Parker's Top Surgery

UPDATE: Surgery Date Pending
      Parker is excited that he was able to set a surgery date for October 3rd. However, he needs your help!  The surgery will be cancelled if not paid in full by September 3rd. Please do not delay if you have considered helping this happen for him.
     
     Parker is a kind soul that loves the outdoors, gardening, and his dog Moose.  These are the same qualities we have always known him to possess, even when we knew him as Jessica.  As he takes these brave steps to transform his outer shell, the only change in the person we know and love has been that he has gained more confidence, and  has begun to pursue new hobbies and interests that were not available to him as a woman.  In his words, "Now I feel like I'm actually becoming a man, the world sees me for who I am, and it's become clear to me that I am the creator of my own masterpiece."
     
     For as long as he can remember, Parker has felt disconnected to his chest.  Growing up,  he wept to his mother about his discomfort with his body.  Throughout high school, he wore two sports bras each day to compress his breasts. Though he has felt this way all his life, he did not begin to pursue his physical transition until he was 26 years old. He discovered the magic of hormone replacement therapy which has allowed him to exist in a more masculine vessel and feel more optimistic about his future as a man.  


     Although his employers, friends and family all now see him as the man he is, he still has to bind his chest each day which has many repercussions in physical and emotional health. Symptoms of chest binding can include pain in different areas of the body, shortness of breath, bruising and other skin changes. Many people who bind their chests experience severe back pain, over-heating, and itching. It also prevents him from having the freedom to go shirtless at the pool or at the gym, and simply does not align with his otherwise masculine appearance.


     To achieve the comfort that Parker has always desired, there are several expenses that need to be met. He must put down a $500 deposit to secure a date for his surgery, and then must pay the remaining balance within a 30 day period.  He has chosen to have his top surgery done in his hometown of Greenwood.  He then will need to pay for post-op necessities, which will be even more difficult because he will need to take approximately two weeks off work without pay.


     Parker is very fortunate to have the support of his friends and family throughout this journey.  We are eternally grateful to anyone who may help him achieve his dreams through a donation.  If you are unable to donate, even a share of his story will help spread the word to others who may be able to!