Stevie's Top Surgery.

Hi friends,

As most of you know, I am a genderqueer person. I decided to come out with my identity to my friends, acquaintances, and colleagues a few months ago, as being misgendered in daily life became something that caused me a lot of stress and anxiety, increasing by the day. Thankfully, everyone has been amazing thus far, and although misgendering still does happen, it has been done unintentionally and followed by great efforts to change language habits.

I've been blessed, too, by amazing health professionals in Sydney, all of whom have really helped and supported me on a journey to starting testosterone to masculinise myself so that I feel more inline with my body. (Puberty all over again! How exciting.) I have also been lucky to have found a great psychologist who has made this journey a lot easier. However there are limits to what I can process and make easier just by talking through things.

After years of consideration of all of this, I have decided that top surgery is my next step. This is also known as a chest reconstruction, and will give me a more male presenting chest. This is something that will give me a lot of relief, but it also comes at a cost.

In Australia, I benefit from Medicare and also my health fund, both of which can provide rebates on some of the fees for this type of surgery, however the cover comes nowhere close to meeting the full cost.

Here's a breakdown in AUD:

Surgeon's Fee: $3,600 with a rebate from Medicare of $1350.

Gap = $2250

Anaesthetic Fee: $2,350 with a rebate of about 15% (approx $350)

Gap = $2000

Hospital Fee: Unknown, but covered by my health fund when I have paid an excess amount of $250.

Total (AUD) - $6200, which after the rebate is $4500.

Total (NZD) - $4775 (approx. based on today's exchange rate)

I also have additional costs of flights to Melbourne and accommodation for two weeks, so if anything over the target is received, it will all go towards these costs.

So that's the damage.

It's a fair bit, and although I work full-time, I don't earn nearly enough to be one of those people who get to put savings away with each pay cheque. Over the coming months I'm going to do what I can to save anything that is going to contribute to the cost of the surgery, but I'm sceptical I can raise this much before February when my wonderful mum is able to come and be my personal nurse for a few weeks while I have the dexterity of a T-Rex.

So lovely friends, I know that not everyone is in a position to hand out what little cash they have to others, we all have our own things going on, so this is a completely non-obligatory call out for a helping hand if you are able.

I am not expecting to get the full amount I've stated above, but I may as well be honest with you with what I'm going to be paying at the end of the day.

And to everyone who I've talked to about this with, even vaguely, since this all began, thank you so much for your support and kind words. I'm so lucky to know you all and really appreciate it so, so much.

And for anyone who is completely shocked by this news, hi, sorry I neglected to tell you, it wouldn't have been intentional. I use general neutral pronouns (they, them, their - preferred) or masc ones (he, him, his - when i'm feeling tough *muscle emoji*).

NB: I want to note that different surgeons, anaesthetists, have different fees. You may see different figures bounced around for this kind of surgery, but this is the most accurate and up to date figure I have for a particular surgeon I have chosen to go with for person reasons who is based in Melbourne.

NB 2!: In the pic is my mate Teddy and I. I'm on the right. And we had just had a glorious swim in the ocean. Thanks Ally Garrett for the pic.