SheliaB
“A New Life’
Shelia L. Bess
January 29, 2007
It was the morning of December 20, 2006 when I received the phone call that gave me the best Christmas present I would ever receive; it was the day that I got my approval for surgery. I knew at that exact moment that I actually had a chance at a new life, because the body that I had developed over the past 37 years was failing me and unless I lost weight to improve my health, I was afraid that I would not see my son graduate from high school, to be honest, junior high. It took me five years to make this decision, because I knew that I was not doing it for the right reasons and I was afraid that this “tool” would fail like many other weight loss attempts in the past. On January 29, 2006 at 7:30 am, I was taken back to the operating room as an unhealthy morbidly obese individual, but came out with hope at a new life, and a chance to survive.
Today, I have lost 90 pounds since surgery an overall total of 183 pounds and my health is no longer an issue. I am doing things that I never knew an individual could do and feel better than I have ever felt, considering that I have been overweight since I was 10; it has been a very long time. I am very active in my weight loss surgery support groups and have found many new friendships that I know I will have for many years, as a matter of fact, I do not remember when I have ever had so many friends in my life. Not only has this surgery improved my physical life, it has improved my social life as well.
As many overweight individuals feel, there were times that I felt that I did not deserve to live, but this surgery has not only provided me with that will, it has given me the opportunity to turn my life around and have the new life I deserve. Many people have asked do I have any regrets after having this surgery and I tell them, “The only regret that I have, is that I did not do it sooner!!!! I am so happy for my new life and Baptist Metabolic Surgery Center and my friends here at OH have played an integral part in my NEW LIFE!!!!
