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Hi there!
My name is Kate and I'm fundraising for my friend Michael's skin removal surgery. As one of his coaches on his weight loss journey and a huge admirer of the positive transformation he has made, I see the healthy, confident, and magical person he is. I can only imagine how much this surgery would build that up and let him burst so much more light into this world.
Even if it's just the price of a cup of coffee, anything you can do to help Michael continue this journey is greatly appreciated from the bottom of our hearts and from those who love and support him to the moon and back!
Here is a little more about that journey from Michael:
On May 18th, 2019, I weighed 410 pounds. Since then, I have lost over 210 pounds and now have come to a crossroads in my recovery: I would like to have surgery to remove all the excess skin I carry as a result of my journey. I am seeking assistance to raise $30,000 to make that happen.
It’s pretty humbling and vulnerable for anyone to reach out in this way. I am doing it anyway because I’m learning to be okay with asking for help and because this matters a lot to me. I appreciate my community, Kate in particular, for showing up for me in such a meaningful way at such a point in my life.
Over two years ago, I ventured on this journey to save my life. Like every other journey, it has been full of battles—some wins, some challenges, but all progress.
Ever since I was a young feminine boy, I remember feeling ‘other’ and out of place—in school, in my community, in my family. Even in my own body, I couldn't just...be. To cope, I turned to food as a comfort, to fix a feeling with a feeling. I strived to rid myself of the hurt I was experiencing and indulge in the instant gratification of "fullness.” That coping mechanism may have helped me survive, but it ultimately was harmful.
On my birthday every year, I blew out the candles wishing to be in a body other than my own. I hated the way I looked and the way I felt. This lasted until I was 30 years old. Enough was enough.
Today, I am no longer willing to carry that painful relationship with food and with my body. I have developed eating habits that are conducive to a long healthy life. I workout regularly—and hard!—in my community I call F45 that has turned out to be a deep well of support. Whereas I used to get winded 50 seconds into a dance routine, today I am a member of Empowered Movement Dance Company where I’m trained to drop it like it’s hot—and keep droppin’ it. And pick it up and drop it again, all in a single song. I have worked extremely hard to be able to look in the mirror and love the feminine brown gay man that I am.
I carry over 20 pounds of skin on my body. While insurance may pay for a "tummy tuck", it does not cover restructuring of stretched skin due to extreme weight loss. That requires a plastic surgeon and, unfortunately, that is expensive. I have seen several doctors and have endured as many consultations. This is where having a support system, and being willing to access it, comes into play. Ultimately, raising $30,000 will help me achieve my surgery and recovery. Any amount that you might be willing to donate would be immensely appreciated. This is the next step in my journey, which, post-surgery, will continue to be a lifelong process of coming into my own and killing it!
Today I held my body really tight and thanked it for everything it does for me. Gratitude allows me to keep what I have, because y’all’s love has been so freely given to me. I also want to say to anyone out there struggling with similar issues that you are not alone. I know I’m no better or worse than anybody. What that means to me is: If I can do this, then you can too.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Piña
Beneficiary