Des Moines Register

I picked up the sunday paper to see big front page headlines for RNY surgery ! After reading the 2 page story I was dumbfounded ! And only because I have the inside view of this story can I honestly say the Des Moines Register ( and WHO TV ) Are about as one sided as you can get ! Maybe if I had not spent over an hour on the phone with Dawn Sagario on friday ( I have the cell phone bill to prove it ) she took so much info from me about Dr AC ,my surgery , my recovery and my follow up care and how I felt about the outcome of my surgery !! The way Dawn and Mr Frank Santiago made it sound to me was that they were going to do a story that looked at both sides of this story pro and con !! But for an hours worth of my time the story contained my name my weight and that I like Dr AC .The other person on Dr AC'S side recived about the same ( robin Mills ) But the rest of the story covered the down side about 1000% more space yep seems balanced and fair! And even in their story the family tells you how she had ailments related to obesity before having surgery I would think even a pre-med student could tell you how much higher the risks are for a person with presurgery ailments to have any kind of surgery not just RNY. I have a special understand for the families of these women who died 17 years ago my wife and I had to decide weather or not to allow our son to have a liver transplant! That surgery had a higher death rate that RNY but he was a year old and would die without it kind of like obesity it might not be today but you know it will be before your time! Some Doctors said take hime home enjoy him for what little time you have left with him but some said do the transplant it might save his life! We decided to try to save his life because we wanted more than a few months with him ! well it didnt work he died at 11 onths 1 week of age!! So yes I understand the pain that these families are feeling ! I feel that the Des Moines Register and WHO TV are not doing them any favors by being one sided their loved ones wanted to have this surgery to better their lives to be able to spend quality time with them !! To hender the forward movement of this kind of surgery only takes that same chance away from other people who would like to have a chance at a better healther life! I also relize that the DMS register has every right to print what they want ( hell they have more right under freedom of speech than any other right ) But just because they print what might sell a few more papers that a balanced story would is so wrong!And should make the rest of us wake up and see what a rag that paper has become! How do we know which stories do we belive or not belive if they are this one sided on this story how one sided are they on others!! I for one have switched to only watching WOI TV and have already called to drop my newspaper. I would rather buy a homeless man a cup of java everyday than waste it on the DMS Register. Besides I f your going to read a newspaper that only tells you their side why not read the glob or a tabloid at least they are more fun and you know that they are full of S----! Anyway sorry for the ranting but I am so downhearted by this story that I needed to vent!! Anyone wanting PDixs direct number or Dawn Sagario direct line let me know maybe if we fill up their voice mails they might listen (i know they wont call us back ) but they might Listen.. Thanks Bill

Hi Bill- It's kind of interesting that just a few weeks ago the DSM Register ran a front page article on Dr. Sundberg in Boone- an article in which they portrayed WLS in a very positive light. Now it seems they have jumped on the negative bandwagon which just sensationalizes the story and scares people. I think you should write a letter to the editor! By the way- congrats on your upcoming 1 year WLS Anniversary! Lori (upcoming RNY on Nov. 19)

I'm going to write my opionion and comment to the Des Moines Reg. for their opionion page. What do you think? Should we all try that?

I agree !!!!! I will try anything once.... I have left the registers reporter 2 voice mails already about how she misled me on how this story was going to go!! I thinkwho ever said the letter to the editor and your opinion page sound like great ideas now if we could only get a few hundred to follow along with us it might just make a diff. good luck