Hi, my name is Cigo, and I’m 26 years old.
This journey began when I was just 5 years old, when I first realized that the way the world saw me did not reflect who I truly am. Since then, I have carried that disconnect every day – through school, through relationships, through the quiet battles no one saw. I am raising funds to access gender-affirming top surgery, a step that feels not only necessary but life-saving.
For the past six years, I have been taping and binding my chest daily. The scars and blisters from the tape hurt, but not as much as the pain of not recognizing myself in the mirror. That pain has shaped so much of my life: how I walk through the world, how I show up for others, and how I show up for myself.
There were times when the weight of dysphoria pushed me into dark places. I have struggled with suicidal thoughts, with feeling invisible, and with the ache of being trapped in a body that does not feel like home. But I have held on, because I believe there is a version of me I have not yet met – one who feels free, whole, and seen.
Even with insurance, the cost of surgery is more than I can afford alone. Your support, whether through a donation or simply sharing this page, brings me one step closer to the life I have always dreamed of.
Thank you for reading, for holding space, and for helping me reclaim my joy.