TLC’s “I Am Jazz” has been chronicling South Florida trans teen advocate Jazz Jennings’ life-changing journey of getting her gender confirmation surgery for the past year.
“Having my whole family with me throughout this entire journey has been so important,” the 18-year-old said in last week’s episode of the show which showed the first part of her surgery. The second part aired 9 p.m. Tuesday. “From the beginning they have just provided me with unconditional love and support and the fact that they’re here on this day just signifies that we’ve come so, so far since the beginning of this journey. This is really the final step, this is the final transition, and I’m so glad that I have them by my side.”
Her family traveled with her to New York City last summer for the surgery. They sprinkled hugs and kisses as she was taken to the surgical suite.
For her mom Jeanette, there was the reality of saying goodbye to the boy she gave birth to in 2000 and officially welcoming the girl.
“There’s a tiny bit, like, of, ‘Wow, I gave birth to this little boy and the last reminder of that will be gone,’’ Jeanette Jennings said. “Now, I have a girl and I’m thrilled for her, because look at how happy she is.”
On the show, the surgery was described as “penile inversion vaginoplasty” and “bilateral orchiectomy” and involved skin grafts to help create a vaginal canal. One doctor said it was “the most difficult case that I have encountered,” while another surgeon — Dr. Marci Bowers — said the procedure was “an engineering feat” and “pioneering” and “complicated.”
The teen was surprised when surgeons said she would most likely need a follow up operation within four months for cosmetic and scarring issues.
“I am reentering the world,’’ Jazz Jennings said as she was escorted out of the hospital. But as staff and her family helped her out of her wheelchair and into a van, something seemed to go wrong, according to a preview clip.
“I feel a pop and with it, I felt this crazy pain,’’ the teen said. “I felt like an incision just popped. I just don’t know what’s going on.”
In another clip, she’s with her mom returning to the hospital for a second surgery.
“This is not where she thought she’d be at this point,’’ Jeanette Jennings said.
“I’m just thinking of when we first came to this hospital how happy and excited I was,’’ said the teenager looking crestfallen.
Her mom reassures her as she is once again wheeled into surgery.
“You got this. You are the strongest, bravest person I know. You are going to get through this. It’s going to be okay.”