Earl Kennedy
My name is Earl Ray Kennedy. I grew up around Hennepin, OK. I went to school in Davis, OK. I've always struggled with my weight since birth. All my life, I was made fun of and picked on and had no self esteem at all. I hid behind my secret walls. I grew up in an unhappy childhood but nobody could tell what I was going through because it was never spoken about. I love both my parents, even after some of the things that happened while growing up. The past is the past. I got the chance to live out my childhood dream of becoming a professional wrestler right after I graduated high school and was trained by the late "Gentleman" Chris Adams and Kevin Von Erich, even though Kevin wasn't officially my trainer I learned the respect for the Business through Kevin. Wrestling was an escape from the real world... I could be myself. After an injury in 1992 left me on the sideline, I went to college. In early 1995, I met Stacie, now my wife. She had a son named Brandon, which later I adopted as my own. I started driving a semi truck over the road in February, 1999. McKenzie Erin Kennedy was born to Stacie and I on March 20, 2000. She was born with a heart defect called Atrial Tachacardia which caused her to have siezures. I got injured on the job in September, 2001. Depression set in because I couldn't support my family and I gained to over 900 Lbs in no time. 913 Lbs to be exact!!! I got back down to 720 Lbs in 2007 and was sepparated from my wife. I went into a skilled nursing facility and went through physical therapy and got down to 584 Lbs. After getting back together with my wife and getting out of the nursing facility in March of 2008, I gained a little of the weight back. On January 24, 2009, Mckenzie had a spell with her heart at Stacie's cousin's house and was without oxygen for approximately 40+ minutes. They flew her to Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City. McKenzie suffered severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen for so long. She was on Life Support til January 30, 2009. She was trying to fight back early in the week, but on that seventh day, she rested in the arms of God. Stacie and I struggled for some time. I gained back to over 770 Lbs during that dreadful summer. On March 18 2010, I had Sleeve Gastronomy at the weight of 700 Lbs. I have lost down to 509 Lbs at present time. I've lost a total of 404 lbs so far since my heaviest weight. On May 17, 2010, I got the chance to go to The Biggest Loser season 10 first episode taping in OKC, where I met Bob Harper and the casting producer, Barbara Wulff and got to tell my story to them. Even though I had the surgery, I still struggle with food every day. It's a constant battle, especially with being happy or sad. Whatever the emotion, food is still giving me a hard time. Food is an ADDICTION and I'm an ADDICT! Food is my drug. Surgery doesn't fix everything, especially the emotions and the mental mind set of weight control. Hopefully I will find my way and get things done right. I tried out for The Biggest Loser Season 11. I didn't get picked, but I'm not gonna lay down and dwell on the bad things. There's too many people, that need to be encouraged, for me to be down in the dumps about it. I hope my fans will support me in my journey, where ever it takes me. God Bless :)
