Help Allie during her surgery recovery!
Donation protected
A Link to my Blog with more of my thoughts and story
Hi there! My name is Alina (Allie to my friends), and I'm a 35 year old Transgender Woman living in Billings, MT.
I came out as Trans and started HRT in October 2017, living as myself full-time since March 2018, and have made everything on important documents legal and official, now I get to look towards the next steps of my journey.
I am at the point now, where I start to look toward the future and the other things that I need in order to feel that my mind,body, and soul are matching, instead of being at odds as they were for a great deal of my life.
*Me at my very first Pride event in August 2018, carrying the Transgender Colors in the Parade*
Unfortunately, because I transitioned in my 30's, I couldn't escape a bad case of Testosterone Poisoning. My dysphoria around my face can be crippling at times, causing a feeling that I am being stared at or drawing unwanted attention to myself when I would prefer to just blend in and feel *normal*. More so than that, the fact that I do feel that I draw attention to myself with my more masculine features is that- as I live in a conservative place with many people who are openly hateful and hostile to Transgender people- I feel that I stand out to those who would willingly and eagerly physically harm me if given the chance. Being easily identifiable as a Trans Person to such people causes me a great deal of anxiety daily, and I do feel that my safety is at risk because of this.
I do not wish to have this surgery for the purpose of being invisible or to be a supermodel as I plan to continue to be out and open about being Transgender and do participate/contribute actively within the Trans Community- but I feel that I would feel far better about my ability to go about life safely, happily, and successfully if that visibility was on my terms. Meaning that I could be out with those I chose to be rather than to the entire world as I am walking down the street and having an extra layer of vulnerability added into the mix.
If I can soften some of my more masculine features to allow me to be better seen as and to present as just a regular woman in every-day life, it would be truly life changing. Almost like Cinderella being able to go to the ball, but NOT having to be back home by Midnight!
I met with Dr. Geoffrey Stiller in Moscow, ID regarding the following procedures: Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS), Breast Augmentation (BA) and Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS). He was a very caring, patient focused man and I felt very comfortable with him and have great faith in his abilities. Helping Trans patients is his passion and I am grateful that he was willing to help me reach my dreams.
The plan is to take a "Less is more" approach and limit FFS to the following procedures:
-Hairline Advance
-Brow Shave
-Brow Lift
-Rhinoplasty
-Lip Lift
-Chin Reduction
I also plan to have a Breast Augmentation Surgery (Silicone implants, under the muscle) as well as Gender Reassignment Surgery performed a week apart.
Surgery has been scheduled for August 21 (GRS/BA) and August 28th (FFS).
The costs of this surgery will be largely covered by my insurance, and they have pre-authorized everything submitted so far. However, my out of pocket and deductible is quite high, in addition to the travel expenses related to it. I also am going to be out of work for about 6 weeks, and while I am stockpiling vacation time- I will not have enough to last and my company is too small to offer short term disability, so I will be relying on money saved before surgery through my own efforts as well as through this campaign!!!
If you have read this far and are able and willing to contribute (anything at all helps!!) , please know that I am eternally grateful and I want to say a sincere "Thank You" in advance. These procedures would be truly life changing for me and would allow me to go about my life with a sense of feeling normal for the first time without feeling like I am trapped in a dark place where my thoughts of my body and soul being mismatched are not constantly gnawing away at me.
It is hard for me to ask for help, and I wish that we lived in a world where it was easier for Trans Women to be able to reach these goals and quiet the voices that tell them that death would be preferable to life in the wrong body, but I absolutely Thank you for reading and a huge hug to any and all who are willing to help one girl reach her dreams. Much love to you all !
Alina Rose
Hi there! My name is Alina (Allie to my friends), and I'm a 35 year old Transgender Woman living in Billings, MT.
I came out as Trans and started HRT in October 2017, living as myself full-time since March 2018, and have made everything on important documents legal and official, now I get to look towards the next steps of my journey.
I am at the point now, where I start to look toward the future and the other things that I need in order to feel that my mind,body, and soul are matching, instead of being at odds as they were for a great deal of my life.
*Me at my very first Pride event in August 2018, carrying the Transgender Colors in the Parade*Unfortunately, because I transitioned in my 30's, I couldn't escape a bad case of Testosterone Poisoning. My dysphoria around my face can be crippling at times, causing a feeling that I am being stared at or drawing unwanted attention to myself when I would prefer to just blend in and feel *normal*. More so than that, the fact that I do feel that I draw attention to myself with my more masculine features is that- as I live in a conservative place with many people who are openly hateful and hostile to Transgender people- I feel that I stand out to those who would willingly and eagerly physically harm me if given the chance. Being easily identifiable as a Trans Person to such people causes me a great deal of anxiety daily, and I do feel that my safety is at risk because of this.
I do not wish to have this surgery for the purpose of being invisible or to be a supermodel as I plan to continue to be out and open about being Transgender and do participate/contribute actively within the Trans Community- but I feel that I would feel far better about my ability to go about life safely, happily, and successfully if that visibility was on my terms. Meaning that I could be out with those I chose to be rather than to the entire world as I am walking down the street and having an extra layer of vulnerability added into the mix.
If I can soften some of my more masculine features to allow me to be better seen as and to present as just a regular woman in every-day life, it would be truly life changing. Almost like Cinderella being able to go to the ball, but NOT having to be back home by Midnight!
I met with Dr. Geoffrey Stiller in Moscow, ID regarding the following procedures: Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS), Breast Augmentation (BA) and Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS). He was a very caring, patient focused man and I felt very comfortable with him and have great faith in his abilities. Helping Trans patients is his passion and I am grateful that he was willing to help me reach my dreams.
The plan is to take a "Less is more" approach and limit FFS to the following procedures:
-Hairline Advance
-Brow Shave
-Brow Lift
-Rhinoplasty
-Lip Lift
-Chin Reduction
I also plan to have a Breast Augmentation Surgery (Silicone implants, under the muscle) as well as Gender Reassignment Surgery performed a week apart.
Surgery has been scheduled for August 21 (GRS/BA) and August 28th (FFS).
The costs of this surgery will be largely covered by my insurance, and they have pre-authorized everything submitted so far. However, my out of pocket and deductible is quite high, in addition to the travel expenses related to it. I also am going to be out of work for about 6 weeks, and while I am stockpiling vacation time- I will not have enough to last and my company is too small to offer short term disability, so I will be relying on money saved before surgery through my own efforts as well as through this campaign!!!
If you have read this far and are able and willing to contribute (anything at all helps!!) , please know that I am eternally grateful and I want to say a sincere "Thank You" in advance. These procedures would be truly life changing for me and would allow me to go about my life with a sense of feeling normal for the first time without feeling like I am trapped in a dark place where my thoughts of my body and soul being mismatched are not constantly gnawing away at me.
It is hard for me to ask for help, and I wish that we lived in a world where it was easier for Trans Women to be able to reach these goals and quiet the voices that tell them that death would be preferable to life in the wrong body, but I absolutely Thank you for reading and a huge hug to any and all who are willing to help one girl reach her dreams. Much love to you all !
Alina Rose
Organizer
Allie Keeler
Organizer
Billings Metropolitan Area, MT
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