6/16/00

Had back surgery (a two-level disc fusion) on June 6th. I spent four days in the hospital and am now home recovering. The surgeon said the surgery went well. However, I still have the same pains in my legs and numbness in my feet as I did before surgery. The doctor said it could take up to three months for it to go away and, unfortunately, I've had to postpone my SRS.

In April I went to court and had my name changed. I'm now legally Tara Marie Taylor! Each step like this distances me from my former self and verifies that I'm now a woman. The first was when I got my new driver's license. I had butterflies when I was driving to the DMV and cried when I got my new license with my new photo and gender change (OR lets you change your DL before SRS).

10/06/00

I'm doing better from my back surgery. I still have some pain, but with pain meds it's manageable. The good news is my SRS is scheduled for Nov. 15th with Dr. Preecha in Thailand! I'm having trouble sleeping! I have my hotel reservations and tickets. All I need is my passport (one can get a temporary passport with an 'F' under sex if you're going for SRS).

After considering my options I've decided to change SRS surgeons to Dr. Brassard in Montreal. He's more expensive $8600 vs. $4200 - $5000 (prices have increased), but I think he's a better surgeon than Dr. Preecha and Montreal's aftercare is supposed to be very good. My SRS is March 22nd! Thanks to Mike M. for paying for my surgery!!

2/10/01

My SRS is less than two months away! It's finally going to happen! I'm going to be a complete woman! Plane reservations have been made and I'm all set. Got my pre-op tests done and they all came out normal!

 4/17/01 - SRS!

Had my SRS on March 22nd in Montreal with Dr. Brassard! It was a wonderful experience! The appearance looks very good. I'm still sore and tire easily, but as time goes on the pain is lessening and I have more energy. There was actually less pain than I expected, much less than my back surgery.

10/17/01

Someone commented in my guestbook that I should update my journal (Sammy, this update's for you). I'm doing well -- I'm past the 6 month mark on my SRS when healing is supposed to be completed. If you saw me naked you'd never know I wasn't born female! A high point happened a week-and-a-half ago when my Mom came to visit. I wished she could've stayed longer, but this was just her first stop on the way to see the rest of our family on the east coast. Though she's always accepted me, we've gotten closer since my surgery—I just wish I hadn't waited so long! Girls are now starting in their teens and that's how it should be—nip that poison testosterone in the butt early!

Something else that's happened since my SRS is my dreams have become much more active and vivid. It's like the surgery opened a door to my dream world, which was very active before I transitioned but seemed to diminish once I started HRT. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this?

1/11/02 -- Happy New Year!

Besides the obvious difference of having genitalia that is congruent with my internal identity, there are many little things about having SRS that are nice. Like being able to go completely nude at public hot tubs and women's locker rooms. Clothes fit better, too!

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