Kia ora koutou,
Thank you so much everyone for your generous donations so far, I really appreciate them.
We have not reached the target goal, but we made a dent and for that I am grateful.
So, where to from here?
Givealittle has a time limit on how long you can keep a page open for and since this hasn't recieved donations in a month, I think it's time to close it for now. You've all been hugely supportive and your contributions are dear to me. If you know anyone who missed out on donating and would still like to, please do put them in touch with me and we can sort something.
As for my surgery- your donations are all safe in a savings account and gathering passive interest. I add to it when I can, so the amount is slowly growing.
The quote I had for this July that I based the donation goal around has expired and it looks unlikely that I'll manage it this year, but I'll carry on saving with an eye to 2022. Givealittle has suggested a page relaunch, so I'm considering that.
Meantime, I have a consultation in April with the practice that can be funded by the Bowen Trust. This will be a different surgeon than the two I initially was in consultation with.
The reason for this is that the Bowen Trust allows two people a year to have funded top surgery- in April I hope to find out if I can be added to this wait list and how long it might be. Unfortunately we don't know if the Trust funding will be renewed in 2021, I'm told that info will be available in June/July.
If I am able to, I will apply for the Trust. If I am successful, your donations will be either supplementary support around the surgery (think work leave/rent/surgical binders/consults) and donated to NZ queer and specifically trans friendly youth support groups as I first stipulated when this was launched.
If for whatever reason you don't want this to happen with your donation, get in touch, and we'll arrange a refund.
If I am unsuccessful in the Trust, your donation will give me something concrete to fall back on and I will use it to partially fund my surgery, hopefully in 2022.
Thank you all so much. I'm unbelievably grateful for all you've contributed- a part of me didn't even think we'd get this far.
I occasionally hear the question "Am I a real man yet?" obviously surgery cannot give me my masculinity and not having it does not change who I am in the least. I think you can tell who a man is, in part, by the people he surrounds himself with.
I am the realest most authentic man I can be and you all are a testament to the kind of person I am. I am surrounded my generous, loving people who have been extremely supportive. I am humbled by this, incredibly fortunate and I love you so much.
(The real man was the friends we made along the way 😘)
Go well my friends, and happy new year!
