Help Taylor Get Something Off Their Chest

Hi! My name is Taylor and my pronouns are they/them/theirs. I am an avid encourager of asking for help, but it is admittedly difficult to take my own advice on that. While it's tough to take the leap of faith in asking for help, here I am. I could really use your support to help me get something off my chest. Well, I guess I'm getting some things off my chest.


More specifically, I'm getting top surgery! This is gender affirming surgery that I've been wanting for years. I'm an AFAB nonbinary person that developed breasts very early in life (I'm talking 32C in the second grade). My body does not reflect who I am and it hasn't for most of my life, leading to an overwhelming amount of dysphoria. It's already a dangerous and uncomfortable world for young people who develop breasts early in life. Stack on the pain of feeling like your body is not your own and it becomes a miracle that I've made it to today.


I tried to meet in the middle by getting a breast reduction but the surgeon didn't follow my wishes (in that I asked to be taken down to a B and they took me down to a DDD). I've paid off all of the costs for that surgery and now my savings is completely spent up.  I'm also a person with an array of chronic illnesses and pains, including back pain that was/is exacerbated by this weight on my chest. While I'm grateful to have less weight pulling me down and to be a step closer to the body that is truly mine, it is still so hard to live every day seeing someone in the mirror that doesn't feel like myself. It is devastating to feel so close and still so far to what you want without a plan for getting to that finish line.

So, I'm officially getting top surgery! It's scary because I know not everyone in my life will understand or "agree" with this decision, but I'm confident that this is the best decision for myself. I still can't comprehend that this is going to happen and that I will finally feel like myself!

The catch is the cost. I'm not sure if you've heard, but the American healthcare system leaves a little (or A LOT) to be desired! In total, the cost out of my pocket for all of this is around $8000. I rounded up about $40 on here due to GoFundMe taking a portion of the funds raised. Here's a breakdown of what that cost contains and how it will be spent.

$5,700 - SURGERY COST
$1,270 - MEDICATION AND PHARMACY (DURING AND AFTER PROCEDURE)
$990 - RECOVERY ROOM AND SERVICES

The only way I can get this surgery (within the next 3 years) is if I raise the money I need to pay for these services.

I work full-time as a Program Associate at a nonprofit and I am also a full-time graduate student study Applied Sociology. I'm saving as much money as I can for this, but I also have debts (loans, medical, credit card) that must be paid monthly, leaving me with a very small amount of money left over I can invest in my health. 

It is for this reason that I have started this fundraising – I want to make sure that I can afford to pay for this gender affirming surgery, keeping the promise to my younger self that I will live my life completely and authentically as who I truly am.


Any donation, however small, will go towards this surgery, to ensure that I can receive the medical support I need to be my truest self. I want to raise the money urgently to get  this scheduled by August.

All in all, I am terrified of asking for help in this way, but I know that I'm worthy of help and that I don't have to figure this out alone. I appreciate that not everyone is able to donate! Even if you can't contribute to my surgery fund, please share this fundraising so others might see me, this hopeful nonbinary person, and help me out.

Thank you to everyone who has already sent words of support and encouragement - I am so grateful and thankful for each of you. ❤️