Help a Trans Soldier: Top Surgery
Donation protected
This is my husband. He's a 22 year old Army National Guard Combat Medic, a certified EMT, and a CNA currently studying for his RN with the end goal of being a Nurse Practitioner. Eli is a child at heart who loves soccer and trying (and failing) to get me to enjoy the gym as much as he does. He is a wonderful fur-dad to our two rescue and therapy cats and five rescue mice and a huge support to me through my own pursuit of a masters in social work and public health while struggling with chronic physical and mental illnesses. He is usually a joyous and carefree soul who is hardworking and has been successful in his achievements so it came as a surprise to me when, just three months before our wedding, Eli succumbed to tears daily whenever he had to look at his body or dress up.
You see, Eli has always been masculine, but when we started dating, and when we got engaged, I knew him by a different name and a different gender. As time passed in our relationship, Eli struggled with accepting who he was because he didn't feel connected to the body he had. He is female-to-male (FTM) transgender. That means when he was born the doctors told his parents he was female based on his anatomy, but he's not. And after fighting so hard to accept his feminine body and experience for the past 20 years of his life, he couldn't take it anymore.
My husband is now on his journey to being himself. He has legally changed his name, transformed his wardrobe, is starting testosterone in a few months, and lives his life just as any other male-identified person does. But he is still brought to tears when he sees himself in the mirror or someone looks at his body and then calls him "ma'am." His prolonged gender dysphoria has caused him to suffer off and on from depression and has lost a sense of comfort or joy from going out.
I would like the happy life-loving person I first met to come back to me. Which is where you can help:
The first of many costs of being FTM is top surgery. For him, the cost of surgery is $4500 and the cost for transportation and lodging (since he has to go out of state) is $500. Insurance doesn't cover these costs and, as we're both financially independent students, we live paycheck-to-paycheck and it's difficult to save up.
Any amount you would be willing to give towards Eli's medical costs would be greatly appreciated as it would be one step towards a lifetime of happiness. If you choose to contribute to his cause, you can message your address through this site and we will send you a personalized thank-you letter.
We are so close to $800! When we reach that mini-goal we will post more updates (including the introduction of prizes!).
If you cannot donate, please share. The more people who see this fundraiser, the more awareness we can spread about one of the many struggles transgender people face and the more likely we are to reach our goal.
Thank you for hearing Eli's story! Sending you love and thanks from our little family to yours :)
You see, Eli has always been masculine, but when we started dating, and when we got engaged, I knew him by a different name and a different gender. As time passed in our relationship, Eli struggled with accepting who he was because he didn't feel connected to the body he had. He is female-to-male (FTM) transgender. That means when he was born the doctors told his parents he was female based on his anatomy, but he's not. And after fighting so hard to accept his feminine body and experience for the past 20 years of his life, he couldn't take it anymore.
My husband is now on his journey to being himself. He has legally changed his name, transformed his wardrobe, is starting testosterone in a few months, and lives his life just as any other male-identified person does. But he is still brought to tears when he sees himself in the mirror or someone looks at his body and then calls him "ma'am." His prolonged gender dysphoria has caused him to suffer off and on from depression and has lost a sense of comfort or joy from going out.
I would like the happy life-loving person I first met to come back to me. Which is where you can help:
The first of many costs of being FTM is top surgery. For him, the cost of surgery is $4500 and the cost for transportation and lodging (since he has to go out of state) is $500. Insurance doesn't cover these costs and, as we're both financially independent students, we live paycheck-to-paycheck and it's difficult to save up.
Any amount you would be willing to give towards Eli's medical costs would be greatly appreciated as it would be one step towards a lifetime of happiness. If you choose to contribute to his cause, you can message your address through this site and we will send you a personalized thank-you letter.
We are so close to $800! When we reach that mini-goal we will post more updates (including the introduction of prizes!).
If you cannot donate, please share. The more people who see this fundraiser, the more awareness we can spread about one of the many struggles transgender people face and the more likely we are to reach our goal.
Thank you for hearing Eli's story! Sending you love and thanks from our little family to yours :)
Organizer
Eli Benjamin-Bevis
Organizer
Northfield, MN
