Michael W.

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4/18/02 - Hi. I'm a Music Teacher who is just about ready for a surgery date. I have been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time. I weight 515lbs, but GOD has kept me mobile and blessed. I haven't had a really long journey, I started with BTC in Grove City, Ohio on 1/02/02. Since the I have had a EKG, an ECHOcardiogram, sleep study and a psychiatric evaluation. I submitted all this to my insurance company Medical Mutual of Ohio, and they ask for 5yrs of weight documents.
I was only able to find three ( when you are as big as I am, you are not so quick to run to the doctor ). So I faxed them those documents ( 15 pages altogether ) with a personal letter and some photos on 4/8/02. I called them on 4/11/02 to make sure they were reviewing it, and they told me I WAS APPROVED!!!!!!
I began to cry and praise GOD for answering my prayers. Unfortunately, I found out that although BTC in Grove City is allowed to accept medical mutual, medical mutual can approve the process but not BTC. They said BTC is out of network, and I will only be covered if I goto a network hospital. So now I have an appointment 5/10/02 at Cleveland Clinic with there bariatric department. Hopefully they wont delay me. They told me to bring all of my pre-op reports and they will go from there. So please be in prayer with me that I get a june surgery date. God did it with the approval, I know he will complete the work !!! GOD does not tease us with our blessings !!!

( I will keep you posted )

5-10-02 Well guess what? I don't have to go to Cleveland Clinic after all. My Insurance will cover everything but the Doctor's fees. BTC will put me on a payment plan for that. Isn't GOD good !! So now I can have my surgery at BTC in grove city. So now I wait on a surgery date. Talk to ya soon.

5-14-02 I GOT MY SURGERY DATE!!!! MY SURGERY DATE IS JUNE 13, 2002! They tried to give me May 31st, but I told them school will be out 6/6/02, and I didn't want to miss any classes ( I'm a teacher). So they told me that 6/13/02 was the next available date. I'M SO HAPPY! I have waited a long time for this. This has been a tedious but profitable journey. My pre-op date is May 29th. I will write back right before my cross-over! I really need a supportive male who has been through this procedure recently. Please pray for me as I continue to pray for all of you!

5-31-02 Guess what? I went to my pre-op on the 29th. Everything went well, but I found out that I may be anemic. I wasn't aware that my mom was anemic until I told her about my pre-op test. So BTC want me to see a blood specialist just to make sure that if I am anemic, they can take the extra precautions. The most disturbing thing is that the pre-op Doctor(not my surgeon) told me that June 13th would now be out of the question! He said that I may have to wait 4 to 6 weeks. THE DEVIL IS A LIE! I have been praying and fasting and I asked the lord to let me get this done before than. I had to find my own specialist, and they wanted me to be referred by a doctor. So I had to give all the doctors I have seen through this ordeal, authorization to fax my medical records. Well, the secretary from the specialist office called me today and said that I can come in on June 7th. THANKS BE TO GOD!!! So continue to pray that I beat the deadline, because with Christ, all things are possible!!

6-20-02 Wow has it been a long time since my last update. I have much to tell you so read on. I HAVE NOT HAD MY SURGERY YET !!!!
THATS RIGHT, I HAVE NOT CROSSED-OVER YET ! Let me explain. After my initial blood test( 6-7-02 ) cleared, I was told that my surgery would be June 21st at 6:00am. On June 18th, I received a call from BTC, and they told me that I needed to have a total protein blood test. This test was suppose to be given to me when I had the other test, but the specialist forgot too do it. I was not aware that he did not read the clearance notice. So I can't have my surgery until this test is completed! I am scheduled to have the test on 6-28-02. After this test clear, I will be definitely scheduled for surgery! First I would like to thank everyone for emailing me all of the wonderful encouragement letters for my surgery recovery. They are not received in vain. I will read them again after my surgery and be even more encouraged that so many people have a generous heart.
I will post after my blood test. I am encouraged and I know GOD is still in control!

