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Tobias' Surgery Fund
Started by: Tobias Tobak
Tobias' Surgery Fund
My name is Tobias. I'm a pinball technician, musician, tinkerer and ftm (female-to-male) transgender person, and I am fundraising to help pay for my upcoming top (chest) surgery. This procedure will go a long way towards helping me feel right in my body, and I appreciate any amount of help.
Latest Update
I received an email from my surgeon's office today! I am only waiting on one more signature until I can schedule, which shouldn't be an issue, and I have an exact price for the procedure: $6809. It's on the low end for this type of surgery, but I still have a long way to go in the coming months.
Posted by Tobias
December 14 at 2:17pm
Tomorrow will mark one week since I started fundraising, and I'm already approaching the halfway mark of my initial fundraising goal. I'd like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who has donated so far, as well as those who have spread the word and offered other kinds of support. In the next few weeks I'll have an exact cost for my surgery (right now I just have the range of $7,000-8,000) and soon after that I'll be able to set a date! I'm thrilled to be moving forward and am so grateful for everyone who is on this journey with me.
Posted by Tobias
December 3 at 4:00pm
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All people have situations in which they must choose between between physical and mental comfort, but for some people the options are starker and the question omnipresent. Binding my chest is uncomfortable and even the safest medical-grade binders can cause health problems with extended use, but the alternative can mean spending the day anxious, distracted and uneasy. While top surgery will not completely erase my dysphoria, it will allow me to be more comfortable in my skin without the discomfort and long-term danger of binding. It will allow me to breathe freely at the gym or pool with less stress. I will be able to live more confidently and wholeheartedly because the constant negotiation with dysphoria will have one less platform, and that energy can go towards giving back to my communities and moving forward.
Posted by Tobias
December 1 at 5:33pm
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From a young age, I struggled with my gender. Being a girl didn’t make much sense to me, but I was trapped by the expectations put on me and didn’t have the vocabulary to understand what I was feeling. It was a long time before I started to accept that I am trans, and years more to be in a place where I could safely begin to transition. It has been a gradual process of changing the way I present myself as well as my name and pronouns as I got to know myself in new ways. In December of last year I began testosterone, which has caused many changes including lowering my voice and making my face and build look more typically masculine. Every change is liberating, but there is a limit to what can be achieved through hormones alone, and it's time for me to take the next step forward. I would like to thank everyone who is helping me towards that goal through donations, signal boosting and emotional support.
Posted by Tobias
November 27 at 10:04am
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Some fine print: I am planning on having this surgery performed by Dr. Daniel Medalie in Cleveland, Ohio in fall of 2017. The total cost of the procedure will be $7000-$8000, plus expenses related to travel and recovery. I will be able to pay for about half of that myself between saving and medical financing, and am looking to cover the remainder via multiple rounds of fundraising and private loans. If I am unable to meet my fundraising goals, the surgery will be pushed back until I am able to save the remainder. If I exceed my goals, it will minimize the amount I need to finance and allow me to focus on recovering and moving forward instead of paying back medical debt. While my health insurance does cover procedures such as this one, there are no in-network surgeons who specialize in FTM top surgery.
Posted by Tobias
November 26 at 8:34pm
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11 Supporters
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- Jenni A.7 years ago Merry Christmas!!!
- Saldivar Family7 years ago We love you and are so excited for this next step for you! ❤️
- Scott J Van Buskirk7 years ago Best to ya. <]
- Anonymous7 years ago
- Anonymous7 years ago
- Jacob Garcia7 years ago Good luck!
- Pauline Tajchman7 years ago Good luck during this important step. Wishing you all the best.
- Douglas J Polka7 years ago Make it so!
- Angela Hines7 years ago
- Elizabeth Cromwell7 years ago You got this!
- Show 1 more supporter
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