Thread by @sorenaldaco

🏳️‍⚧️TRANS STORY TIME!🏳️‍⚧️

My top surgery staff dismissed and brushed off major complications, then tried to get me to sign an NDA — emails, documents, and graphic photos ahead...

(1/19)

Before we proceed...

Hi! I'm Soren.

I started identifying as trans at 11, began hormones at 17, and underwent a bilateral mastectomy in June 2021, shortly after my 19th birthday.

I've since made peace with my body & sex. I manage my dysphoria via mindfulness practice.

(2/19)

JUNE 11, 2021: My mastectomy is scheduled and performed.

JUNE 14, 2021: We notice significant bruising under my medical binder and send pictures to hospital staff. We are told that this is normal.

ATTACHED: The pictures in question.

(3/19)

JUNE 15, 2021: We attend my post-op appointment, where they remove my nipple bolsters.

The nurse says that she's "never seen bruising like this before" yet reassures me I don't need a doctor.

ATTACHED: A photo taken at said appointment.

(4/19)

JUNE 18, 2021: I reach out about the *worsening* bruising on my flanks, which indicate severe bleeding.

Nurse T replies that bruising is "normal" and "should be getting better each week."

I do not think she read my email.

ATTACHED: The photos & emails in question.

(5/19)

JUNE 22, 2021: I call the clinic's after-hours line when the bruising & swelling become unbearable. My grafts are lifting, too.

It takes over an hour to page the on-call doctor, who dismisses me 3x.

"I don't see what's wrong here."

ATTACHED: The exact photos he saw.

(6/19)

JUNE 23, 2021: I end up at UT Southwestern, the nearest hospital with an in-house top surgeon. I am terrified and feeling vulnerable.

I spend over 8 hours ALONE in the ER. The top surgery team won't see me, but breast oncology will.

ATTACHED: My chest during imaging.

(7/19)

During that visit, my incisions are re-opened. They stitch in Penrose drains.

I am diagnosed with massive bilateral hematomas — there is a 16cm-wide mass of blood on the left and a 17cm-wide mass of blood on the right.

ATTACHED: My first photo after discharge.

(8/19)

The drains lead directly to my chest cavity, and I have to manually drain blood and pus from these wounds multiple times a day.

I spend my next weeks seeing a specialist team at UTSW. They have me bind foam blocks to my chest.

ATTACHED: Photos from recovery.

(9/19)

Now, while I am grateful for my body's healing and UTSW's amazing care, follow-up by Crane CTS was non-existent.

Here is the email I sent them on July 6, 2021 — recounting what I've just summarized here, in detail.

Please read it.

(10/19)

Here is part two.

(11/19)

And part three — because they weren't talking to me at this point.

(12/19)

This is the response I got from my surgeon, BTW. I've included my own response for context.

(13/19)

The CEO eventually reaches out, asking for receipts so they could "consider all the facts."

No apology from him. No apology for Dr. Santucci. Only from Dr. Ashley Deleon, who I'm not even sure was aware.

It took them over a month to get back to me.

(14/19)

When they finally *do* get back, it's with an anti-disparagement agreement.

...after another month, BTW!

(15/19)

This was the contract they sent me in its entirety.

The disparagement clause is on the fourth/last page.

(16/19)

Of course, I wasn't going to sign my rights away without a guarantee that Crane CTS had taken measures against this sort of negligence.

Here is my perfectly reasonable response, sent on October 15, 2021.

I haven't heard from them since — it is now March 14, 2023.

(17/19)

Crane CTS did not care about my well-being. Despite their affirmation & performance, they did not want what's best for me.

If this is extreme negligence, what is considered normal?

What voices are we missing?

Is this only the tip of the iceberg still?

(18/19)

This has been a rather lengthy thread, so if you're still here... THANK YOU!!!

Remember to listen to as many stories as possible — and please share mine far and wide.

🤍

Grace.

(19/19)