Thank you for all of your support you offer to the many people who suffer from obesity.
2006 I was experiencing chronic pain due to osteo arthritis in my hip, unable to walk without a cane. I was losing my lifetime “battle of the bulge” and without exercise my weight continued to climb decreasing my desire to live and do the things I once enjoyed. I was in my mid 50’s, not ready to completely give up yet and convinced that my only hope would be to have gastric bypass surgery. However my BMI was 35 and I didn’t qualify for the surgery because fortunately I lacked any of the co-morbidities associated with obesity. I begged my doctor for a referral, only to find out that I would need to gain an additional 25 pounds to qualify.
My goal was to get out of pain by:
1)gain weight to qualify for weight loss surgery (achieved in 10/2006/2007)
2)have gastric bypass surgery (achieved in 10/2007)
3)have a total hip replacement (achieved in 4/2008)
It took me 2 years to complete the above, but today, I believe in the “miracles” of modern surgical procedures and have regained my life! I lost 115 pounds and now able to fulfill my new goals to boogie board again, hike again, and sit on the floor and play with my grandchildren.
I use all of the “tools” I was given by my HMO instructors, including walking every day 2.5 miles because I CAN! I’m grateful for each and every step I take, because I know how discouraging it is to want to walk but can’t because of pain.
I owe my life to my 3 surgeons: my gastric bypass surgeon (Dr. Phillippe Quilice); my orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Ganjiapour); my reconstructive plastic surgeon (Dr. J. Timothy Katzen). I began this journey to get out of pain, but yesterday I was notified by OH Magazine (Obesity Help) that an “after” photo I sent them will appear in the Jan/Feb issue of their magazine. So I now call myself “Cover Girl Kathie”. I’m 58 years old and this photo (attached) was taken by my husband on our vacation this summer. I’m wearing a 2-piece swimsuit for the first time since I was a teenager and now the photo will be published in a national magazine is truly a “wow” moment for me.
You can do this and have dreams fulfilled you never imagined! Life is not only good, it's GREAT!
