Maddie’s very cool top surgery fundraiser
Donation protected
Hello!
You might know me from my jollies singing songs in tents and folk clubs, from my work putting on gay little workshops in my city, or maybe you bullied me at school. Who Knows. I’m Maddie, I’m a 25 year old disabled person from Leeds. I like to write songs, play with guineapigs, drink countless coffee’s and make art. I also live with gender-dysphoria, and have for as long as I can remember.
This is a fundraiser to get chest surgery (top surgery) privately. Due to medicalised fat phobia, it’s impossible for someone with my BMI to get top surgery in the united kingdom, despite there being substantial evidence demonstrating that BMI does not heighten the risk of serious complications during this type of surgery, and despite the fact that there are many surgeons operating across Europe (and beyond) that operate on larger bodies (like my own). In a situation where I could get top surgery on the NHS, waiting lists for a first appointment with gender affirming care (a consultation, not a surgery) is 5 plus years. With the current transphobic rhetoric within UK media, and the underfunding in gender care services, I imagine the wait for this would be even longer. Furthermore, with my identity as a neurodiverse person with a history of mental health issues and the fact I don’t like to define my gender, it is likely I would not meet criteria to get this treatment.
I have had a consultation with a wonderful surgeon based in Spain, who I would like to get my treatment with. It will cost me upwards of 8 thousand pounds to cover my travel, treatment, aftercare and accommodation. I have been saving to get this surgery for 5 years, and I have never been able to reach my saving goal. I am hoping to raise 4 thousand pounds, this will help cover the last hurdle of money I’m yet to save as well as my travel and accommodation.
My research tells me that I should give you a long story about my lived experience to help you want to donate. I don’t really know how to do that to be honest, it's so personal. What I’d like to say is that, I know that I need this surgery. For years, I have hoped that eventually, my gender dysphoria will disappear into the shadows, that as my life is surrounded by more joy, the shame and discomfort that comes hand-in-hand with my chest will subside.
I’ve always quietly saved for surgery ‘just incase’, and I’ve never felt able to reach out because of my own shame about asking for help, but I know that I need this help and I can’t just keep hoping things will improve or I will randomly have the financial means to pay it completely independently.
So, if you would like to donate, I would absolutely love for you to do that (so long as it doesn't stretch you financially!) If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out, and if I feel I can answer them, I will.
If your donating less that £5, and feel comfortable to do so, donate directly to my pay pal, so I can avoid the percentage that JustGiving takes. - PayPay.me/maddiemorrismusic
Any donation is super helpful and appreciated, and if you're unable to afford to donate even just sharing with friends is a huge help.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this post.
This is a fundraiser to get chest surgery (top surgery) privately. Due to medicalised fat phobia, it’s impossible for someone with my BMI to get top surgery in the united kingdom, despite there being substantial evidence demonstrating that BMI does not heighten the risk of serious complications during this type of surgery, and despite the fact that there are many surgeons operating across Europe (and beyond) that operate on larger bodies (like my own). In a situation where I could get top surgery on the NHS, waiting lists for a first appointment with gender affirming care (a consultation, not a surgery) is 5 plus years. With the current transphobic rhetoric within UK media, and the underfunding in gender care services, I imagine the wait for this would be even longer. Furthermore, with my identity as a neurodiverse person with a history of mental health issues and the fact I don’t like to define my gender, it is likely I would not meet criteria to get this treatment.
I have had a consultation with a wonderful surgeon based in Spain, who I would like to get my treatment with. It will cost me upwards of 8 thousand pounds to cover my travel, treatment, aftercare and accommodation. I have been saving to get this surgery for 5 years, and I have never been able to reach my saving goal. I am hoping to raise 4 thousand pounds, this will help cover the last hurdle of money I’m yet to save as well as my travel and accommodation.
My research tells me that I should give you a long story about my lived experience to help you want to donate. I don’t really know how to do that to be honest, it's so personal. What I’d like to say is that, I know that I need this surgery. For years, I have hoped that eventually, my gender dysphoria will disappear into the shadows, that as my life is surrounded by more joy, the shame and discomfort that comes hand-in-hand with my chest will subside.
I’ve always quietly saved for surgery ‘just incase’, and I’ve never felt able to reach out because of my own shame about asking for help, but I know that I need this help and I can’t just keep hoping things will improve or I will randomly have the financial means to pay it completely independently.
So, if you would like to donate, I would absolutely love for you to do that (so long as it doesn't stretch you financially!) If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out, and if I feel I can answer them, I will.
If your donating less that £5, and feel comfortable to do so, donate directly to my pay pal, so I can avoid the percentage that JustGiving takes. - PayPay.me/maddiemorrismusic
Any donation is super helpful and appreciated, and if you're unable to afford to donate even just sharing with friends is a huge help.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this post.
Organizer
Maddie Morris
Organizer