Ost's Top Surgery Fund

Recent Updates

Update #7

almost 2 years ago

Hi all,

just a quick update: fundly has contacted me back telling me they are aware of this issue and recommended that I go through the payment processing company that is used to dispense the funds. I had to go through STRIPE to initiate the refunds - unfortunately because the process is slow (I have to add funds to stripe manually, then do a wire transfer and that takes several days) this will be done in batches.

Once the first batch is taken care of and I've ensured the funds were added to my account, and the first batch of refunds dispensed I will upload a screenshot with names redacted for transparency purposes.

Regarding the refunds: I'm going chronologically by date, so I'm starting with those who donated in 2020 and then I'll be moving through those. I know that there were those who donated via email so once this first batch of 2020 donations are refunded, I will be taking time to go through my emails to refund those people because there were refunds from 2020 as well (that might take a little longer just because I have to trawl through bank statements and emails,) then I will initiate the refunds to those from 2021 onwards.

Thank you all for your immense patience and understanding!
- O

More Info

Aanii indinawemaaganidog (Hello all my relatives,)

I am a biracial, nonbinary, Trans, queer, mixed race Nishnaabe. My family is from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, and I live off reserve in a small southwestern city in Ontario.This campaign is a last resort for me, I've been attempting to access top surgery for the last 6 years of my life with very little success because of barriers created by medical practitioners.

For the last two years I gave up on attempting to get my top surgery because of ongoing, chronic health issues that have finally stabilized alongside other factors outside of my control, and now that I'm feeling more stable in my health and life I would like to pursue this for my own mental/psychological health and well-being. I am often battling with depression and feelings that I can't go on like this anymore and I decided that I needed to do this for myself to give myself some hope again. Usually I am the one donating to others funds when I'm able, but this is an amount I'm realizing I can't do on my own and realizing I need to just reach out for support.

Any amount would be greatly appreciated. I would like to take the time and to send a card of thanks to anyone who donates. Because I'm in school and my semesters are looking to be very busy, it might take me a little bit to get one out to you, but if you would like one when you donate please send me an email at [email protected] with your provided mailing address. Chi-miigwech for any boosts and donations that you are able to give!

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Ostoro P. posted a new update:
almost 2 years ago

Update #8

Hi all,

just a quick update: fundly has contacted me back telling me they are aware of this issue and recommended that I go through the payment processing company that is used to dispense the funds. I had to go through STRIPE to initiate the refunds - unfortunately because the process is slow (I have to add funds to stripe manually, then do a wire transfer and that takes several days) this will be done in batches.

Once the first batch is taken care of and I've ensured the funds were added to my account, and the first batch of refunds dispensed I will upload a screenshot with names redacted for transparency purposes.

Regarding the refunds: I'm going chronologically by date, so I'm starting with those who donated in 2020 and then I'll be moving through those. I know that there were those who donated via email so once this first batch of 2020 donations are refunded, I will be taking time to go through my emails to refund those people because there were refunds from 2020 as well (that might take a little longer just because I have to trawl through bank statements and emails,) then I will initiate the refunds to those from 2021 onwards.

Thank you all for your immense patience and understanding!
- O

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Ostoro P. posted a new update:
almost 2 years ago

Update #7

Hey everyone - quick update, I just tried to refund some donors some money and I keep getting this error message. I've contacted the help team to try and sort this out - I want to try and wait to ensure I can refund directly through this site as a record for us both that you got exactly what you gave. However if you want your refund immediately before they get back to me please leave a comment and I will reach out to you for another way to refund you.

Thank you so much for your patience! I will wait until next Wednesday before I start reaching out personally to people - I don't know how long it will take for the team behind fundly to get back to me, or how long it will take for them to fix the issue. Either way, if by Wednesday I'm unsatisfied with how it's going I will start reaching out to people personally.

Miigwech for your patience!
- O

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Ostoro P. posted a new update:
almost 2 years ago

Update #6

Hi everyone,

Firstly I want to thank you all for everything you've contributed to this campaign. The generosity that you've given to me has been extraordinary and I appreciate that people have been so giving to help me achieve a gender affirming surgery that I had tried to access for so long.

