Help Kodah Get Top Surgery
Donation protected
Hi! I'm Kodah Ashe, I'm 20 years old, from Lowell, Massachusetts, and I’m a transgender man. A little over a year ago I made a monumental, scary, and life altering decision. I chose to live my life as who I am and came out as transgender and I couldn't be happier for doing so.
Initially coming out however, I was scared. I feared how the world would perceive me and I was even more terrified of how my family would receive it but, I was also very tired. I was tired of constantly fighting a battle between being what society wanted me to be and who I felt I was inside. Coming out was a big deal, and there's been bumps along the way. I can however, thankfully say most of the people I know are supportive of me living a life in congruence with who I am.
All that being said, aligning my exterior body with my interior self is no small feat. I've been lucky enough to be able to undergo HRT (hormone replacement therapy) which is a big step in being comfortable in my own skin however, it doesn't solve all the problems, meaning it doesn't get rid of the breasts that developed during puberty. A big step in becoming comfortable in my own skin is what is known as top surgery i.e. a double mastectomy. Fortunately, there are surgeons who specialize in FTM (female-to-male) top surgery's and perform the reconstruction in such a way that, post-op, my chest will look as if I was born without breasts in the first place.
This surgery is instrumental to me becoming comfortable in my skin. As of right now I must bind my chest every day. Imagine taking a body part, pulling it as tight to your body as possible so that it’s practically invisible, and then taping it there for 16 hours. The physical pain felt with binding is at times unbearable, but as of right now this is the only method I have, to feel emotionally comfortable in my own skin. As short-term solutions go, I’m ok with enduring a little pain so I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not. Of course, it’s winter in New England so hiding under a hoodie is an every day occurrence but fear and discomfort sets in come spring and summer. Spring and summer means no tank tops, no bathing suit without a shirt, and constantly being afraid that people will notice my chest despite binding which means back to being emotionally uncomfortable. I've taken the steps needed to have this surgery done as I'm getting letters from a behavioral specialist and my doctor documenting my transition and the okay that I am a good candidate for top surgery. I also, already have the surgeon picked out, Dr. Tobias at Beth Israel, who happens to be one of the best top surgery surgeons in the greater Boston area.
Unfortunately, my health insurance does not cover the whole surgery because part of it is deemed "cosmetic". Although the actual removal of the breast tissue is covered, the grafting of the nipple and the liposuction to get out any remaining breast tissue and fat is not. If I do not get the nipple graft and liposuction the results of my chest would look nothing like that of a male and that obviously is not my goal. All of that being said, I'm asking for any and all the help I can get in raising the funds in order to have this procedure.
The decision to ask for help in this way does not come without some embarrassment as this is a personal procedure however, there's no way I can get this done without the help. Every little bit is appreciated, and together, this expense will be insignificant compared to the overwhelming sense of comfort and happiness gained from finally getting this procedure.
Initially coming out however, I was scared. I feared how the world would perceive me and I was even more terrified of how my family would receive it but, I was also very tired. I was tired of constantly fighting a battle between being what society wanted me to be and who I felt I was inside. Coming out was a big deal, and there's been bumps along the way. I can however, thankfully say most of the people I know are supportive of me living a life in congruence with who I am.
All that being said, aligning my exterior body with my interior self is no small feat. I've been lucky enough to be able to undergo HRT (hormone replacement therapy) which is a big step in being comfortable in my own skin however, it doesn't solve all the problems, meaning it doesn't get rid of the breasts that developed during puberty. A big step in becoming comfortable in my own skin is what is known as top surgery i.e. a double mastectomy. Fortunately, there are surgeons who specialize in FTM (female-to-male) top surgery's and perform the reconstruction in such a way that, post-op, my chest will look as if I was born without breasts in the first place.
This surgery is instrumental to me becoming comfortable in my skin. As of right now I must bind my chest every day. Imagine taking a body part, pulling it as tight to your body as possible so that it’s practically invisible, and then taping it there for 16 hours. The physical pain felt with binding is at times unbearable, but as of right now this is the only method I have, to feel emotionally comfortable in my own skin. As short-term solutions go, I’m ok with enduring a little pain so I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not. Of course, it’s winter in New England so hiding under a hoodie is an every day occurrence but fear and discomfort sets in come spring and summer. Spring and summer means no tank tops, no bathing suit without a shirt, and constantly being afraid that people will notice my chest despite binding which means back to being emotionally uncomfortable. I've taken the steps needed to have this surgery done as I'm getting letters from a behavioral specialist and my doctor documenting my transition and the okay that I am a good candidate for top surgery. I also, already have the surgeon picked out, Dr. Tobias at Beth Israel, who happens to be one of the best top surgery surgeons in the greater Boston area.
Unfortunately, my health insurance does not cover the whole surgery because part of it is deemed "cosmetic". Although the actual removal of the breast tissue is covered, the grafting of the nipple and the liposuction to get out any remaining breast tissue and fat is not. If I do not get the nipple graft and liposuction the results of my chest would look nothing like that of a male and that obviously is not my goal. All of that being said, I'm asking for any and all the help I can get in raising the funds in order to have this procedure.
The decision to ask for help in this way does not come without some embarrassment as this is a personal procedure however, there's no way I can get this done without the help. Every little bit is appreciated, and together, this expense will be insignificant compared to the overwhelming sense of comfort and happiness gained from finally getting this procedure.
Organizer
Kodah Ashe
Organizer
Lowell, MA
