Hey y'all!

My name is Temple. I'm a trans person living in Chicago, and I'm asking for a little help.

About a year ago I got a double mastectomy, often referred to as top surgery for trans folks, to alleviate gender dysphoria. I did years of research and waiting and saving and fundraising to go to a highly recommended and reputable surgeon all the way across the country who's been doing gender affirming procedures almost as long as I've been sentient. However, no one is perfect and things don't always go to plan. After all that time and money and pain and healing, I'm left with surgery results that are...aesthetically unappealing to say the very least. I've spent years yearning to be able to take my shirt off at the beach or the pool or at pride, but I'm so unhappy with my results that I don't even want to be shirtless in the privacy of my own home. Even with a shirt on I still feel self conscious and dysphoric. My quality of life has been plummetting over it. I've felt depressed and devastated and hopeless. But I recently had a consultation with my surgeon who is very adamant about revising my surgery and helping me achieve better results - in fact, he is waving all surgeons fees for my revision (IF I get it done within a year...) Basically, that means that the procedures themselves will be of no cost to me. However, he does not have the power to waive the facility fee and anesthesiologist fee. And that's what I need help with! The total out of pocket cost will be around $4,000, plus another $700 - $1000 for travel and lodging. Of course I will try my best to save my own money, but with the time limit, and my source of income fluctuating and being unpredictable, I could use all the help I can get.

This is of course not an emergency and I know many people seeing this have already donated great sums to my original top surgery fund, so I feel self conscious asking for more. But I feel almost as horrible about my chest as I did before, because at least the chest I had before was the one I was born with for free (LOL). But now I've spent thousands of mine and other people's money and am in debt for a chest that I still am so deeply unhappy with.

Please consider donating - truly any little bit helps. And if you can't donate, please please share the link to the fundraiser.

With all my love and appreciation,

Temple <3