Kator’s Top Surgery Fund

**Over the coming 18 months I’ll be selling most of my valuables to fund this so if there’s anything you’re interested in, or anything I can offer you commission-wise through my art page please hit up @gladiaturd. Failing that, this is a space where IF friends feel able and willing, they can add support**

Hey mates, this sucks. It feels so so wrong asking for money, but I’ve hit a wall. I’ve been given a 30k quote for my top surgery due to health complications (not including surgeon consultations, recovery, checkups, stitch removal etc). It’s time for me to bite the bullet.

It’s been an over 10 year medical marathon, a long long story and…after trying to do everything on my own I have exhausted my options in funding. I got my green light through the gender clinic in ‘22 and was able to see the surgeon… but he reckons multiple disabilities, illnesses, previous skin graft and excessive scar tissue could put me at a much higher risk of sepsis, revision surgery or tissue rejection. To lower the cost I’ve opted for a plain mastectomy instead of chest reconstruction. I am single, on a small disability pension and do not have family support. I pay all the normal living costs (rent, bills, groceries, medications, medical appointments) and will have to consider doing so while recovering. I will hopefully have some assistance in showering and feeding myself post surgery as I have a NDIS carer as over the last 12 months my functioning has declined due to mystery headaches/migraine (which I’ve just booked a $400 appointment with a private neurologist for because I’m in a lot of pain).

This has been a very long time coming and I’ve had to be realistic with myself that generating 30k completely

on my own and then caring for myself post surgery is not going to happen even though I am very stubborn and very resourceful (says every trans person ever in existence). Unfortunately there’s no dodgy diy solution from Bunnings, there’s no shortcut. The number is huge, so I’m hoping maybe if I can chip away at half with this fundraiser there’ll be light at the end of the tunnel.

If you are unable to donate or this fund doesn’t aline with your values I completely completely totally understand (costs of living…multiple ongoing genocides to name a few…)

I can’t put into words how grateful I am for anyone’s moral or financial support- only that I’m incredibly uncomfortable asking for it and that I’ll pay it forward in any way I can. But in order to do that I have to be around, grow up and show up mentally and physically for you all

in the best way possible- and that isn’t going to happen in my current state.

If nothing I hope this encourages other people who need a hand to reach out and advocate for themselves- it’s been other visible trans people that have given me to hope to even do this. And that I’m eternally grateful for.

Kator