Wow, I can’t believe it has been almost a month since the Irvine Conference and I am just now posting.. I guess I am still on the high that I got from there.. I mean from the minute I got to the hotel to the time I left I felt like I was “King for the day.”

I mean from the time I walked in to the hotel lobby a lady recognized me.. I thought that would be cool if I were in Texas because a lot of people know me but Hell I was in California, at a national convention, and people were asking me if I was Ramon? So needless to say that it stroked my ego not that it needed anymore stroking.. That brings me to a point.. I hope that I didn’t come off as an arrogant jerk, like some people have said about me in the past, because believe me it isn’t arrogance it is that I still see myself as a 500 pound man and I like my security blanket of my friends.. So if I didn’t talk to you it wasn’t that I thought I was better than you it was simply that I still have a hard time adjusting to idea that some people respect me or look up to me.. I know that I post a lot on the board but that is behind the screen so I don’t have to face people.. LOL But by all means, feel free to email me but as I have stated several times it may take me a little while to email you back..

Well Friday night after we landed I went to Karaoke with the group and had a blast.. I even had the nerve to get up there and butcher Margaretville.. My apologies to Jimmy Buffet.. It was so cool to meet some of the people that I had seen on the California board..

Well then came Saturday morning.. Too early for me if I might add.. But you have to remember I was still on Texas time.. I just loved meeting the various vendors and all the wonderful people of OH.. I mean to actually meet some of the people that you have only seen on the boards for on the site. I was just in awe of meeting Ronda, Nikki, Rusty, Tammy Colter, Bo McCoy, Jackie Guerra and other OH staff members.. Oh how could I forget I actually got to spend about 30 minutes with Eric Klein talking about what I thought OH needed.. Who would have thought that they would even worry about spending time with a small town Texas boy..

Well the breakout sessions were amazing.. A lot of great information.. I helped Yvonne www.yvonnemccarty.com with her presentation and was just in awe of her amazing session.. We share a lot of beliefs and so it is easy for me to relate to her although we are so different.. Please check out the website she created for us and the third member of our Team Debra who also helped with her presentation.. I know that I would be in a totally different place without these two wonderful women in my life.. I love you both so much..

Well this is where it got interesting.. Because Tammy and Ronda both told me that I needed to be at the closing remarks but I was very tired and seriously gave thought to skipping it but since the asked, well told me to be there, I thought I had better be there.. Well there was a reason that they wanted me there and I had no clue what it was about.. Well after they recognized the sponsors and a very more deserving volunteer.. Jackie start talking about an OH member that had worked really hard supporting OH and helping others.. I was thinking this sounds like a good person.. I had no idea whether she was talking about a male or female because she kept saying them or they but even if she had said him there was no way in hell that I would ever know that it would have been me.. Well she continued saying that if you didn’t know this person that you soon would because they were about to be on a reality TV show and then the moment of shock.. She said I would like you all to help me recognize my fellow Mexicano Ramon Lopez.. Well needless to say I was shocked.. In fact, I let a cuss word slip and to those who heard it I apologize but it caught me totally by surprise.. I mean think about it.. Here I am at a national convention and they are recognizing me.. How did I go from being a 500 pound man to being recognized in Irvine.. Well I can tell you how.. Lose 280 pounds.. LOL.. But really, I have worked hard at supporting OH including starting what I call the Grateful Post.. I post on the Texas and Main message boards, a few things that I am grateful for every weekday although I may have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find something I know there is something to be grateful for everyday..

I will be speaking at this convention but by all means that is just one of the reasons you need to be there because of course there is a great party afterwards.. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/TX/postdetail/237817.html?vc=0 You all can come help me celebrate my 40^th birthday, which is on the 16^th, but who better to celebrate with than a bunch of friends.. I hope to see you there..

PEACE

Well hello April.. Wow this year is flying by.. Or maybe it just seems that way because so many things are going on in my life right now it isn’t even funny..

Of course, I have written about the TLC show and in all reality I just see this as another avenue to hopefully inspire others on this crazy journey called WLS.. I am just awestruck when I look back on the couple of years of my life..

