dr. Eric Halvorson in Asheville, NC. I am confident in my choice, but my insurance is not, and I need to raise around $11,000 by November 19th to cover both the cost of surgery and the costs associated with recovery. If I am able to come up with the money in time, my surgery date will be December 15th!

I am hoping that this GoFundMe campaign will help me raise at least half of the funds I need so that I can pay the rest out of pocket. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and to donate or share. It’s a difficult time to be trans in the US, especially in the South, but pursuing my transition is worth it no matter what the political climate looks like. That said, your support during this time means the world, and I look forward to sharing updates with you when I have them!