Elliot's Top Surgery Fund :)
Donation protected
Hi everyone! My name is Elliot and I’m a nonbinary trans guy (they/them).
For as long as I can remember, I have felt disconnected from myself and the way others perceived me, but it has only been within the past two years that I have found the language to describe my experience. I came out to my family as trans and started testosterone this summer, and now I am preparing to take a huge step in my transition by getting top surgery.
My chest has been a source of incredible discomfort since I was a preteen. As a young teenager I even approached my doctor about it, timidly asking whether you had to be sick to get a double mastectomy, which I had just recently learned about. I was told that there was absolutely no reason to undergo this procedure unless it were medically necessary, which, the doctor added, it obviously was not for me.
Well, no offense to that doctor, but I beg to differ. Top surgery is a medically necessary part of my transition, and an essential step toward my eventual happiness and comfort with my body. As it currently stands, I can’t leave my bedroom without putting on a binder (a compression garment that flattens my chest), and I often wear one even when alone because I can’t stand to be without it. Although physically uncomfortable, binding helps relieve the overwhelming sense of wrongness and mental discomfort associated with existing in a female-assigned body while identifying as a nonbinary man. However, the binder itself is also a source of anxiety – binding can cause serious damage to my lungs and ribs if used improperly or worn too long. Over time, these problems may arise even if I am binding safely.
Each step that I have taken so far in my transition, including choosing a name, coming out, and starting testosterone, has eased my depression and anxiety and helped me feel more comfortable with who I am. With your support, I can continue progressing toward a future where I am content with my transitioned body, and at peace because my external appearance finally fits who I know myself to be internally.
I am on a waiting list for a surgeon in San Francisco, and the tentative plan is to have surgery this coming summer (2021). I have saved a portion of the estimated cost and am applying for all the surgery grants I find, but I can’t make this dream a reality without your help.
Thank you so much for reading this. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing a link to this fundraiser instead. I am incredibly appreciative of your help.
Love,
Elliot
For as long as I can remember, I have felt disconnected from myself and the way others perceived me, but it has only been within the past two years that I have found the language to describe my experience. I came out to my family as trans and started testosterone this summer, and now I am preparing to take a huge step in my transition by getting top surgery.
My chest has been a source of incredible discomfort since I was a preteen. As a young teenager I even approached my doctor about it, timidly asking whether you had to be sick to get a double mastectomy, which I had just recently learned about. I was told that there was absolutely no reason to undergo this procedure unless it were medically necessary, which, the doctor added, it obviously was not for me.
Well, no offense to that doctor, but I beg to differ. Top surgery is a medically necessary part of my transition, and an essential step toward my eventual happiness and comfort with my body. As it currently stands, I can’t leave my bedroom without putting on a binder (a compression garment that flattens my chest), and I often wear one even when alone because I can’t stand to be without it. Although physically uncomfortable, binding helps relieve the overwhelming sense of wrongness and mental discomfort associated with existing in a female-assigned body while identifying as a nonbinary man. However, the binder itself is also a source of anxiety – binding can cause serious damage to my lungs and ribs if used improperly or worn too long. Over time, these problems may arise even if I am binding safely.
Each step that I have taken so far in my transition, including choosing a name, coming out, and starting testosterone, has eased my depression and anxiety and helped me feel more comfortable with who I am. With your support, I can continue progressing toward a future where I am content with my transitioned body, and at peace because my external appearance finally fits who I know myself to be internally.
I am on a waiting list for a surgeon in San Francisco, and the tentative plan is to have surgery this coming summer (2021). I have saved a portion of the estimated cost and am applying for all the surgery grants I find, but I can’t make this dream a reality without your help.
Thank you so much for reading this. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing a link to this fundraiser instead. I am incredibly appreciative of your help.
Love,
Elliot
Organizer
Elliot Wiseman
Organizer
Fremont, CA