June 17, 2007
Howdy, again! :)  I'm Ashley.  I am 23.  I am very happily married to my best friend, my husband: Brandon.  He is my rock and the glue that holds me strong when I am weak.  I could not go through this WLS journey without his love and support.  He is so supportive.  He truly loves me at any weight or any size.  He only wants me to be healthy and grow old with him.  WLS will make this dream come true.  We have 1 daugther.  She is the twinkle in my eye. :)  Her name is Savannah and she is 4 years old.  She is a big factor in me wanting to have WLS.  I couldn't picture her life with out me in it.  I want her to have a healthy MOM for the rest of my life!

Well, my story is really just like every story here on OH.  I have truly struggled with my "weight" ALL my LIFE.  I remember starting DIETS at a very young age.  Sure, I had my "thiner" years but, even in my thiner years I was still, 30-40 pounds overweight.  I have done ALL the diets, pills, exercise, starvation, you name it, I have tried it.  Sure, I lost tons of weight at one point or another.  The weight always came back, plus some.  

My family "medical" history is very sad.  I know without WLS I am going to die at a young age.  I developed "high blood pressure" when I was 8 months pregnant.  I still have it today.  I was border line Gestational Diabetic when I was pregnant, and I am still border line today.  I also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.  Sure, I would "love" to be "skinny" but, for me WLS is really medically necessary for me to live a healthy life!  I look at my family medical history and see my future is not very bright, unless I have WLS.

I have been thinking about WLS since my Dad remarried in 2003.  My step~Mom is a wonderful lady.  She, herself had Open Gastric Bypass in 1995.  At her heaviest, she weighed 350 pounds.  She reached her goal and has kept it off and stayed steady for over 11 years now.  She is truly my inspiration!!  She has been a bug in my ear about WLS since the day I met her.  It's taken me years to get it in my head that I can't reach my goal weight without help!?!?  

In April of 2007 I really told myself, it's time Ashley, you've gotta do something about your weight, and for "good" this time.  When I first started looking into WLS for myself, I was leaning towards the LAP BAND with Dr. Richard Benavides @ the Surgery Center in Richardson, Texas.  My PCP then talked me into LAP RNY with Dr. James Davidson @ the Bariatric Surgery Center in Dallas, Texas.  I really wanted my step~Moms take on things since she is a bariatric patient.  She gave me her opinion.  After tons and tons of research, I came to the decision that LAP RNY was the route I wanted to go.  

I know with my faith in the Lord that he will lead in me the right direction.  WLS is just a 'tool" to help you and the rest is "mental" and "control".  I know once I set my mind on something, I can achieve and reach my goal.  I am looking forward to lots of things that life will bring after WLS.  I am very glad that my wonderful supportive husband and family, friends and God are going to be right by my side on this WLS journey.  I can't wait to be off of the "weight" roller~coaster for good.....and be on the losing side of life!!

Pray and wish me luck.......

xoxo~

Ash  :) 



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