Teresa P
I started this journey in January of 2004. I knew that I needed to do something but was really frightened at the thought of having such a drastic surgery. However, I had 2 young sons that I wanted to see grow up and I knew that at 390 pounds that was quickly diminishing. I never really thought of myself as "fat" I surrounded myself with friends and family that my weight was not an issue. In July of 2004 I went to my wls seminar at Emory in Atlanta, GA and I was filled with a new hope, a hope that I could also lose weight and save my own life. It was at that moment I took ownership of my life and made the choice to be healthy (not skinny-HEALTHY). I started calling my insurance, my pcp and everybody else that I needed to get the ball rolling. Everything here in Columbus was great and I had everything that Emory wanted except a BMI of 55. I have NEVER felt so defeated, but I decided then if I was going to change my life it might as well start today. I lost the 45 pounds to get me down to 345 (which was barely making the BMI of 55 by the skin of my teeth) . I had surgery and have been wonderfully and fully blessed to have had absolutely no post surgical complications. I never been sick, dumped etc.. I followed my surgeons instructions to the letter, after all this is a tool and a new lifestyle and you can undo it. I am so thankful to my family, friends, co-workers that have shared this journey with me. There were some days I would not have made it without them. I recently had a panniculectomy, and a brachoplasty and I am thriled with my results. I weigh 172 and my BMI is 28.2! I'm offically overweight and really proud of it!