My name is Angelos-Elio and I'm a 20yo transgender boy (Female To Male). I live in Greece,where the expences for gender affirming care are not covered by the state.

Once I realized I was trans,in 2021, everything suddenly became clearer and my life harder. I was scared of coming out to anyone,even my friends. When I told my parents though,they fully accepted me,which was unexpected for me. They started researching and learning about these things and were by my side from the start. They helped me through the process of legally changing my name/gender and to also find a psychiatrist and endocrinologist so that I could start Hormone Replacement Therapy. A few months later I started taking Testosterone injections and now I'm 1 year on Testosterone!

Truth is 2-3 years ago I didn't think I would make it this far.I didn't think I would be here right now. Along with the realization about my gender identity came the realization about my mental health.which was not good. So I still can't believe I'e actually achieved this much.

The only step now left is my Top Surgery (Mastectomy). I knew I wanted this since 3 years ago,when I started binding my chest with kinesiology tape in order to look flat. But binding one's chest is neither 100% effective nor safe. My skin is in a very bad condition since it has lost its sensitivity and elasticity, I often have burns and wounds because of the tape,so it's painful physically. Emotionally it's even worse. It's impossible to describe to someone how it feels to be stuck in a body that's not yours,but that's how it feels like. When I look down I get the feeling I'm looking at someone else's body and I'm just stuck there at being the observer,unable to move or talk. It makes me sick even thinking about it and there are times that I quite literally cannot breath from this burden inside my chest.

Due to the dysphoria I'm unable to enjoy little everyday things that everyone takes for granted, like going to the beach or even enjoying a personal bath. I have to customize my outfit every time I go outside so that I look flat, I avoid hugs and I'm scared of going to any doctors. I can't even take my shirt off with my romantic partner.

I also can't really put the effort needed to achieve my goal of becoming a kickbox and self defense coach. In order to rise in that position (at the moment I'm an assistant coach) I have to train consistently, both in groups along with other students and also alone at home to improve my physique. Unfortunately, I'm not able to do that either. I avoid anything close to exercising with others because my dysphoria can kick in any moment. At the same time it's hard for me to exercise alone at home because how can someone built on their body if it doesn't feel like theirs? If they hate it and have been completely disconnected from it so that they don't feel it?

My family covers the high cost of all the therapy sessions,testosterone injections,medical tests and doctors, but unfortunately the cost of the surgery is too high.

So I would like to ask for your support, so that I could hopefully get my top surgery as soon as possible.

It's not about aesthetic reasons, it's about actually living as myself and feeling complete.