July 21, 2002 - Hi all. I know its been a long time since my last update but thats because, I'VE HAD MY SURGERY !!!!! I HAVE CROSSED OVER !!!! July 5th at 7:28am in Grove city, Oh. I am so happy, this has been a long and tedious journey, but GOD timing is not like our timing. He knew when and what time my surgery was for me. No matter what you are going through, GOD is still working it out for your good in the end. My blood test came back negative for diseases and they told me three days before my surgery, so I didnt have time to post. But now I have my own computer ( brand new gift from my parents ) so I will be able to post at will. My hospital stay was only for three days. It was everything that people told me it was going to be. Pain, Pain, Pain !!! But the Lord brought me through. My parents have been helping me since then to get totally back on my feet. I went back to Grove cty on July 17th for my two week checkup, I'VE LOST 49LBS !!!!! Can you believe it!!! The doctor said this was above average and he told me that I can start some pureed foods. I knew I had lost a lot of weight, because I can do things I could never do before ( cross my legs, sit and touch the bottom of my foot etc..). I cannot wear ANY of my clothes already, so my parents took me to buy some sweats in different colors, because these jogging pants are adjustable. I dont want to start buying clothes because the weight is going fast! I'm doing my best to get in the 98 grams of protein they want me too, but its kinda difficult on a liquid diet. The only problem I had in the beginning was gas that wouldnt pass, it would just bulk up on the inside. But that problem ceased after 6 days. My incision is my only hold up to driving and going back to my own house. The told me to wear the girdle band for another month, because of my size, hernias are common. Sometimes I do feel like I may have a couple, but I not claiming that. Well, thats about it. I went back and read the recovery letters and found a new joy for this group of people. Thank you everyone. I will keep you posted. If you have any questions or comments about my journey, you can email me at - [email protected] . May GOD bless all of you until my next post. Peace. (515lbs to 466lbs in 2wks! 275lbs to go!!!)

Sept 6, 2002 - Well its been a long time since my last update.
I am doing so well. I have lost altogether 80 Pounds !!!!!
I can not fit any of my clothes. I had to get a semi new wardrobe in order to go back to work. My students are so surprised to see me, they all say wow you lost weight Mr. Williams ! I can wear my seatbelt, I can touch my toes while sitting. I don't feel stuffed to capacity anymore. I do a lot more walking now. I start my exercise program with a personal trainer on Sept. 9th. I am so excited about what this surgery has done for me and how GOD has allowed me to be a recipient of this blessing. The only thing that I am dealing with now is that I don't have appetite to eat anything at anytime. Like it is now 1:45pm on a friday, and I have not ate anything yet. I know I need to get in the protein, but I just don't feel like eating. My doctor said that I would feel this way for about six months and then it should subside. I mean I do have cravings, and I try to satify them, but by the time I get the food I crave, I don't want to eat it! So hopefully I will get through this with no complication. I have had no other problems, I am really blessed to not have any complications, because I was so heavy going in.
Well, I will update later, Keep praying for me as I pray for you. Bye-Bye.

December 11, 2002 - wow, I know its been a long time since my last update. I am doing fabulous, as of today, I have LOST 115 POUNDS!!!!! What a new lifestyle this is ! I am wearing better clothes and for the first time in 20 years, I was able to take my son to a CAVS Basketball game !!! I wish everyone could feel the way I'm feeling. I have a new lease on life. I want to be more active and I started working out. I still have a long way to go, but my have I came a long way! I still find it difficult to eat six small meals a day. Most of the time, I am busy doing things I was not able to do before. I hate the extra skin, but at least its not full of fat anymore !! People and my students are so amazed at my outcome that I am literally the talk of the school !!! I am able to stand longer and sing stronger! I hope that someone reads this and email me about more info. I have a need to help someone through this. I am helping one of my bill collectors through his surgery procedures. He was inspired after seeing me, and he began his journey almost immediately. Well I need to leave work now, so I will write back asap. Continue to pray for me and I as always will continue to pray for you. Thank you all for the love and support.

