Hi Laura! Congrats on your surgery date. Your story both saddened me (my condolences on the loss of your precious daughter) and lifted me up tonight. I had just read an email from my dearest & oldest friend in Houston, Tx who must now face the fact that her battle with colon cancer is almost over. She hopes to live to see me skinny---can you believe that! You mentioned you had started a new career---good for you! Now, getting that weight off will be the icing on the cake in your long recovery. You gained that weight as a means of survival---it cocooned you and soothed you. Now, it must go and you are ready to face this new challenge. I have no doubt you will do it. God bless you and may angels delicately sit on your shoulders through out all this! Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Karen King, Athens, GA Open RNY 10/29/01