Isaak’s top surgery fundraiser

Hi! I’m Isaak Ezra Montiel. I’m a 19 year old trans man in need of help. I’ve struggled with gender dysphoria for as long as I can remember, but I didn’t know what it meant until I was 16. I had these feelings of being born in the wrong body, terrified to shop in the women’s sections, embarrassed to buy women sanitary essentials and I always feared using public restrooms. Those feelings haunt me and take control of my life. I first started identifying as a trans man in August of 2019. I had the most supportive friends around me who would always make me feel validated. In October 2019 I got my first binder. When I was 16 I’d wear it 5 days a week to school. I lived an hour away from my school and I had a zero period, so I’d wear it at least 10-12 hours a day. I’m aware of how unsafe that is, but when I don’t wear it I feel distressed. Nowadays, I work and go to school. I wear my binder almost every single day. Even on my days off I wear it because I feel extremely dysphoric. I have a total of 3 binders that I want to give away when I get my top surgery. I’ve been on testosterone since 8/2/2021 and it has really helped with my gender dysphoria, but I’m still distressed about my chest. I live in fear about people seeing my binder. When I was 17 waiting at a bus stop after work, a man saw my binder and began to harass me. He called me a “sexy lady” and kept trying to convince me to go to his house to drink and do drugs with him and his friends. When I got on the bus, the man walked in right behind me and told the bus driver “I’m with her”, he did not have a bus fare and was kicked off the bus. He proceeded to chase the bus and bang on the windows saying “let me in”. Not only do I have to feel distressed in my own body, but I also have to make sure that my binder isn’t visible so I don’t get harassed or assaulted. The times I bind are beyond painful. It’s hard to breathe when I walk to the bus stop, my ribs start killing me and my back always hurts. Don’t even get me started with this summer heat. Binding really takes a toll on my body. I had my first surgery consultation in April 2022. It’s August 2022 now and I finally received a surgery date for November 21, 2022! This is something I’ve been wishing for for so long, and I’m hoping that you can help me on my journey. My insurance almost covers all of it, I have to pay $2200 out of pocket, and the rest would help cover post op essentials. I will be doing my surgery at Kryger Institute of surgery in Thousand Oaks with Dr Gil and Zol Kryger. Thank you for reading this, anythings helps and please share. Have a great day!

 • what is binding?
Chest binding is a way for many trans men to curb dysphoria, and is a fairly common step in FTM transition. “Binding” refers to flattening breast tissue to create a male-appearing chest using a variety of materials and methods.

 • negative effects of binding:
Binding for extended periods of time can lead to rashes or yeast infections under the breasts, back or chest pain, shortness of breath, overheating, or fractured ribs.

 • what is gender dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria is the feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics.

 • this surgery is not a want but a need! why? Gender dysphoria is a term that describes a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity. This sense of unease or dissatisfaction may be so intense it can lead to depression and anxiety and have a harmful impact on daily life.

 anything helps! even a share! sending love!