Top Surgery Fundraiser for Molly
Donation protected
I am asking my community, my family, friends and the acquaintances who I may have made an impression on throughout my years, for financial assistance as I embark on the biggest milestone in my life so far.
Today I finally got the call, after many years of waiting, that I have been approved to get top surgery on April 25th.
This may come as a surprise to many, since I know I am very subtle about this part of my identity.
When it comes down to it, the way I identify and the way my body takes up space doesn’t, and has never really, been a good match.
The surgery I am scheduled to get is: "FTN" Top Surgery
“FTN” stands for “Female to Nonbinary or Gender Neutral or Neutrois”, and refers to individuals who were identified as female at birth (by the Obstetrician looking at the formation of genitalia), and whose bodies continued to develop with female characteristics but whose personal identification is definitively separate from the female gender. Nonbinary / gender neutral is an identity used by individuals who feel they fall outside the gender binary and don’t identify as either male or female. Also sometimes called neutrois, this non-binary gender identity falls under the genderqueer, non-binary, gender expansive and/or transgender umbrellas.
The discomfort of being put into a gender category that one feels doesn’t belong to them is called Gender Dysphoria. Being assigned female at birth but identifying outside of the binary can be painful. Some folks may seek surgical options to manipulate specific characteristics of their body that they feel best represents their gender identity.
So here we are, at the forefront of new beginnings, where I can embrace myself in a way I’d never imagine possible. I am writing this post, as a coming out i guess.
And as a means to ask for any and all help that I can get.
With this surgery comes potential out of pocket expenses, as well as the cost of taking off of work for two weeks to heal properly.
With working two jobs I’ve been able to save some money, but I still find myself at a crossroads of worrying about rent and any complication costs. I could postpone the surgery but that would mean going through the process of getting my primary care physician and my therapists approval again, which would take another 6-9 months; and after waiting as long as I have, I’m at the threshold of do or die. Anything you could spare would leave me eternally grateful, and if you can't spare anything, please share with your friends and family that may be able to. No matter what I am proud and happy to say that this is finally happening, and I am excited to bring everyone along with me.
(If there is any money left over from my medical expenses and rent I will donating the remainder to The Greater Boston Food Bank and the local women's homeless shelter)
Today I finally got the call, after many years of waiting, that I have been approved to get top surgery on April 25th.
This may come as a surprise to many, since I know I am very subtle about this part of my identity.
When it comes down to it, the way I identify and the way my body takes up space doesn’t, and has never really, been a good match.
The surgery I am scheduled to get is: "FTN" Top Surgery
“FTN” stands for “Female to Nonbinary or Gender Neutral or Neutrois”, and refers to individuals who were identified as female at birth (by the Obstetrician looking at the formation of genitalia), and whose bodies continued to develop with female characteristics but whose personal identification is definitively separate from the female gender. Nonbinary / gender neutral is an identity used by individuals who feel they fall outside the gender binary and don’t identify as either male or female. Also sometimes called neutrois, this non-binary gender identity falls under the genderqueer, non-binary, gender expansive and/or transgender umbrellas.
The discomfort of being put into a gender category that one feels doesn’t belong to them is called Gender Dysphoria. Being assigned female at birth but identifying outside of the binary can be painful. Some folks may seek surgical options to manipulate specific characteristics of their body that they feel best represents their gender identity.
So here we are, at the forefront of new beginnings, where I can embrace myself in a way I’d never imagine possible. I am writing this post, as a coming out i guess.
And as a means to ask for any and all help that I can get.
With this surgery comes potential out of pocket expenses, as well as the cost of taking off of work for two weeks to heal properly.
With working two jobs I’ve been able to save some money, but I still find myself at a crossroads of worrying about rent and any complication costs. I could postpone the surgery but that would mean going through the process of getting my primary care physician and my therapists approval again, which would take another 6-9 months; and after waiting as long as I have, I’m at the threshold of do or die. Anything you could spare would leave me eternally grateful, and if you can't spare anything, please share with your friends and family that may be able to. No matter what I am proud and happy to say that this is finally happening, and I am excited to bring everyone along with me.
(If there is any money left over from my medical expenses and rent I will donating the remainder to The Greater Boston Food Bank and the local women's homeless shelter)
Organiser
Molly O'Handley
Organiser
Boston, MA