I want to be very honest here however and update you all on my situation. After a medical scare that went on for almost 2 years, once I started experiencing better health I made the decision for myself to make an attempt at hormone therapy. With the guidance of my family doctor and now under the guidance of an endo out of town, I have become very comfortable and happy with this decision.

Since I am gender nonconforming and nonbinary, my intention was never to fully "transition" to "male" identifying, and it was never my intention to fully present as "male" either. I have always only ever wanted to be someone "in between." At this point in time since I am still only at the beginning of my hormone treatments and have begun seeing the effects, I am unsure of whether pursuing top surgery would be best for myself in the long term.

Because of this, and because I don't know how long it may take for me to fully make a solid decision on whether top surgery is right for me *at this time*, I don't want to continue holding onto these funds indefinitely. I would much rather disperse these funds back to everyone who has donated to this campaign and give full transparency and honesty in my journey. You've all been so kind and generous, and while I can't say for certain that top surgery is out of the question in my future, I also cannot answer right now that it's something I'll want to pursue for sure either.

Over the next few weeks I'll be slowly sorting through all of the funds that have been donated to me - including finding those donations through other means, and refunding everyone who has donated so generously to this campaign. I am hopeful that this personal decision I am making for myself will not deter anyone from supporting other gender nonconforming, nonbinary, or any trans folks who are seeking gender affirming healthcare.

If you need to talk to me directly, please email me at [email protected] and I will answer any questions or concerns (or leave a comment here with any contact info) as soon as I'm able.

Chi-miigwech!

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Ostoro P. posted a new update:
over 2 years ago

Update #5

I just got a call yesterday that OHIP coverage was approved for my mastectomy! I'm so excited, but the wait list is possibly really long right now - the coverage is for up to 36 months. I am hoping that my wait won't be that long, Any amount to this fundraiser is still really appreciated, and mostly because I won't be able to work for a portion of time after getting my mastectomy done, and it would help to have funds available for costs of living during that period and any extra costs of care that may be required (like any needed revisions.)

To everyone who has donated so far, thank you so much!!

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Ostoro P. posted a new update:
over 2 years ago

Update #4

I've talked to my doctor about trying to get my mastectomy done through OHIP awhile back, and I'm still waiting to hear back on that. I don't know what wait times are like right now, but I am hoping that after waiting 7 years to access gender affirming surgery through OHIP that it will be soon. I just wanted to send my thanks and appreciation to all who have donated so far <3 I am hoping to raise at least 10,000 so I can access the surgery sooner for my own mental health and well being, and so that I can begin to plan for my future beyond this. Miigwech <3

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Ostoro P. posted a new update:
about 3 years ago

Update #3

Hi all!

I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far. The amount that has come in such a short span of time has really helped me to believe that this is a possibility for me in my future. Starting this campaign took a lot for me to do because I have never really liked asking for help, so when I finally took the dive to ask for help and have seen the support coming in, it's shown me the value that people have in my health and well being. That has meant the world to me.

Again, if any of you would like to receive a card from me as thanks, or just because it's nice to connect with another person through the mail in that way, send me a private message with your address! I love to send mail. For all those who I've talked about sending cards to: they're on the way.

I love you all so much. Thank you all so, so much.

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Ostoro P. posted a new update:
over 3 years ago

Update #2

I'm going to try and continue to access this procedure through OHIP, I'm not giving up there, but I'm finally acknowledging that if it took years before I was able to finally even meet the doctors criteria of getting a psychologist to sign off for me (even though again it's not current regulations around Top Surgery,) I'm just realizing it might be a very long time before I can fight my way through again.

If for any reason the medical practitioners here have changed and they do sign off on it and I am able to access the surgery I need, I would use whatever funds I would need help with towards living expenses, bills etc and then donate anything else back to BIPOC Trans identifying individuals who have campaigns up looking for surgeries of their own. In that scenario, receipts would be provided for transparency purposes and for accountability.

Again, thank you so much for any help you can provide towards this.

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