Becoming the Me I’ve Always Known

Hi, I’m Collie. I’ve gone back and forth on whether to make this, because asking for help is hard — but the truth is, I can’t do this on my own. I’m raising money to help with the costs of my Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) — something that means more to me than I can really explain in words.

Being trans has meant constantly fighting to be seen for who I am. It’s waking up every day and doing your best to live authentically, even when the world doesn’t always understand or accept it. It’s carrying yourself with love and strength, while quietly feeling the ache of not being recognized - even by your own reflection.

When I look in the mirror, I know who I am. I can feel her. But what I see staring back doesn’t always line up. It’s like being trapped behind glass - knowing exactly who you are, but the world keeps seeing the glass instead of you. FFS is a way to finally bring that inner and outer self together. It’s not about perfection or beauty, it’s about peace. It’s about safety. It’s about finally feeling like home in my own body.

This surgery is expensive — between the operation, travel, recovery, and time off work, it’s a lot to carry. Most of it isn’t covered by insurance, even though it’s truly life-changing and necessary for so many of us. I’m asking for help because this step means everything.

Every donation, every message, every share — it all helps me move closer to being able to look in the mirror and see myself for the first time. I just want to feel at ease in my own skin, to walk through the world without fear, and to be recognized as who I’ve always been inside.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping me make that possible.

— Collie June