My story is much like everyone else's. I have been overweight as long as I can remember....I look back at family pictures and see photos of me starting kindergarten as a chubby kid. Food was a comfort to me, it was always my friend, it never called me names or made fun of me. Over the years I nurtured and developed my relationship with food to the point it was my best and only friend. I could always go on a diet....tomorrow or the next day, but I had to eat that chocolate today or I would be depriving myself of that comfort and good feeling I got from my friend. When I was around 28 I met a "NEW" best friend to me.......crack cocaine. Even then, being a crack addict, I continued my relationship with my first true friend, food. My life was way out of control. In 2000 I learned at the age of 34 that I was diabetic. I started having health problems related to the diabetes not long after my diagnosis. I did however stop using alcohol and the crack during that period of my life. I had went through treatment, but not actually practiced recovery. So I say I have been abstinent for 6 years. Back to my food addiction, having diabetes never stopped me from eating what I wanted, when I wanted it, the pounds kept piling on and my life just kept spiraling out of control.

I continued to have health issues related to my weight and to my diabetes and still didn't care. Several doctors told me if I didn't do something about my weight and quit smoking that I would be dead in a few years. You think that would of been my wake up call, well it wasn't. I did look into WLS some at that time, but I was living in South Carolina then and none of the surgeons I met with would touch me...I was too HIGH risk, with my weight, smoking and health issues. Also, I didn't have health insurance for part of that time. I moved back to Iowa in November of 2004 and started thinking more and more about WLS surgery. My primary care Doc kept talking to me about it. Then I found out my brother was going to have WLS surgery. That motivated me some, and as I watched the pounds melt of him and saw how well he did with it I decided that I would really look into having surgery.

Today, I thank God for sending me a blessing in the form of my brother and for finally opening my eyes and heart so that I can have this surgery and live a healthier and happier life. I have started attending an eating disorder psycho-therapy process group and individual counseling weekly so I can fix my mind along with having surgery. And I want to say THANKS KURT, you are my inspiration and the best brother a sister could ever ask for. I am also thankful to have a Mom and sister who support me 100% in this journey............