Hi, my name is Lacie Warden and my husband, Mikey, has finally been approved for top surgery and is scheduled for February 20, 2024!

[insert excited cheers, happy tears, and dancing around to George Michael's "Faith" for as long as you need]

For a glimpse into why we are so excited for this surgery, below is an excerpt from a letter our health insurance required that he write, defending his decision to pursue gender-affirming surgery (his 5th attempt to secure treatment over 9 years):

Living in a body that does not reflect my self for 38 years has been extremely difficult. I've been wearing chest binders since 2006. Chest binders are tight, and disruptive to the natural movement of my upper body and I have struggled with constant neck and shoulder discomfort for nearly 20 years every moment while dressed. The binders leave behind deep red, painful grooves in my skin daily that have turned into scars over the years. My overhead reach is limited by this as well as my ability to exercise effectively without injury. I cannot safely leave my home for even a moment without chest binders.

I am desperate to take a deep breath while dressed someday.

I look forward to freedom of movement and the chance to run without several pounds of flesh bouncing and interrupting the rhythm of my body. I am thrilled at the idea of feeling comfortable in my own skin while out in the world. I am excited to be able to get up, get dressed, and walk out the door for any reason, without the anxiety of whether my binder is shaping me in a way that I will remain safe or comfortable enough to withstand the days needs. I am overjoyed at the future I see in which I can perform the full duties of my job in a ceramics studio, in which my chest doesn't cause me to twist when bending, or when I'll be able to carry heavy things in front of me comfortably.

While we are abundantly excited for the long-term benefits this procedure will procure, we are acutely aware that the short-term obstacles we're about to face will be challenging. Mikey and I will need to take time off of work for the procedure and Mikey's hours will be greatly impacted by his inability to perform any physical tasks while recovering. With a cross-country move from Ohio to the safety of Washington in 2022, the loss of our beloved Thunderpaws last February, and Friday's ACL surgery in November, we are decidedly less than financially stable at the moment. The prospect of halving Mikey's income for 6-8 weeks has us rather nervous.

While insurance is covering the procedure (as they are required to by state law, despite their multiple attempts at denial), the estimated out-of-pocket cost I found on the website was about $2,500. Additional anticipated costs include the hotel stay before and after surgery (our surgeon is in Tacoma,) rent assistance due to decreased income, dog walkers for when I'm at work and Mikey's home alone, food/grocery delivery services - and Seattle is an area where these all come at a premium. We managed through Mikey's heart surgery in 2021 pretty well, we just don't have the in-person support to alleviate some of these expenses like we did in Ohio. (Mikey says you should all move to Seattle, its not even raining today!)

Every contribution or share is humbly appreciated, as we know money is tight for everyone these days. For those of you who have supported Mikey throughout the years, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us make it here. For anyone who may not know us personally, thank you for reading and holding space for Mikey's story.

We'll keep you updated!

Trans Rights are Human Rights.