29 october 2025
We've been in Tijuana since the 22nd. We had bottom surgery on the 24th. We've had mixed feelings coming to Mexico for treatment that would have been free in Canada. However, a few days in, the pain that we've had while recovering has been so much better than the pain we were in pre-surgery, with the important caveat that we're on high-dose ibuprofen and have a catheter in (our pain was most often triggered while peeing). We would have had to wait ~2 more years for surgery in Toronto, after waiting three years already. Two years is a long time to be in life-altering pain.
Madison is here with me. I love her so much. I truly thinks I've found my person. (If you are future me and something happened between us and Madison, then let us extend some empathy from the past). I really want to marry Madison. I'd like to take her last name because I feel much closer to her family than my own. (Though this reminded me to text my sister about the surgery.) I'd like to raise kids with Madison, and see the world with her. I'd like to repay her for the support she gives us everyday.
Enough gushing--I'm gonna be honest, our neo-vagina is looking rough right now. It is extremely euphoric to look down and see nothing there, but it's a little body horror so see pictures of what it looks like up close while it's healing. I know it'll get better. Madison and I have talked about how helpful it's been to be at a recovery centre for the first couple of weeks after surgery. I think being here for this long is going to lead to a better outcome than if, say, we had the surgery in Toronto, and were discharged home the day after the surgery.
All-in-all, we're just super grateful. Grateful to be in a position of privilege where we had options where an when to have this surgery. When I return to Toronto, I will continue advocacy for access to this life-saving care for Ontarians and Canadians. I plan on being a squeaky wheel until things change for the better.