My story starts in a small town in Northern California. My family moved to Willits when I was seven years old. Now, I was a cute chubby baby, then I outgrew the baby-fat, and was small for my age from about toddler to age six. Then I started gaining weight...and gaining...and gaining....and gaining. It seemed nothing worked to get the weight off and keep it off. It got so frustrating, losing 1 lb a week here, gaining 1/2 a lb there. It just wouldn't stay off.

Then the harassment started. There was this kid named Brett (see below) in my school, who would do everything he could to make my life a living hell. He teased and tortured me constantly about my weight. He drew unflattering pictures. He called me names like "Tubbo" and "Lard-ass" and "Mega butt." It was pure hell going to school everyday. By the time I was 13, I weighed about 212 lbs. Physical education was a nightmare. One day, in eighth grade, the girls in my PE class stole my dress while I was out of the locker room and hid it from me. I had to wear my stinky gym clothes home, and feel like everyone was staring since the school uniform shirt was tight (XL my ASS!!).

In high school, the nominating committee put my name on the ballot for homecoming princess. I was soooo embarrassed and upset. I knew it was a joke because of who was on the committee. They nominated both the fat girl and the fat guy for homecoming princess and prince. I went to the teacher and asked her to remove my name.

I get morons making rude gestures. I get teenage punks hanging out the car window and mooing or screaming "FAT ASS" at me when I'm just walking down the street. People stare when I go into a restaurant. I hear people laugh and feel like they're laughing at ME. 

I'm ready to get the weight off and KEEP it off. I'm tired of watching others have fun and do the things I want to do. I think...no, I KNOW, once I'm down to a weight that feels comfortable, I'll have more confidence and be more excited about life and activities. AND I'll be able to get my kidney transplant, have a normal life, and travel the world. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Kidney transplant? What’s this, you ask? Well, in 2006 I was taken to the ER because I was fainting and pale.  They did some tests and the doctor came in looking very serious; “Your hematocrit is 12” he said. “That means basically you have only about 25% of the blood in your body that you should have. You shouldn’t be walking and talking right now.”  Then he said 4 words that changed my life: “You’re in Kidney Failure.”  I was admitted to the hospital and over the course of the next 8 days started dialysis and got about 10 units of blood transfused into me. (Yuck, btw!!!)

Basically now, I have to have the wls to get the kidney transplant. Yay. I guess there’s a reason stuff happens.