<div>Howdy stranger!
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<div>I'm Ruby, a 32 year old Trans woman from the UK. I'm a Librarian, Community Worker, and mediocre Bass Guitarist, raised in Luton and currently based in Cambridgeshire.
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<div>My wish for a long time was to look in the mirror and see the woman I always wanted to be. Happily, I've taken great steps to achieve this over the past 5 years. With the love and support of friends and lots of overtime shifts, I've managed to self-fund Hormone treatments, hair loss replacement surgery, and I finally love the gal I see in the mirror 
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<div>Seeing is one thing, hearing is another. Unfortunately, going through a male puberty causes your voice to drop into a deeper register, and no amount of Estrogen makes it go back up again. My final goal for my transition is to fund Vocal Feminisation Surgery, which uses surgical techniques to shorten my vocal cords and achieve a feminine frequency/voice.
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<div>Any donation amount, any kind thought, and any sharing of this fundraiser would mean the world to me. Although I'm a self-confessed sappy romantic, I mean it when I say you'll very much hold a special place in my heart ❤️
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<div><strong>Questions / Costs / About Me</strong>
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<div><strong><em>How much does Vocal Feminisation Surgery Cost?</em></strong>
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<div>The London Voice &amp; Swallowing Clinic charges £540 for initial consultation/examination, and between £5,500 to £7,500 for surgery.
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<div>This includes surgical fees, two follow-up appointments, anaesthetic fees, and hospital charges.
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<div><strong><em>Why do you want to change your voice, are you unhappy with it?</em></strong>
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<div>Great question! Strangely, I actually really like my voice, it reflects my bubbly self and my love of laughter. However, despite efforts to 'voice train' myself to achieve a higher pitch, I find that my voice is the one day-to-day thing that prevents people from seeing me for who I really am. I would like the freedom to laugh and joke and small talk with strangers without them thinking something feels 'off' about me. When I'm out late  at night in public, I tend not to speak much for fear of abuse or harassment based on how I sound.
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<div><strong><em>Why are you choosing the LVS Clinic?</em></strong>
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<div>The UK is unfortunately not known for its good standard of care for Trans people, whether that be Hormone Replacement Therapy, or operations like Bottom Surgery (vaginoplasty etc.). We are however, very lucky to have one of the world's best Vocal Feminisation Surgeons based in London. From case studies to peer testimonials, I feel confident that LVS is the best and safest choice for me.
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<div><strong><em>You mentioned you self-funded a hair transplant, why can't you do the same with Vocal Surgery?</em></strong>
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<div>Like many Trans people, I am quite poor and earn much less than the median UK salary, despite being a 'skilled professional' at a world-renowned University. Even so, I'm painfully aware that I'm still in a luckier position than many of my Trans siblings who regularly hover near or below the poverty line.
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<div>I plan to fund travel, accommodation, and as much of this process as I can. Rising costs of living, the strain of commuting costs into Cambridge (one of the UK's most unequal cities), and self-funding all my transition care (NHS waiting times over 10 years), mean it's proving increasingly difficult to afford expensive medical procedures.
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<div>Candidly, to save for hair transplant surgery, I took out a loan and lived very frugally for 3 years, often at the detriment of my health and social life. Rarely seeing friends and skipping meals was the only way I could afford it, but I really hope not to have to go through that again.
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<div><strong><em>What's your story in a nutshell?</em></strong>
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<div>I grew up in Luton for the first 19 years of my life, before seeking a better life and bouncing around the country seeking work. I've lived in Derby, Dorset, Somerset, Scotland, and even on a small island.
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<div>For all its multicultural charms, Luton could be a very intolerant and violent place. Growing up, I knew no other Queer people at school or college, and being LGBT was openly ridiculed, often putting you in physical danger. Despite always feeling like I was growing into the wrong body, I didn't know that Hormone Replacement Therapy existed, or that there were other people like me out there.
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<div>It took a long time to come to terms with my feelings, but with a more loving support network, I have been able to flourish in the past 5 years through my transition.
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<div>I work as a Librarian and have spent most of my life trying to make my communities happier and more welcoming places for everyone. From singing songs &amp; rhymes to children in public libraries, to helping Ukranian refugees with Visa &amp; housing assistance, to offering peer support to younger Trans people in distress and dangerous living situations - to bring joy to others brings joy to me. 
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<div>I hope to continue making the world a kinder place, a little at a time, and I hope that some of the joy I show to the world helps younger Trans people know that they can build a life full of love and community.
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Megan Harrison

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⭐Ruby's Vocal Feminisation Surgery Fund⭐

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⭐Ruby's Vocal Feminisation Surgery Fund⭐

Still £7,602 to go. Help us build momentum.