Ever since I hit puberty, I always hated how my chest looked. I didn't understand why my chest looked different than my other male peers. As a teenager, and continuing into adulthood, I struggled to feel secure in my own body and masculine identity. This has been something I have tried to work through for since the age of 14.

Into my later teen years, I discovered that I had grade 1 gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is an enlargement or swelling of breast tissue in males, creating a more feminine appearing chest. To make the best of the situation, I decided to focus on what I am able to control.  I've tried lowering my body fat and increasing the size of my upper chest. These all helped me discover parts of myself that I admired and could change.

However, in the end, I still have gynecomastia, and the only solution is surgery. The surgery itself only lasts 1-2 hours, but the cost is very expensive. I am 28 years old now, and am ready to stay focused and make this actually happen. I am currently working three jobs (one full-time, two part-time) in order to make this a reality.  

This GoFundMe will serve as both a donation page (money from my others) and a savings tracker (money from myself) for my surgery. I do this so others can see the ongoing effort I am making towards myself. As a token of my appreciation to everyone who donates, I will be personally handwriting 'thank you' letters for the generosity. 



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like a deeper understanding of how this affects my daily life, please read the article "Living with Gynecomastia" found here --> https://www.gynecomastia.org/gynecomastia-101/living-with-gynecomastia/


Also, feel free to read this academic review on the topic. It certainly solidifies everything I've known myself to experience.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6107601/