Jesse needs life saving gender affirming surgery

I came out finally as a trans man in March 31st of 2019, on Transgender Day of Visibility! I believe a lot of people around town know me from past and present retail jobs like at Lily’s Cafe, Tim Hortons or even right here at ERBN Green! Normally if I’m out and about, I just try to visit different businesses around town and say hello! Kelly’s known me since the OG days of Kelly’s, in fact! I’m normally seen with my iPad, doodling up a storm to help ease my adhd and anxiety, since I just recently got a diagnosis for the adhd. I try to find common ground with everyone I meet, give them some laughs and just positivity; there’s enough negativity around us during these difficult few years so why not just spread some love and support!

Since I came out right before the lockdown, I had so much time to process and try to understand myself. A lot of my goal in the recent few years has been to be someone that others feel safe to share their thoughts and experiences with, and to be my true self no matter what!

As for the surgery itself, along with my hormone replacement therapy, it’s something that’s life saving. If you ask anybody in the transgender community, many of them will be familiar with the procedures and protocols. Unfortunately, the life-saving medical procedures and treatments come with an incredibly complex and expensive process. Years of research, doctors referrals… not to mention the underlying trauma of transphobia that runs through our healthcare systems to begin with, not to mention the social transphobia. Since coming out, I’ve been told what I should be, while also treated like a curiosity in my own hometown. What I see as life altering and affirmative healthcare, our systems seem to only reserve that care for cisgender people to have the right to use.

The surgery I’m looking for is costly, to put it mildly. Most cost $15k on the affordable side, up to $25k on the higher side. Unfortunately I know that I’m going to be spending closer to the higher end… as I’ll most likely be needing extra contouring due to a large scar I have from a car accident I was in at age 3. I’ll be off work for about 1 month to recover and for half of that I will be needing to pay rent and for my hotel and food expenses, not to mention the regular expenses during that recovery time. I work as much as I can to keep myself going but it’s not going to be enough to also save that sort of cash on the side as well!

Anywho, to end this long conversation, I’m just a small town boy living an open and honest trans experience! I’m normally the gift giver but I know I need to ask for help with this one. As the saying goes, “it takes a village!”