In fact, another thing that is happening is that I get to share my story again at the OH convention, in Austin TX, on June 23^rd. This will be my third time to share my story and I am stoked.. I love helping others.. I know that I have to pay it forward just like I had it paid to me.. To get more information just click http://www.obesityhelp.com/events/uzone,events/action,event_details/?pkid=203&key=48a29d2873366eeae344509d691106e1 here. If you have never been to a convention you need to go, there are so many interesting speakers and I know that this one will be special because my angel, on Earth, Yvonne McCarthy will be speaking..

Also I will be attending the National OH Convention in Irvine CA. next week. How awesome is that? Yvonne will also be speaking there too. To read more on this click here. http://www.obesityhelp.com/events/uzone,events/action,event_details/?pkid=202&key=43328d224538827bac6df1f187398ced But one of the cool things is that Debra, Yvonne and I will all be in the fashion show on Saturday night.. Never in my life did I think that I would be brave enough to do something like that and especially not in front of a lot of people.. If you get a chance come see us..

Well the surgery from the doctor’s point was very successful. They removed 20 pounds of excess skin , 15 from the front and five from the back.. Just simply amazing.. 

But from my point it was not as smooth, due to my inability quit smoking, I ended up in the ICU on a ventilator. PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU, IF YOU ARE TOLD TO STOP SMOKING BEFORE A SURGERY PLEASE STOP. I almost paid the ultimate price because I was stupid and didn’t do what I was told.. This so hard for me to write because I know a lot of people think highly of me and here I am almost dying, and robbing others of my knowledge, due to addiction.. I went in the OR smiling and the next thing I know I wake up coughing up blood and on oxygen.. I remember talking to my sister in law and telling her not to bother coming up because I was going to be alright not knowing what I had been through..

When I woke up the next day my family was here. I didn’t know why until they told me I was in ICU.. I remember being moved and a guy saying “it doesn’t look good for this guy does it.” That isn’t something you want to hear on your way to the ICU.

But since I am writing this it turned out okay.. I am here in Houston recovering.. I have to say that I have been so blessed while I am here.. Thanks to Joni for the morning Starbucks.. And words can not express the way I feel about Debra who has opened her home up to me and has taken care of me.. The Katy Krew came and spent some time with me at the hospital. My roommate Kelley and her husband Brian came and spent the weekend with me when Debra went to Jenn’s wedding.. I am sitting here writing this just crying because I am so lucky to have all these wonderful people in my life.. I failed to mention Yvonne but girl you know I love you.. Thank you for all the posts on the board and of course the calls and emails.. I hope to soon be back to my old self..

Well to be honest I was already back at the old self because I fell while doing laundry and luckily didn’t rip anything open.. I am doing extremely well.. In fact I have to say that although it wasn’t painless I have done a lot better with the pain than I thought I would.. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I am scared of getting to like the pain pills too much but I have taken less than a bottle and for me that is damn good..

A special thank you goes out to Dr. LoMonaco and his staff for all the wonderful aftercare they have provided.. I am just blessed to have such a wonderful staff looking after me..

What a good group.. Front Sally, Ramon, Patsy. Back Cynthia and Dr. LoMonaco.



Jill from Dr. L's office.. I am sorry you weren't in the first pic..

PEACE

Well what can I say.. I have been on an emotional roller coaster today.. I went to the hospital today fully prepared to have my surgery.. I went through all the phone calls and saying I love you’s but due to unseen circumstances my surgery was postponed.. I know that they say everything happens for a reason so that is how I am looking at it..

I called my mother and was crying so hard because I just can not see having her lose another son but she assured me that things were going to be alright.. I went to church with her Sunday before I left and they prayed for me and I am at peace with this surgery.. The only thing that stinks is that the filming crew from TLC caught me on film crying.. There goes my tough guy image that I have tried to build..

Luckily for me I had some great friends here with me to help ease the anxiety.. Plus a good breakfast didn’t hurt.. I was hungry since I didn’t eat anything since midnight and it was 10 before I got released from the hospital.. I know that tomorrow will be another day and we will go on as scheduled..

PEACE