From Mac’s heart surgery fundraiser website:

Mac  is an amazing young man.

He’s a trans activist in Uganda - a country where LGB folks — and those that are gender non conforming — experience immense discrimination and violence. While the Ugandan Parliament has been debating the Anti- Homosexuality Bill (which includes the death penalty in certain cases for homosexuality!), Mac’s served his community for the last five years, advocating for human rights, sexuality rights, and free expression of gender. 

He started up a trans support group in Uganda called TRASU, which is open to any trans* or gender non-conforming person in Uganda. He has also been the coordinator at Freedom and Roam Uganda for the past five years and partnered with Sexual Minorities (Uganda), Trans Support Initiative (Uganda), SIPD-UGanda, Gender Dynamix (South Africa), Trans Bantu (Zambia), Rainbow Identity (Botswana), and Trans and Intersex Africa (South Africa). 

Mac has a heart for some of the most marginalized individuals in Uganda. He even recently opened up his home to community members who were attacked at their former homes.

Mac needs to travel in India for life saving heart surgery. He has a non-cancerous tumor growing next to his heart, which is winding around the veins of his heart.

Mac’s always poured out his heart for his community. Now, lets come together to mend Mac’s heart so he can keep doing amazing work.

Please boost! Let’s come together and make sure Mac gets the medical care he needs!

Other ways you can help:

1)   Send this website to your family / friends / organizations. Any amount, big or small, can help!

2)   Do you know anyone that would be willing to donate airline miles? In particular, we’re looking for miles on Qatar, Emirates, and  — or any other airline that flies from Uganda to New Delhi, India.

3)   Do you know trans-friendly folks in New Delhi that would be willing to check in on Mac and provide accommodation for him during his non-hospital recovery? 

If you’d like to help Mac out in any of the ways listed above, or would like to talk to him, please email: pridebeyondborders@gmail.com.

I’m making this post on behalf of Michelle Poplar who is a good friend of mine. I’ve known her online for years and hearing about her kid has always been a delight.  Here’s what Michelle says on the fundraising site 

Hi, my name is Michelle and I’m starting this fundraiser for my daughter Mini, who was recently hospitalized with an unknown gastrointestinal ailment.  (In case you’re wondering Mini is not her real name, but my nickname for her that I use on Facebook and other online sites for privacy reasons).

Prior to being hospitalized Mini was the most energetic, outgoing 10 year old you can imagine. In the middle of January she came down with what we thought was a run of the mill stomach bug, but after several trips to the doctors and no sign of improvement we resorted to going to the Emergency Room at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. That was three weeks ago.

The doctors realized the seriousness of her situation and admitted Mini immediately for testing and to keep her hydrated. Since being admitted, Mini has undergone several procedures that no kid that age should have to endure, but all through she stayed strong. The specialists think they have a handle on what it is, ulcerative colitis, and are waiting to see if the drugs will be enough to bring it under control. If the drugs don’t work then she’ll need surgery to remove some or all of her colon. Thankfully, our hospital bills are covered in Canada by our provincial insurance, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a financial cost to all of this.

Her Dad and I have had to miss a lot of work to be at our daughter’s bedside. We can’t leave her for any length of time because she needs help getting to the bathroom and by the time she’d call a nurse it would be too late. We’re still not sure what the long term costs will be involved with Mini’s care moving forward. While hospital stays and medical bills are covered by the province, most prescription drugs are not. Being self-employed I have no drug coverage and neither does her dad.

Friends and family have asked how can they help us and I’ve decided the best way is to set up this fundraiser. Right now my immediate goal is to try to raise $4000 in the next 3 weeks. This money will help us to cover bills that are adding up due to missed work, out of pocket expenses like travelling back and forth to the hospital, and I’d like to buy something for Mini to keep her spirits up.

I will try to post updates on Mini’s progress when I can. Mini and I appreciate anything you can spare and we’re truly grateful to all those that have helped us so far.

Please donate anything you can spare and boost this!