They swapped phones to see which camera provided the best angle and lighting (his moms did).
As Kyle looked in the mirror with Dr. Garramone by his side, his voice became louder with excitement.
I am physically the person I knew always existed, he said.
Kyle Hollingsworth, center, waits for the surgery center to open the day of his top surgery with his aunt, Terry Mathis, left, and mother, Sandra Mathis, right. Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder
Kyle came up with creative ways topay for the procedure.
He received $3,695 in donations through GoFundMe, a crowdfunding platform.
He borrowed $1,625 from his retirement savings to pay the surgery center fee.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code
Honestly, I didnt even think about the debt, Kyle said.
All I cared about was the surgery.
Im technically in debt, but Im in debt to myself because its my retirement.
Im going to be so attractive, Kyle said as he laughed.
I want my mommy, Kyle whimpered as his IV was being administered.
Then there were bursts of laughter.
It felt so good.
The physical pain is definitely worth it to not feel the emotional pain anymore.
Kyles next goals arent about his transition from female to male.
He wants to pay off his $10,000 in credit card debt.
By August 2019, I should be debt-free from credit cards.
Kyle says his surgery taught him how to save money.
He used to spend money as soon as he got it.
He would even get payday loans occasionally to help fund the things he wanted.
I was like, theres gotta be a better way to live, he said.
I make way too much money to be living paycheck to paycheck.
He figured out his income and how much he needed for his bills, groceries and basic necessities.
Kyle found unexpected encouragement through social media after he changed his name on Facebook.
It was just this overwhelming support that I did not know I had, he said.
That really helped me continue be to be so open about my transition, he said.
When Kyle came out as transgender, he told his ex-wife and his close friends first.
I think the most nerve-wracking [thing] was coming out to family, he said.
He first told his mother, then his extended family.
Throughout his transition, he noticed his mother developed a new outlook on life.
Shes kind of like this you-do-you-punch in of person now, which is cool, he said.
I love my moms new attitude in life.
Im very appreciative (of her).
Not all of his family share her new outlook, but he remains hopeful theyll come around.
When people use the pronoun she instead of he, Kyle cant shake it off with laughter.
It makes you feel not real.
Its just like, why would you want to hurt me?
I dont want to hurt you?
His younger cousin, Teriana Horn, 3, calls Kyle by his name and by his proper pronouns.
Two months after his surgery, Kyle moved back into his rented room in Orlando.
Then in March 2018, he moved back home to South Florida.
There was nothing left for me in Orlando, Kyle said.
I lost my job.
I have no family up there.
There was nothing keeping me there.
I wanted to come back home, be around my family and save money.
After moving back home, Kyle moved into his aunts house.
Hes living there rent-free, which will help him pay his credit card debt off quicker.
His new job also pays him $6,000 more a year than his previous one.
The universe has lined it up for me to get out of debt, he said.
My goal this year is to save half of my extra income and pay off debt.
By the end of the year, Ill have less debt and more savings.
