A genderqueer teen has been amazed at the support they've received after setting up a fundraising campaign for breast removal surgery.
Celestine Stilwell, 19, who doesn’t identify as male or female and uses ‘they’ pronouns, has been binding their chest with various methods since puberty.
Now, Celestine, who studies English Literature at Durham University, has decided to undergo a double mastectomy.
But the waiting list for treatment on the NHS is more than three years, so Celestine wants to have the operation carried out privately.
They said: “For the last two years I have been going to therapy and have come to the conclusion that this needs to happen to feel as comfortable and as happy as I can in my body. This is the next step. It is a really exciting thing for me.
“I can’t describe how much this operation will mean for me.
“Ever since puberty, I have been binding my chest but in the last few years it has become painful and tiring, with binders making my back ache and gender dysphoria contributing to increased anxiety about the shape of my body.”
Celestine, who is originally from Devon, hopes to start Testosterone to change their body soon.
They said: “I was put on a waiting-list to be seen by the NHS but it is 46 months long to access hormones and another six months for surgery.
“I am not able to wait this long, and for my own mental health and have been forced to pay huge sums of money.
“The full price of the surgery and consultation will be about £7,300 but I am attempting to pay some of this myself.”
Already the fund has raised more than £3,000, much to Celestine’s surprise.
“I am so insanely surprised,” they said. “It is amazing.”
To donate to the fundraising campaign visit here
