My name is Mark and I’m writing to you today on behalf of my dear friend, Jessica Sweeney. For as long as I’ve known her, I’ve seen a kind, compassionate, and brilliant soul. But for most of her life, that beautiful soul has felt like a prisoner in a body that wasn’t hers.
Many of you knew her as John. On the outside, John seemed to have it all together. He was a good friend, a hard worker, and always the first to offer a listening ear. But behind his smile was a quiet, lifelong struggle—the profound and painful feeling of being disconnected from the person he saw in the mirror. From a young age, she knew something was deeply wrong. The world was telling her she was a boy, but every fiber of her being, every whisper in her heart, knew she was a girl.
Living with this secret was a heavy burden. It was a constant performance, a mask she had to wear every single day to meet the world’s expectations. The energy it took to suppress her true self left her feeling isolated and incomplete, like she was watching her own life from the sidelines.
A few years ago, after immense courage and self-reflection, she made the bravest decision of her life: to stop hiding and start living. She chose the name Jessica, and with that choice, a light I had never seen before began to shine in her eyes. The journey of transitioning has been her rebirth. Through therapy and hormone replacement therapy, Jessica has started to see her true self emerge, not just emotionally, but physically. For the first time, the reflection in the mirror is starting to feel like home.
Now, she is ready to take the final, most crucial step in her journey: gender-affirming surgery.
This isn’t just about a medical procedure; it’s about alignment, peace, and wholeness. It is the final piece of the puzzle that will allow Jessica to finally close the painful gap between her body and her spirit. It’s the chance to walk through the world unburdened, to feel the simple peace of being seen for who she truly is, and to finally, fully, feel complete.
Unfortunately, while life-changing, these surgeries are incredibly expensive and are not fully covered by her insurance. The financial barrier is the only thing standing between Jessica and the future she has dreamed of her entire life.
That’s why we are turning to you, our community of friends, family, and kind strangers. We are hoping to raise [Goal Amount] to cover the costs of surgery and the necessary recovery period.
Every single donation, no matter the size, is a powerful affirmation that you see Jessica, you support her, and you believe in her right to be happy. Sharing this campaign with your network would also be an incredible act of kindness.
To help Jessica finally feel at home in her own skin is to give her the gift of a future where she is no longer just surviving, but thriving. Thank you for reading her story and for considering being a part of her journey to becoming whole.
With deepest gratitude,
Mark