April 1, 2003 - HEY EVERYONE!!! I have lost 189LBS!!!!!! I can't begin to tell you how good I feel, and it has not been a year yet! I feel like I have been freed from prison. My life seems so much useful. I have not had any setbacks, or complications. I'm dating like never before ( dating, not having sex! ). If you are reading this and you are unsure of having the procedure, realize that this is a new birth ! It is time to be free, and whom the Son ( Jesus ) sets free, is free indeed!! I'm going to write a book about my journey coming and going. The only cruel thing that continues sometimes is when some people look at you and you may not have lost all your weight and they don't know you are on your way to a healthier life, and they still snicker and make fun of you, how ignorant! I don't let this get me down, I am having a freakin' Ball ! Okay I gotta go, but email me for support or encouragement or just to discuss. I've help four people through this after they saw me. Two I didn't even know. Talk to ya soon, Love ya all!

April 30, 2004 - WOW where has the time gone. I have not wrote to you in so long because I am busy having a life!!! As of today, I have lost 285lbs!!!!! I am Victorious! I am now writing to extreme makeovers to get some free tucking and cutting done! wish me luck. okay i gotta get back to my life, so email me if you need help, an encouraging word or just to say hi. I love this site and I thank God for you being in my life! talk to ya much later! bye!


April 2, 2005 - Just when I thought I could lose no more.....God continues to work a miracle for me. I have lost to date............313lbs!!!!!!!! I have not had any tuck surgery yet, and I look freakin' amazing!! People don't know who I am again. In the words of one of my former students, " You have turned back the hands of time!". I feel so good, I wish I could bottled it up and sell it ( ha- ha)! If you are out there and you need a breakthrough in your obesity battle, don't hesitate to email me, what God has done for me, he can do for you! I must go now - I am working two jobs and going to school fulltime and a single parent...and I ain't tired yet !

December 21, 2005 - Whassup everyone. I am doing absolutely fantastic! I have now lost 327lbs! I am STILL side effect FREE! I have not even thrown up ONCE! I am going to step out on faith and began a career of talking to people to encourage this step in order to live a prosperous life. Thank you for all of your continued support! I really do love obesityhelp for an avenue to find the most valuable people in the world. Be blessed and I will rewrite soon with more good news!

December 8, 2006 - Longtime no see, well i have been living a life of sucess! I have still kept the weight off and i also had a breast reduction surgery on July 26, 2006! I had to at least get that done! I had about five or more inches of breast skin just hanging from my chest! This was very uncomfortable as well as unattractive. It was eventful but definitely successful! Still knowing that God is going to workout everthing i have ask him for during this hour of my life and believing God to do the same for you! On jan. the 30th, i am suppose to have the extra skin from my thighs removed! Hopefully I will be able to keep you posted before and after this procedure. Be blessed and MY quote is " Lose your living, to Gain your Life!"

May 21, 2007 - longtime no hear from! I am doing very good, I have had a lot of positive changes to my life. I recently had a thighplasty and glutealplasty on April 10, 2007. It was the worst than the actual bypass surgery! I bled and drained 20 days straight!!! I thought I was going to die. Fortunately, I recovered and back to work and looking good. I t will take about six months for the swelling to go down, so the doctor said. It feels good to finally come to the end of re-contouring my body! Im happy with the results and eagered to help others!  I was glad that I was able to attend the OH meeting in Detroit, Michigan! It was awesome! I was able to finally meet others who traveled or traveling this journey. I was also fortunate to share my story with everyone on the main stage! It was exciting to watch their faces as they found out in amazement that I had lost 313lbs!!!! I am looking forward to attending the meeting in San Diego, Ca on June 9th, which is also my  birthday! What a celebration that will be!  Well, Im at work, so I better do something that benefits them.LOL! Be blessed and I will definitely keep in touch. Peace.