Before - June 30, 2008

This is a horrible picture, but you get the idea. Tomorrow is the big day at 9:10am. Please pray for me. I will try to remember to post weekly update photos.

Day before Surgery

I will post a picture later today, but I have my gastric bypass surgery tomorrow. I am incredibly nervous, but I am also ready to do this. I want to get it over with and start carving a new lifestyle out for myself. I am ready to live healthier and feel better though I know the latter will take some time. Please remember me in your prayers tomorrow. I have given instructions to my cousin to post an update on my status here tomorrow.

Thanks for all the encouragement!

Countdown to Surgery

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up. --Anonymous

Well, just 8 days including today until my gastric bypass surgery. To say that I am nervous is an overwhelming understatement. I am terrified, but excited as well. I am definitely ready to get the surgery over with and happy to see what my life will be like without all this weight. I'm also trying to keep myself prepared for pain and illness following the surgery until I adjust. It will also be a lot of hard work to carve out this new lifestyle for myself. But I have been working on getting some of this started prior to my surgery. I have been doing the pre-op diet, but I keep falling off the wagon. Of course, my lifestyle has been so previous bad that even falling off the wagon I have already lost 10 lbs. Everyone at work keeps telling me they can see that I've started losing weight. My clothes are fitting better, and I already have a little more energy. Please pray that I will trust God in all this and that He will have his hand of protection over me. I know a lot of people have this surgery and millions of people have surgery everyday, but I will heave a sigh of relief when I open my eyes after the surgery is complete. I have a lot of life to live, and I want to live it to the fullest. That is why I am doing this. Thanks, as always, for all of your prayers.

Filter Placement

I've been home for a while from my procedure on my leg. The filter is in place, and I can't tell. My leg is sore where the surgeon went in and my wrist from the IV, but otherwise, I am okay.

Please keep me in prayer for the next few weeks. Thanks!

Surgery

I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure - which is: Try to please everybody. --Herbert Bayard Swope

I wanted to quickly post and give everyone an update. My surgery date has been changed to July 1st. I am nervous, but getting excited too. I know this will be a steep, uphill challenge, but I know it will be worth it. I have completed most of the preliminary stuff. I've had a sleep study, cardiac stress test, pulmonary stress test, a psychological exam, and met with a nutritionist. Next I have to have an ultrasound of my legs to check for blood clots and a pre-op interview at the hospital. Then I have to go and have a blood clot filter inserted. I swear I'm not making that up. It's a ground-breaking procedure this surgical group does - something they came up with in an effort to minimize the risk of complications from blood clots from the lower body. Keep praying for me. Next week, I start the pre-op diet designed to shrink my liver. The diet consists of two protein shakes, a protein bar, and a sensible meal a day. Gotta stick with it so I can have my surgery laprascopically instead of being cut. Again, please pray for me. Thanks, all!

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Surgery

The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were not limitations to over come. The hilltop hour would not be so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse. --Helen Keller

Well, I got the call yesterday. My surgery has been scheduled for June 24th. It is really happening. I am extremely nervous, but very excited too. This is a chance for a new life for me - a better life. I won't lie and say I don't care about how I will look, but I am mainly looking forward to being able to do the things I can't do now because of my weight. I know I will feel better and have more energy. But I truly covet your prayers. I have never had major surgery like this before and am extremely nervous, as I stated before. But I believe in the power of an Almighty God, and I believe He listens to our prayers. Please pray for me. Thanks everyone!