It was the first time I went swimming shirtless. I’d been nervous and not entirely sure I’d go through with it, but it was blissful; we were at a quiet river with my family, my kids splashing around, my wife drinking a beer in the sun, her family reading books and taking naps and just being. There was this moment when my kids were peaceful and Katherine’s hand was in mine and the sun hit my back just right, and I forgot that I was any different than any other Dad, any other husband, any other son in law.

Top surgery was the moment in my life that I looked forward to more than any other. I was not prepared for my top surgery. I had only seen what social media allowed me to see as I watched from the outside looking in. I went into surgery not really knowing what to expect, feeling unequipped to care for myself.