Hello, my name is Winsall, and I am a 32yo Trans woman.

I have been living out and proud for a little over a year, and I am approaching 9 months on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). In this time I have truly found a new lease on life, and now when asked the question "are you happy?", For the first time in my life I can genuinely answer "yes".

It's not been without it's challenges, of course. The first few months of HRT were a challenge as my body and mind struggled to adjust to its new normal, and there is a certain subset of the population that are fundamentally opposed to my existence. These people ALWAYS let this be known to you.

Overall, however, I have been lucky. I have had the most wonderful support from my family and friends, of whom I couldn't have started this journey without. I have received way more than average breast growth on HRT, meaning I don't feel the need for top surgery, and my face was already quite soft-featured, so I don't feel the need for facial feminisation surgery.

That just leaves me with bottom surgery.

Nobody likes talking about their genitals with strangers, so I'll keep it short - these days, I'm not a particularly sexual being. My need for bottom surgery comes not from a desire to change the way my body relates to others, but a desire to change the way I relate to my own body. It stands as my biggest source of gender dysphoria, as the last link to my life before I found true happiness. I know it will not 'cure' my dysphoria, but it will go such a long way to alleviate it, and allow me to control it better.

But in Australia, it's not cheap. I have been quoted a rough figure - even with gold level private health insurance (which I will have to have in time for the surgery), the surgeon's fees alone are $13,000. Add to that, flights and accommodation to stay in Canberra for 3 weeks post-op, and a 2-3 month recovery time in which I can not work, and it really starts to add up. On the timeline I've been given I'm looking at 2-2.5 years until I go in for surgery, which helps as it gives me time, but it's still a lot of money to find.

That's where you, I hope, come in. Any amount you could spare, be it $2 or $5 or $10, would help me so much. Those that know me know I often have a hard time asking for help, but this is one of those times that I feel I must swallow my pride and fight my anxiety.

Any help you could give would be truly appreciated, from the bottom of my heart.