Emmett (he/him) is a scientist in water ecology and soon to be research scientist with NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. He enjoys cooking, yoga, boating, coding, writing and political art. He is a new member of the CAB and started attending the CTC’s support groups in the Fall of 2025. Through Emmett’s transition, he has met many people that have contributed positively to his journey. The following article describes his top surgery experience and those he met along the way.
When I had my top surgery in October 2018, I was fortunate enough to recover at a very unique and special place in South Florida called New Beginnings Retreat—a nonprofit organization run by a transgender man and his wife, who together had more than 40 years of experience in the medical field.
At New Beginnings, trans people recovering from gender‑affirming surgery in the local area could stay in a supportive environment instead of a hotel. Located in an upscale neighborhood in Broward County, it was affordable, beautiful, and most importantly—private. The staff used their medical knowledge to care for people in the trans community during major life transitions. Interns lived on-site as well, all of whom were transgender or gender‑nonconforming themselves. They helped with transportation to pre‑op and post‑op appointments and were there on surgery day, too.
It wasn’t just a recovery retreat—it was also the home of the nonprofit’s owners. They were incredibly welcoming and had therapy dogs, a koi pond, and a small library. There was even a world map where guests could place pins showing where they had traveled from; right before I went, they hosted a trans man from England! Over the years, they have cared for more than 950 trans individuals.
Having people around who had supported so many trans patients made a huge difference. Right after my surgery, one of the interns picked me up from the surgery center and brought me back to the house. I remember telling him that if I didn't just have surgery on my chest, I would have hugged him just for being there and helping me into the car.
The day after surgery, I was experiencing a lot of discomfort from my chest binder—it felt extremely tight, and I was anxious about whether that was normal. I talked to the staff, who had seen many people in the same situation. They told me it was possible the binder really was too tight and advised me to call my surgeon before adjusting it. After speaking with him, he gave me permission to loosen it, and I felt much better. Having people around who understood the nuances of recovery was very reassuring.
During my stay, I made friends and met others going through the same experience. The day before my surgery, I met another trans guy from Chicago. Our surgeries were scheduled for the next day with different surgeons at different locations—his early in the morning, mine late in the afternoon. The night before, we stayed up talking about our excitement and fears and really bonded.
When I woke up the next morning, my first thought was about my new friend and how he was doing. Both of our moms had come with us to New Beginnings, and they got along wonderfully.
The space supported not only us, but our families too. Transitioning is deeply personal, and many of us are in survival mode, but the people who love us are also going through their own version of a transition (something I didn’t fully appreciate until later). I was grateful my mom had someone who understood what it felt like to worry about their adult child while also wanting to support them. We all bonded quickly over our shared experiences. Going through such a major life change alongside people who truly understood was incredibly powerful.
We ate meals together every day, enjoyed the beautiful backyard, and took plenty of naps. One afternoon we watched the TransMilitary documentary and a trans guy who had recently had top surgery too gave us haircuts. Another day, we went to the beach, walked along the boardwalk, and ate tacos for dinner.
I never wanted to leave New Beginnings. I can still picture the group hug we shared at the airport before my flight home as if it happened yesterday. Recovering there was a beautiful way to begin a new chapter of my transition, and I will always be grateful for the experience. I often think about how valuable it would be to have similar places in other regions of the U.S. My time at New Beginnings remains one of the most unique and meaningful experiences of my life—one I will never forget.
