Jay Harper
Well my story starts out in the BIG (sarcasm) city of Jackson, MS. I was born at Baptist Hospital there on June 30, 1991. I am the first of 2 children. I was born weighing 7lbs 15oz, pretty husky I would say. I have always been bigger than the other kids in my class. I was always flirting between overweight and obesity since 5th and 6th grade. I stood about 5' tall and weighed 180 lbs. When I was in 6th grade, though, my parents got a divorce. This was pretty devastating to me. Entering 7th grade, I put on !!60 lbs!! in one summer, but at least i grew 3 inches hiding some of it. So there I was 5'3'' 240, the perfect Offensive Lineman right? Wrong. On my first Jr. High game, I was standing on the sidelines and turned my head just in time to see the opposiong teams running back take out my leg and tear my ACL. I gained another 20 lbs over the next 10 weeks. The next year I was planning on playing again, and was guaranteed a starting spot. BUT, when I was working out doing leg press machine, I put too much weight on and destroyed my other knee. In my 10th grade I weighed 300 lbs and went to a place like weight watchers, minus them giving you the food. I actually gained weight there. Then when I went into my 11th grade year I decided to try to play football again, but I was diagnosed with migraines. The doctor said they were brought on by the MS heat, and we were in record breaking temperatures. So after I was released from the hospital in mid August of 2007, I was a little depressed. Then the day before the Homecoming dance, we go outside for one of my classes, and I decide I want to sit down on the ground. When I try, my kneecap shoots inward and dislocates. Then my Orthopedic Doctor decided to refer me to an endocrinologist. I went there from October of 2007 until May of 2008 and lost 70 lbs. Then this past summer I gained 45 lbs of it back. So now me and my father have talked and I have decided it is time to do something permanent. I am going to try LAP RNY. I am going to meet with Dr. William T. Avara of Ocean Springs MSon August 5, and REALLY hope to have my surgery on August 29.
