Denise B.
Ok, so here is my story....... My name is Denise Best. My family and friends call me Neicey. I am a 40 year old mother of one lovely little man named Dale Ray. He is the apple of my eye. I am married to a wonderful man, Walter, that is 8 years younger than me.
I have been " BIG" my whole life. I was of normal size as baby right on up to the ripe old age of 4 years old. My mother is a big person herself. I can remember her telling me, she felt weird holding me, she thought people thought she wouldn't let me have any food, as she would keep it for herself.
My excuse....per say, my grandmother started giving me vitamins and encouraging me to eat. Thats when I started to gain the weight. Now believe you me.....as I got older ......all I needed was a reason to eat. I love all the food. My grandmother made the best biscuits and gravy. My family is from the south.....so we know how to make some good and fattening food.
I was always in good health for my weight....so I thought. My blood pressure was good for a person my size, I used all the excuses. Take me as I am....fat and happy. The truth, I was not happy.
In 2006 my health went bad, quick. Everything caught up to me. Here I am 36 and in a wheel chair with so many things wrong ......and can't give it just one name. What I do know is I have stills disease, this affects your joints makes them swell. So my ankles swelled to where I couldn't walk. I had so much pain all over my body. I prayed to die. I have never felt that way before. I hope to never feel that way again. Docs put me on so much meds...I took over 20 pills a day. This from a person who didnt take anything for a headache.
So my pcp asked me to research wls. I thought noooooo, if you can't do it by yourself. It shouldn't be done. In time I did look into it, finally I realized that I can't do it on my own, or I would have already.
So after I decide to have surgery....I find out that my insurance won't pay for it. 
So after waiting for 3 years fighting and writing many letters, and my doctors going to bat for me. I finally was approved.
I am looking forward to being healthy... I don't expect to be model size. I just want to be healthy. I want to be able to go to the mall and walk, with out looking for a place to rest.
So here is to my journey..........
