Kairen's Top Surgery Fund
Donation protected
Hey y'all! My name is Kairen, I'm a northern transplant currently residing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with my amazing fiance and 2 adorable fur babies. If I'm not at work, school, or out exploring in nature, I'm likely at home doing art, watching stand-ups, or listening to podcasts.
About a year after moving here I started testosterone hormone replacement therapy, and I'm now 1 year and 3 months on HRT. I've spent most of that time wearing a chest binder- while swimming, working, at school, etc. I've always described it as waking up and putting on a layer of skin just to exist. While transitioning has been one of the most rewarding experiences, there are parts of it that just feel exhausting. This is why top surgery is the next step for me, so I can truly feel at home in this body I've been so graciously granted.
I currently pay for all parts of my transition out of pocket. This includes testosterone, needles, doctors visits, etc. I don't have any medical insurance, so I have taken out a CareCredit card to finance part of my surgery, but still need to raise the funds for the remaining balance, travel/post care costs, and time off work for both myself and my fiance who will be taking care of me post-op. In the end, surgery/post op costs will total somewhere in the $10-12,000 ballpark, which is why I am trying to raise $5000. The less I will need to finance, the better. I scheduled my top surgery consultation for August 7th, and I am hoping to get surgery in January in hopes to recover by the time we get married in May. So, as they say, time is of the essence.
Since spreading awareness and equality for the trans community is so important to me, I decided to make a small series of art to reflect this step in my journey, and maybe get the conversation going anywhere that art may find itself! I started with a series of pronoun stickers, and ended up with an idea I thought was hilarious. Considering I was about to drop $10-12,000 on designer nipples I figured why not do a sort of visual ode to nipples-nipple flowers, nipple prints, nipple everything! This art is meant to provoke conversation in a funny way, but will hopefully lead to something more serious. Many people don't know how to ask about pronouns, or really what that means. Many people don't understand just how expensive gender confirming surgeries can be, especially for those without insurance. Let's get the conversation going on a micro level, to change things in the macro level!!
I'm so grateful for not only this journey, but for anyone who is kind enough to help me along. I really don't know a way to say thank you that would suffice any help I would receive for this. I give thanks from the bottom of my heart for every penny that is donated.
(If you'd like to request a sticker or print, please email [email redacted] with your choice of either 2 stickers, or a sticker and a print with your name and address <3)
About a year after moving here I started testosterone hormone replacement therapy, and I'm now 1 year and 3 months on HRT. I've spent most of that time wearing a chest binder- while swimming, working, at school, etc. I've always described it as waking up and putting on a layer of skin just to exist. While transitioning has been one of the most rewarding experiences, there are parts of it that just feel exhausting. This is why top surgery is the next step for me, so I can truly feel at home in this body I've been so graciously granted.
I currently pay for all parts of my transition out of pocket. This includes testosterone, needles, doctors visits, etc. I don't have any medical insurance, so I have taken out a CareCredit card to finance part of my surgery, but still need to raise the funds for the remaining balance, travel/post care costs, and time off work for both myself and my fiance who will be taking care of me post-op. In the end, surgery/post op costs will total somewhere in the $10-12,000 ballpark, which is why I am trying to raise $5000. The less I will need to finance, the better. I scheduled my top surgery consultation for August 7th, and I am hoping to get surgery in January in hopes to recover by the time we get married in May. So, as they say, time is of the essence.
Since spreading awareness and equality for the trans community is so important to me, I decided to make a small series of art to reflect this step in my journey, and maybe get the conversation going anywhere that art may find itself! I started with a series of pronoun stickers, and ended up with an idea I thought was hilarious. Considering I was about to drop $10-12,000 on designer nipples I figured why not do a sort of visual ode to nipples-nipple flowers, nipple prints, nipple everything! This art is meant to provoke conversation in a funny way, but will hopefully lead to something more serious. Many people don't know how to ask about pronouns, or really what that means. Many people don't understand just how expensive gender confirming surgeries can be, especially for those without insurance. Let's get the conversation going on a micro level, to change things in the macro level!!
I'm so grateful for not only this journey, but for anyone who is kind enough to help me along. I really don't know a way to say thank you that would suffice any help I would receive for this. I give thanks from the bottom of my heart for every penny that is donated.
(If you'd like to request a sticker or print, please email [email redacted] with your choice of either 2 stickers, or a sticker and a print with your name and address <3)
Organizer
Kairen Pax Petry
Organizer
Chapel Hill, NC