TransPlant - Fundraiser for Top Surgery
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Whit Lodge-Zaparnick. I am a trans man living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I am scheduled to undergo top surgery in October of 2020 and I am fund-raising to help alleviate some of the financial burden as I have had to schedule my surgery outside of Manitoba. The cost of the surgery is ~ $11,000 USD.
As a trans individual, I do not view top surgery as an elective procedure and feel it is so important that transgender and gender non-binary folks feel confidant in the results of their surgery. Our current health care systems in Canada limit trans patients to choose from surgeons within their own province, regardless of the experience of those surgeons in this field of practice. I have had to look outside of Manitoba for a surgeon I feel comfortable with and will not have my surgery covered by Manitoba Health Care. Choosing to have this surgery outside of Manitoba, and outside of Canada, was not an easy decision as I am taking on greater costs.
I have scheduled my surgery with Dr. Alexes Hazen who runs a practice in New York City. Dr. Alexes Hazen specializes in transgender surgeries, recognizing that gender affirming surgeries can be integral in the transition of transgender and gender non-binary individuals. She has prioritized educating herself and her team on how to best support transgender patients and this has become a main focus of her practice. In spite of the financial costs, I am excited to have my top surgery performed by a surgeon who supports the queer community and has become an expert in this surgical field.
I am fund-raising in hopes of lessening the individual, financial burden I'll be taking on, which will include travel and accommodations in addition to the cost of surgery.
As a trans individual, I do not view top surgery as an elective procedure and feel it is so important that transgender and gender non-binary folks feel confidant in the results of their surgery. Our current health care systems in Canada limit trans patients to choose from surgeons within their own province, regardless of the experience of those surgeons in this field of practice. I have had to look outside of Manitoba for a surgeon I feel comfortable with and will not have my surgery covered by Manitoba Health Care. Choosing to have this surgery outside of Manitoba, and outside of Canada, was not an easy decision as I am taking on greater costs.
I have scheduled my surgery with Dr. Alexes Hazen who runs a practice in New York City. Dr. Alexes Hazen specializes in transgender surgeries, recognizing that gender affirming surgeries can be integral in the transition of transgender and gender non-binary individuals. She has prioritized educating herself and her team on how to best support transgender patients and this has become a main focus of her practice. In spite of the financial costs, I am excited to have my top surgery performed by a surgeon who supports the queer community and has become an expert in this surgical field.
I am fund-raising in hopes of lessening the individual, financial burden I'll be taking on, which will include travel and accommodations in addition to the cost of surgery.
Organizer
Whitney Lodge-Zaparnick
Organizer
Winnipeg, MB
