Help River Get Top Surgery

Hi, my name is Lee and I am creating this to help my partner, River, get top surgery.

My partner knew from the time they were 10 years old who they are– without the ability to articulate it or to express it. A decade later, River gained enough experience and knowledge of the LGBTQ community under their belt and came out as non-binary in 2018 at 20 years old. Ever since then, and ever since they realized top surgery was an option, they knew that was their ultimate goal. Really, that was the goal ever since they were 10 (without knowing it was a possibility or an option, that is).

River is the most kind, caring, and thoughtful person that I know. Since I’ve known them, I have seen that in many ways, they strive to make other people’s days just a bit brighter. They work as a music teacher, cultivating a space for other artists of all ages to strengthen their skills and passions. Not only that, they also work part time at their favorite diner, and I’ve seen first hand how much the customers there love them. At the end of the day, however, their dysphoria often gets in the way of their own day being bright. The last few years, I’ve watched their struggles with dysphoria and the related mental health issues that come with it worsen, and it’s been hard to see the person I love be in so much pain. I think top surgery would not just calm all of the quiet struggles they’ve been facing for years, but also give them immense amounts of joy and euphoria at levels they have not felt in years. What a gift it would be to see them with such a weight lifted off their shoulders.

We are fundraising for the cost of the consultation, the surgery, related costs like supplies and travel fees, as well as living expenses (such as rent, utilities, groceries, bunny food, etc.) while they are off of work for recovery. River’s surgery is not covered by insurance. Here is a detailed breakdown of what we are fundraising for:

Consultation - $200

Surgery - $12,500

Related Costs - $500

Time Off Costs - $3,000

The total is about $16,200 (Related costs and time off costs are both estimated). River has some saved up already, so we are trying to raise $15,000. If we surpass our goal, the remaining funds would be redistributed to other people's gender affirming care funds so we can keep the support going.

Currently, we’re hoping to have the surgery scheduled for early January– we should have the exact date on Friday, November 15th. Half of the surgery cost will be due 1 month before the surgery date, and the other half will be due 2 weeks before the surgery date. We will post with updates as they come.

If you know River, you know that they will always do what they can to help and uplift others, especially those in their community, and so I hope that our community can return that kindness.