Aussie parents give son $45k sex change gift

Ashley Caccamo’s transgender dream is finally a reality, thanks to her family’s love and support.

As a little boy, Ashley Caccamo prayed each night that he would wake up as a girl. That wish has finally come true for the pretty 24-year-old graphic designer from Sydney – and it was her understanding parents who came to her rescue. Mum Rachele, 52, and dad Vince, 57, shelled out $45,000 for Ashley’s facial feminisation surgery in the US. She had cheek implants, rhinoplasty (nose reshaping), a brow lift and adjustments to her jawline, chin and hairline.

“When I saw my reflection for the first time post-surgery, I was so happy,” says Ashley, who is saving for gender reassignment surgery. “It felt like a victory inside. It was so fantastic to see myself the way I’d always wanted to.” Ashley documented three years of transition in a time-lapse video posted on YouTube, called MtF 3 year Timeline. To date, it’s had more than 4.5 million views. “It’s taken a lot of guts and determination for Ashley to have done all this,” says her mum. “It can’t have been easy on her – she was terrified we’d abandon her, but as a family we stick together – that’s what it’s about, after all.”

Rachele remembers Ashley – or Adam, as she was known growing up – as a very loving, thoughtful and outgoing child. She had lots of friends and her parents always assumed she was happy. But Adam was harbouring a big secret. He had gender dysphoria – a profound unhappiness with the gender he was born into.

“I was a girl trapped in the body of a boy,” explains Ashley. “I was consumed with the idea of being a girl, and used to sneak into my older sister’s room to try on my favourite dresses.” Puberty proved an emotional roller-coaster. “I couldn’t work out whether wanting to be a girl was OK or totally abnormal,” she says. Ashley spent her teen years being anxious, withdrawn and depressed. Her parents were beside themselves with worry.