https://www.gofundme.com/f/alex-lifechanging-surgery
Hello! My name is Casey Torrence (my preferred name is Alex or Aspen) and I am a 20 year old disabled FTM transgender college student in Claremore, Oklahoma, turning 21 on May 10th.
I realized that I was transgender when I hit sophomore year of high school (in 2014-15), but the signs were there my whole life. I always drifted towards the mens clothing, to the boy section in toys and games, and loathed makeup, dresses and frilly pink clothes. I also experienced severe dysphoria when getting dressed and showering- to the point when I'm in the shower I will cry for hours over the body I was born into. I have been on Testosterone for 6 months and it has changed my life. It's helped affect how well I pass and prove that I'm not in a phase. It's allowed my parents to accept that I am male. I have already experienced a voice drop, some downstairs growth and muscle changes and while I am happy with the progress I've made, I still experience severe dysphoria and I believe getting a mastectomy will aid with the mental and physical affects of said dysphoria.
I have been talking with Dr. Scott Harris in Plano, TX to arrange a mastectomy. We discussed going through insurance, but my insurance requires a $4,000 mental exam and will only pay a portion of the surgery. If I pay it all out of pocket to the surgeon, it'll be $6000-$8000 with a possible $850 if they have to perform liposuction. I will have to pay a $500 deposit to schedule the surgery and they complete the consultation online.
Since I am disabled, I cannot work. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy at the end of freshman year in 2015. The anesthetic does not affect my seizures due to them being triggered by stress. I have worked at 4 different places and had to leave each one due to my seizures, but I am fighting for disability benefits.
Thank you for reading this. I am open to answer any questions you may have. Stay safe and be well.