Tessa's Transition Fund

Hello, my name is Tessa. I am a thirty-four year old Transgender Woman.

I have lived as a closeted Trans Woman for the majority of my life.

 

For years I suffered from my gender dysphoria, to the point of almost ending my life, repeatedly.

I grew up in strictly religious home, where the thought of anyone, let alone myself, being Transgender was not just sacrilegious and ‘nasty’, but to my parents it would have meant that I was an abomination. And I was constantly reminded of this through lectures, comments, etc. (They're much more accepting now.)

 

Several times I had tried to come out to those closest to me in my life, only to be met with misunderstanding, harsh punishments, anger, and extreme resentment. I’ve been aware of my gender identity since around the age of three. Staying hidden for so long and pretending to be a male was slowly killing me inside.

 

Around the age of eight I developed a rare aggressive cancer. After several years I won the battle (of which I am extremely grateful), but at the cost of my hair. It grew back thin, with many bald areas. My outward feminine view of myself was crushed.

 

Once puberty hit, all of “the changes” I was experiencing disgusted me. Every new body hair, the way my voice cracked and changed, and the way my facial structure changed… they all felt wrong. My gender dysphoria skyrocketed.

 

Eventually I reached a point where I no longer looked at myself in the mirror. I was disgusted with this grotesque being I had become. Trapped in a body not my own, I felt there was no escape.

I turned to drinking at eighteen, and continued heavily. Trying to drown my feminine self, I only made everything worse. I came to hate myself, I lost every ounce of my self esteem. Everything was wrong.

 

Finally last September, I reached a breaking point.

 

I couldn’t live in that body anymore. It was killing me, and I could finally realize it.

I had spent the year at home. I was out for an injury and quarantined because of the pandemic.

At first I tried to blame my unhappiness on everyone and everything else. In the end though, the one I couldn’t live with was this faux person I had become.

 

In a last ditch effort, I told my Wife my deepest and darkest secret.

The “man” she had married wasn’t a man at all, just a Woman in disguise.

I was expecting the worst, but was met with more compassion and understanding than I could have ever dreamed of.

 

Two weeks later I began taking HRT, ready to fully embrace the changes and surprises that it held in store. Full of revitalized energy, I decided to peruse finally living my life as my true self.

There would be no more pretending, there would be no more mask, there would only be the real me.

 

I’ve been on this journey for a little over a year now. Having lived every day as a Woman, and faced discrimination, threats, and hatred for it… I’m not ready to give up, I won’t give up.

I’ve come so very far since I took my first dose of hormones, but alas, alone they only do so much.

Unfortunately, due to cancer, multiple septum and nose injuries, and testosterone's destructive effects surgeries are my only option to completely transition.

 

The extremely high cost associated with these procedures makes even hair removal unaffordable to me.

My insurance doesn’t cover most procedures, claiming they’re cosmetic in nature, and having lost a good portion of my wages due to my injury, I am asking for help.

 

This isn’t something I do lightly. In fact, I am only posting this at the request of loved ones.

 

The funds would be used for:

 

• Permanent hair removal.

 

• Rhino/Septoplasty.

 

• Hair Implants or a decent wig.

 

• Gender Confirmation Surgery.

 

 

Anything anyone can give would be greatly appreciated. I do not have prices for these procedures listed above. I haven’t gotten quotes, as it is something I can’t even dream of being able to afford.

Thank you for taking the time to ready this, I appreciate it immensely!

 

Sincerely,

 

Tessa~