Sam Kwan’s Top Surgery & Recovery Fund

I’m finally taking the initial steps towards getting gender-affirming top surgery. After years of physical exhaustion, back pain, and rib pain from binding, I have decided to move forward with top surgery.

My first consultation was in September 2021, and I was supposed to schedule surgery in early 2022. Due to a staffing shortage after the vaccine mandate at NYS hospitals, my surgery was postponed.

Now, it’s looking like surgery will be late this fall or early winter. I left my jobs earlier this spring to prioritize my mental health during an intense period of transition in my personal life. As such, I have had to allot a portion of my top surgery fund to survival costs for housing and food. 

However, I am now employed and will be able to keep myself supported for the most part until surgery, and after I’ve healed as well. I am raising funds to supplement my income, as I will be unable to work for a number of weeks after surgery. Additionally, there are items I will need to purchase so that I am able to rest and heal while in recovery from my surgery.

If you are a cisgender person THIS IS A CLEAR OPPORTUNITY to show allyship. Trans people face all sorts of barriers to healthcare, and gender-affirming procedures are more often than not cost-prohibitive. The dysphoria that results from living in a body that doesn’t align with my gender identity takes a daily toll on my my mental health and social functioning. 

Any amount helps! If you are unable to contribute financially, please share widely on social media.