Help send Seth to Belgrade for "bottom" surgery
It feels pretty vulnerable to talk publicly about something so intimate, even though I know you all support me and probably already understand how important this surgery is for me. But, here we go.
For years, I've wanted to complete my physical "transition" by having "bottom" surgery (aka a "gender affirmation surgery"). Honestly, I doubted that it would ever be a possibility because I just didn't have the support around me, I don't have the money, and it's a major, complicated surgery and, though I'm in good health, it's more complicated the older you get. Now I have the love and support of a partner (Satya) and that has changed everything (or almost everything). So, I have been able to do the research and identify the doctor who can perform all the surgeries I need and has an excellent track record in producing great results. Dr. Miro Djordjevic was one of the first ever to perform metoidiaplasty surgery and has been doing it for decades. He currently works both in his home clinic in Belgrade, Serbia and out of Mt. Sinai hospital in New York. Given the high cost of travel, living and health care in the US, it is far cheaper for me to travel to Belgrade (though still not cheap!), so this is my plan.
For me, one of the biggest advantages in working with Dr. Djordjevic is that he is able to do all the things I need in one session, verses 3-4 stages in the US (each requiring 6-8 weeks of recovery time and months in between each stage). One stage means one round of pain, one period of healing, one period of not being able to exercise, etc.
My surgery date is October 11th!
I know there are folks like you who would really like to support me in my transition, and I'm hoping some can do that financially.
Here's the expense breakdown:
Flights (RT, Medford -> Belgrade): $2,200
Apartment Belgrade (18 nights): $1,500
Surgery: $15,500
Food, expenses: $2,500
TOTAL: $21,700
Do I have 1,000 friends who could donate $20? Or 100 who could donate $200? I'm standing for YES.
Ya know, I thought this top picture was one of the best ever taken of me, at the Art Monastery in Italy in 2012. But even here, I can see something feels fundamentally "off" or missing. The second photo was just a quick selfie one day when I was riding my bike on the trainer in the living room. Nine years adds a bunch more wrinkles, for sure, but I feel so much more present, alive, full. Really me.
Now I just want to complete this process. Wanna be on my team?
