My name is Reese, I’m 24 years old and I’ve realized my trans identity for about a decade now.

I began my medical transition nearly 2 years ago. I would like to start the next step in that- I want top surgery. What’s difficult about this is the finances.

I currently lack savings- I’ve moved twice within the past 2 years without any financial coverage, and I’m still paying off my medical debt from past urgent care visits without health insurance.

Setting aside money from budgeting and extra work hours is a given, but only goes so far when it comes to thousands of dollars for recovery, which is on top of what may be a heaping medical bill in a greater caliber.

What I’m asking for is worth 2 months of paychecks to get through recovery without work, as well as a small portion tacked on to account for any GoFundMe transaction fees. This would go towards rent, electric, groceries, bus fare, and any miscellaneous bills/utility purchases.

My current job is physical labor involving constant repetitive arm motions and heavy lifting. Doing that is precisely what my recovery procedure advises against, and failing to do so could cause major complications.

I haven’t started searching for a surgeon, or figuring out a date. I have yet to find out if a free/affordable surgery is attainable for me.

I’m hoping to time myself right and fulfill my deductible to garner as minimal debt as possible, but my deductible is over 6k so I don’t know if I can rely on that. I hope recovery funds will be my only worry in the long term.

Top surgery is a tedious process that may take a long while for me to finally achieve. But I want to atleast get started and know that I have a safety net to keep food on the table and avoid missing rent when physically unable to work for that myself.

All I’ve wanted is to feel at home in my body. It’s endlessly intimidating, but I want to commit to this.

Any amount towards this cause goes a long way and even just sharing this fundraiser would mean the world to me. Thank you to anyone who’s taken the time to read.