Help H Get Gender-Affirming Top Surgery!

Hi, I’m Hal—known by most as “H.”

I’m a 30-year-old transmasculine person in Los Angeles working toward raising money for top surgery.

Even as a kid, I didn’t feel at home in my body. I didn’t have the words for it yet, but I knew from a young age that I wasn’t a girl. Growing up in a small town in Florida as a closeted queer kid was hard enough, but puberty made everything worse. As my body changed, so did my sense of self. I felt constant discomfort, anger, and anxiety. Shame followed me everywhere, and I withdrew, isolating myself from the world around me.

“God doesn’t make mistakes”—a phrase I was told the first time I expressed wishing I was a boy—constantly echoed in my mind, amplifying the shame I felt about my sexuality and gender. It became overwhelming, affecting my ability to be present in school, at home, even with myself. As soon as I could, I left my small town and tried to find peace and acceptance externally. While I spent much of my 20’s struggling with self-acceptance, painfully binding my chest, and really doing whatever I could just to survive, I have slowly but surely begun to find my way back to myself.

What This Surgery Means to Me

After years of therapy and self reflection, I now have the words for what I’ve experienced my whole life: gender dysphoria. I came out as trans in the summer of 2020 and began hormone replacement therapy five months ago. I’m back in school, working a big-boy office job, and painting whenever I can. Life is moving forward, and for the first time in a long time, I feel I’m moving forward, too.

Growing up in Florida, I’ve always felt most at home by water. It’s my safe place. Swimming, fishing, kayaking—it’s where I felt the most like myself. Because of my body, I haven’t been able to enjoy something as simple as going to the beach. The thought of being able to feel free in the ocean again, without worrying about how I look or how others see me, brings tears of relief and joy to my eyes. It’s a kind of freedom I haven’t had in so long, and can’t wait to get back.

Scheduling gender-affirming top surgery—and asking for help to make it happen—feels like an enormous step toward self-acceptance and healing. This isn’t just a medical procedure; it’s about reclaiming my body and my sense of self. When I look in the mirror after this surgery, I’ll finally see the person I’ve always been.

I’ve spent years believing I didn’t deserve good things, but I know now that I do. This surgery will have a transformative impact on my mental health and comfort, and I’m committed to making it happen.

I’m trying my best to take care of myself, but even all the therapy does not take away my every day experience of being misgendered and feeling uncomfortable in my body, impacting my well-being.

Why I Need Your Help

On August 12, 2025, I’ll be flying back to Florida to have this gender affirming top surgery with Dr. Charles Garramone, a highly respected surgeon specializing in FTM top surgery. His results are outstanding, but he doesn’t accept insurance, which means paying out of pocket for the procedure and related expenses. While I’m working 30+ hours a week and attending school full-time, I’m not in a financial position to save up for this surgery on my own.

What Your Support Will Cover

The total cost for the surgery and related expenses is $20,290. Here’s the breakdown:

* FTM Top Surgery: $13,000

* Hospital & Anesthesia Fees: $3,490

* Routine Breast Pathology: $300

* Travel, Airbnb, and After-Care Medical Supplies: $2,000

* GoFundMe Fees (2.9%): ~$1,000

Your support—whether it’s a donation or simply sharing this page—will help me reach this goal and take this important step in my transition. Every bit helps, and I’m endlessly grateful for your kindness.

A Special Thank You

Asking for financial help is deeply personal and vulnerable, but I’ve come to see it as an act of trust and community. I believe in the power of people to show up for one another, and I’m so grateful for the love and care that has brought me this far.

Thank you for being part of my journey. Your support means everything to me, whether it’s through a donation, sharing this fundraiser, or cheering me on.