Gender reaffirming surgery

Hi, thank you for taking the time to read this, my name is August and I'm 21 years old.

Since the age of 13 I have been binding and taping and just doing all I can to hide my chest. I remember times I was at school and I would have to leave because I wasn't able to breathe, but those were happy days because my chest was flat and I could almost do what I wanted. I could almost be who I feel I am. In Australia it's estimated from surgeons I've looked into, that top surgery alone can cost up to $10,000 and is not covered by Medicare, since I found out this fact at a young age as I have always been looking for ways to be comfortable in my body, I have gone through the thoughts of never getting there and also held onto the hope that maybe one day I could.

Working has been so hard for me as with binding and taping (safely) my chest it puts a lot of pressure on my ribs and it hurts so bad. My goal in life was to get a job and work for that money but it almost feels impossible, now I'm not asking for all of this money just a helping hand. I still want to work in an area that won't be so painful and save money to go towards it but I know having waited 8 years for this already that I need to make a change soon, for my health and my income and just so I can genuinely appreciate my body and live a life with nothing holding me back, I want to work a good job and I want to feel the wind on my skin and not turn the lights off everytime I shower. I can't wait to have this sorted for myself and than pass the kindness others give to me on to others that need it.

Thank you for reading and thank you to anyone who donates, it is beyond anything I could ask for and I appreciate you all so much.