Help Lee Get Surgery!
Great news, friends and fam! After almost three years of trying to access top surgery , I've finally been approved! My surgery is scheduled for July 2019 -- the exact date will be set about six weeks before the operation itself.
I'm very, very, VERY excited about this surgery. Top surgery, for me, means freedom. The freedom to feel more comfortable in my daily life, to go swimming, to wear a t-shirt, to focus my mental energy on school and work rather than on coping with my body.
However, I'm also aware that this surgery is going to cost a lot of money. I'm currently a grad student in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary, and I am going to graduate with my Masters in spring 2020. After I graduate I eventually want to open my own private counselling practice where I can work with LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
Like lots of grad students, money is pretty tight for me. There's the regular expenses of food and rent, plus tuition, textbooks, medications, etc. And as part of my degree I am required to work full-time in an unpaid practicum for over 1000 hours, which makes it hard to have another job. (Although I am still working as a research assistant during the school year in my... uh... "free time".)
As you might know, I own a small business where I give presentations about mental health and LGBTQ+ topics . I've kind of prided myself on being able to use this side hustle to help cover my expenses, but this year has been harder than I'd anticipated, and I'm very concerned about my ability to pay for this surgery and still, y'know, afford to be alive.
So at the suggestion of some close friends, I've decided to create this fundraiser to give folks the opportunity to help out if you want to! There's no pressure to donate, and I know that money is tight for lots of folks so I appreciate literally anything you choose to give. Even $1 helps!
I've created an FAQ (below) to answer questions about my budget, the surgery, further reading, and other ways to help. But if you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me at facebook.com/leethomasspeaks .
Thank you all so much. I am extremely grateful to have wonderful people like you in my life, and I am so so so thankful for your support!
(P.S. an extra thanks to Shilo McCavour for the photo!)
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FAQ
So what exactly is top surgery?
It’s basically a surgery to remove my breasts, like a double mastectomy. There’s some information here . (This is not the clinic that I’m getting my surgery at, but it’s got some good info! Here’s where I’m getting mine done . I didn’t have a choice in where my surgery would happen, but after my meeting with Dr. Dool I feel really good about it, he was very kind and knowledgeable.)
Where did this $6750 number come from?
The surgery will cost a minimum of $2500; a round-trip flight from Alberta to New Brunswick is about $900 (I can’t book my flights until the surgery date is set, about 6 weeks out, which makes it a bit harder to find good flight deals); I have to stay in New Brunswick to recover for 2-3 weeks ($1000 for a cheap Airbnb) so I can’t work ($1500 in lost wages) or take care of Peyton ($850 for boarding).
I thought this surgery was supposed to be free?
Honestly, I still don’t fully understand the answer to this question. I know New Brunswick says they cover everything that’s “medically necessary,” but the surgeon I talked to said it will be $2500-$3000, which does not include the additional costs that might happen if I want aesthetic changes afterwards. So even though I don’t fully understand it, I’m inclined not to argue with the surgeon. I feel like keeping him happy is a good idea. Besides, it’s still much cheaper than getting it done in a private clinic!
Why not have it done in Alberta, since that’s where you live?
Even though I live in Alberta, I’m a New Brunswick citizen, and New Brunswick will only pay for the surgery if it’s done there. I’m only in Alberta for school, and I’m planning to return to NB once school is done. That means my ID, my healthcare, everything is still NB. I could, hypothetically, change everything over to Alberta, become an Alberta citizen, and get the surgery done here…. but that would mean starting the process all over again, which could easily take another 2 or 3 years. Oh, the joys of provincial healthcare jurisdictions.
I don’t have any dollars. Is there any other way for me to help?
Yes, totally! If you could share this, that would be great. Also, even $1 helps — between my personal Facebook, my work Facebook, and Twitter, if everyone gave $1 I’d be well on my way to my goal! You can also send me nice words of encouragement, I always appreciate that! I can also accept donations in person or by e-transfer to [email redacted]. Thank you!
