"I am so thankful for the opportunity to start over with a healthy lifestyle. In some ways I wish I would have done this years ago. But, there are seasons in all of our lives and this is my season! Thank you Sarasota Memorial and Dr. Fitzgerald for caring enough about us to provide us with this life changing surgery."

What was the biggest challenge or concern that led you to decide to have weight loss surgery?

Over the past five years my blood pressure was very high and I was taking three pills a day. I also had high cholesterol and sleep apnea. I knew that every year I seemed to gain more weight and become more unhealthy. I just could not lose the weight. What did you weigh prior to having weight loss surgery? 296 lbs.

What type of weight loss surgery did you have? Roux-en-Y

What was the date of your surgery? 7/25/06

What do you weigh now? 167 lbs.

What is your age? 47

How has weight loss surgery changed your life?

This weight loss surgery has changed my life in so many ways. Before the surgery I was taking three pills a day for high blood pressure and 1 pill a day for high Cholesterol. I also had sleep apnea and had to sleep with a machine. I have not had to take any medication for either my blood pressure or cholesterol since the day after my surgery. I also have not had any signs of sleep apnea.

Before I had my surgery, I did not think that being over weight had put any real significant limitations on my social life. I was mostly concerned about my medical problems. I never really realized how much my being over weight had affected my self image. It’s amazing how we as humans can hide our deepest feelings and emotions when they are just too hard to deal with.

What people need to understand is that being overweight does rob you of so many parts of your life. It’s not just the physical limitations; there are so many mental and emotional issues’s that complicate an already difficult life.

When something has been a part of your life for so long it just becomes routine. That is what my thoughts about being fat became. I did not realize how many of my thoughts were about being over weight until I had lost my weight. For example, one night I went out to dinner and sat in a booth. As I was sitting there I realized that I did not mentally measure which side to the booth was bigger. I never really thought about the fact that I automatically use to do that. Another example, I was at a church dinner and sat on the hard plastic chair and then realized that I used to have to scan the room for a metal chair. There have been so many other situations like that have come to my mind and I never really realized how much my life was affected by my weight. There is such a freedom in being set free from the bondage of OBESITY!

I feel as though I have been given another chance at life. I am able to do so many things that I was not able to do. I can walk 3 to 4 miles at a fast pace, I can run and I even played basketball on the staff team for the first time in 13 years of working there.

I always told my friends and family that my main reason for this surgery was for health reasons and that is and was the truth. But, there are some great benefits…like shopping in the “regular size” section of the store, not hiding from people you see at the store that you went to high school with and being able to tie your shoes without unbuttoning your pants. I’m just happy to be able to see my shoes!

People often ask me "Are you glad you did it?" "Would you do it all over again?" My answer is absolutely yes!

Let me share with you that this surgery is not an easy out, it takes a lot of time and commitment, but it is worth it in the end. My lifestyle and eating style are routine now. I do everything I did before and enjoy food just as much as before, I just eat smaller portions.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to start over with a healthy lifestyle. In some ways I wish I would have done this years ago. But, there are seasons in all of our lives and this is my season!

Thank you Sarasota Memorial and Dr. Fitzgerald for caring enough about us to provide us with this life changing surgery.