Support Dmitri's Essential Hysterectomy

Hi I'm Barbara and I am raising funds for my friend Dmitri. Dmitri is such an important part of my life. I know a little of what he has been through and have some understanding of the challenges ahead. Dmitri is a trans man working through all those transitions and fighting to live the life he needs to to survive. The upcoming elections in our state and the past battles for trans rights in Georgia leave him and his health care providers with significant fear. What would happen if the legislature in Georgia forces people with a uterus to have a baby, to not prevent pregnancy, access to appropriate reproductive health care (currently, his doctors are challenged with providing the appropriate reproductive health care for his specific circumstances), he has a family history of uterine cancer, and one of the most horrible potentials is to make his life illegal in Georgia.

This means it is time to make sure he can't become pregnant and to mitigate growing risks to his health. This means it is time to have an overdue hysterectomy. He is a man in everything he is. He is a wonderful, happy man. I want him to live his full life in his manhood.

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A note from Dmitri:

Hi, I’m Dmitri and I’m a trans man. I’ve been transitioning for close to 12 years now, and began the journey of the medical aspects of my transition nearly 8 and a half years ago. Now it’s time for one of the final steps in my medical transition: having a complete hysterectomy.

About 3 weeks ago, during a routine biannual doctor’s visit, I had a difficult conversation with my primary care provider who also handles monitoring the medical aspects of my transition. We discussed what the future of my transition and health look like, and how I’m entering into a complicated situation.

Health Concerns/Risks...

Given my personal health concerns and having been on testosterone for 8.5 years, per my doctor, I am overdue by 3 years for a hysterectomy. The longer I continue this trajectory, the greater the risk of health concerns becomes. Not for lack of trying, but my doctors and those I have been referred to have had a lot of challenges performing scans/tests/screenings that are necessary in maintaining the health of my reproductive system. Ultimately, they have been unable to monitor me appropriately. I have a close family history of uterine cancer. I have inexplicable chronic pain in my lower back, hips, and pelvic area, and a variety of different types of doctors have been unable to determine what precisely the troubles could be caused by. My primary care has a growing concern that it’s possible that my reproductive system could be causing some level of impingement or otherwise could be contributing to my chronic pain.

Dysphoria...

I also need this hysterectomy to mitigate one of the last bastions of dysphoria I experience with my body. While being on testosterone has eliminated having any cycles, if I ever fall short on keeping consistent with my medication, I will experience a lot of painful, triggering emotional distress should my internal system wake back up and begin to cycle. I have had to make the difficult choice to avoid romantic relationships to fully protect myself from the possibility of pregnancy given the trajectory of legislation where I live.

Rights & Urgency...

Should any emergency arise due to my reproductive organs, now or in the future should I not undergo a complete hysterectomy, I am at risk of being forced to out myself as trans in an emergency room where I may not have a supportive doctor or nurses. While it’s hard to imagine being left untreated for an emergency, I have been turned away from having a sinus infection treated by a doctor who felt uncomfortable seeing a trans patient. Many trans people have lost their lives due to medical negligence from uneducated or uncaring providers.

The final reason beyond physical and mental health for this hysterectomy, and the reason for such urgency, is the unknowns of where we will be in terms of healthcare access come November. When our prior president took office in 2017, the first action taken was a deliberate attack on trans rights. Throughout that administration, those attacks continued. More of those attacks have been promised should he be re-elected. My doctor and I are deeply worried about what this could mean for my access to a hysterectomy.

Below, I’ve written a breakdown of all the details, including cost. Given the unknown nature of many factors, the requested financial goal of $10,000 has been recommended by numerous people aware of all of the details of this situation. After I have made a full recovery, all costs are squared away, and I have returned to work, any remainder of what has been raised through crowdfunding will be donated to two organizations very dear to my heart: the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett, and Trans Lifeline.

Medical transition has allowed me to truly be myself. Since beginning testosterone, my depression has been virtually eliminated. I’ve come out of my shell and it’s incredible to see the progress in my health and in my life all these years later as I continue to become who I am meant to be. I’m so proud of how far I’ve come and I continue to be determined to realize this wish to wholly be who I am. I’m ready to take this next step in my life and it will mean the world to me to have your support, be it a donation, words of encouragement, or just reaching out to say hello. Asking for help in any capacity is scary and hard. Your support will make a huge difference that I will never forget.

Thank you so much,

Dmitri

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On to the details…

Where & When:

This procedure will be done locally. I have a consultation scheduled for mid-September. From there, a pre-op appointment and diagnostics will be scheduled to clear me for surgery. While my surgery is not formally scheduled, my surgeon has reserved a date in late October for my procedure.

Out of Pocket Costs:

After communicating with my surgeon, the hospital, and my health insurance, I have an estimate of costs that will be as close as I can get them until I have future appointments and my surgery is actually scheduled. All of the following figures are costs that will come out of my pocket due to my deductible and out of pocket maximum not yet being reached.

How You Can Help:

This is where you come in! I’m going to need your help - I can’t do this alone.

I do not have a supportive family and will be unable to recover from this procedure in my current living environment. I have friends who will be coming with me for surgery and help transport me to/from the hospital. I’ll be staying with incredibly generous friends during my recovery, and though they didn’t ask, I absolutely must help where I can with financially contributing to increased grocery, water, and electric bills from me temporarily living with them for the 6-8 week recovery period.

Assisting with meals/a meal train for three adults and a 1 year old baby would be greatly helpful. I'm a vegetarian, my friends and the baby aren't.

Assisting with transportation needs would also be greatly helpful while I’m unable to drive for the first 2 weeks of recovery.

And, last but not least… Honestly, I just really need friends to say hi and check in on me, and to come visit with me. Once I’m up for it, maybe come grab me and get me into some fresh air at the local park. Barbara has promised to keep me up to date and linked/connected with those who donate. It would also be lovely to connect directly.