Miko365
Here is the shortest version of my story I could think of: Ive always been big, played football up until college. Stopped playing football but kept eating and partying like I was a football player. Got bigger. Married my sweetheart Jenilee of 7 years who I met on the internet and had a beautiful babygirl named Mailee. Got bigger. Decided to look into WLS. When I met my doc for the first time at a seminar, I weighed 390lbs, my biggest. Had RNY on Dec 19 2007. Now I am beginning my new life. Not only am I a healthier husband/father but also a happier one.
The longer version: Im of Filipino decent and was always told to finish my plate (which always included rice) or I would get punished. Im the youngest of 2 kids, I have an older sister that is 5'6" and weighs 135lbs. My dad is a bigger man but never was as big as I became and my mother is little, 5'2 about 140lbs. My dad was in the Navy and we moved around a bit ending up in California. It forced me to be independent at a young age but looking back now I think i ended up depending on food. Growing up I was always the big kid that bullied people, probably before they could make fun of me, but had friends that I still have that have stuck by me to this day. I was always the token BIG guy in our crew. I always struggled with my weight but used football and wrestling to keep it in check. After college I got a full time job but kept up the BIG guy eating habits and partied a lot. It was an up and down battle that I never seemed to win.
Then my life changed.
I met my wife in an online chat room December 1997. This was before all the MYSPACE and MATCH.COM hype. We chatted online for about a month before I even sent her a picture of myself. I was afraid she would stop talking to me because of my weight. When she finally got the picture I sent she said that I was cute and wanted to meet me in person. We started to date and I always told her I had struggled with my weight. No matter what I weighed, she stood by me. After about 7 years of dating I asked her to marry me. She helped me do a complete 180, I stopped my binge drinking and smoking and tried to be healthier. Before we got married I lost weight to look better in our wedding pictures but put it all back plus more since then. I started to really feel the effects of the pounds once our babygirl Mailee was born, I became more sedintary. Then I finally decided to get serious. Even though I was living a healthier lifestyle than before, the past lifestyle I lived had done its damage. I felt if I didn't do something soon, I wasn't going to be around for my family. I didnt think me dying would be fair to my wife or daughter. Plus I wanted to be around to punk those boys who wanted to date my daughter (she is 2 years old) I researched the surgery for about a year and found Dr Billy. Originally he wasnt covered by my insurance but in November of 2006 he became a participating provider. After the barrage of tests and dropping about 35lbs on my own pre-op I got my surgery date of December 19 2007, right before the holidays. I figured if I could survive all the holiday parties I could make it through anything. I was a bit scared the night before my surgery that I might not make it out, but my family and I knew it was a risk that would be worth it. I woke after surgery and the rest is history.
I know this surgery isn't a magic cure but it has helped me achieve things I could not have done without it. I just thank God, my family and friends for supporting me through this and I know now that I have a chance to be around longer to be a better husband and father. Everyday has its challenges but I take them on, one at a time. If my story helps just one person with their weight issues, than all the better.
