smile7866
My name is Sandra Ruiz-Esparza and I am currently now 44 years old. I will be 45 on July 8. I have been married now for 24 years. My husband, Javier is a wonderful man. I have two wonderful children. My daughter, Brittney is 23 and my Son, Brandon is 22. I have struggled tremendously with my weight for 24 years now. There was a short time in my teen years when I had struggled as well. Most of my obese life started after I became pregnant with my daughter when I was 21 years old. I was 115 lbs before I became pregnant with my daughter. Then at my term of my pregnancy I weighed 190 lbs. From that point on I have been over weight. Then I kept getting bigger and bigger. I am now at my heaviest weight now at 241 lbs. Here it is now March 25, 2011. I have wanted surgery now for 7-9 years. I was originally turned down back then because when they submitted it to my insurance company they said that my primary doctor did not keep good records of my weight loss. I have a lot of medical problems back then and currently. I have High Blood Pressure, Thyroid problem (under active), Sleep Apnea, Anxiety, Diabetes, Pulmonary Hypertension (Secondary), Severe Asthma, Allergies, ADHD and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Then I was going to have the surgery one year ago, and with the insurance I had at that time I had to go to 6 classes and had completed 3 out of 6 and then was out of work. I was out of work for 4 months and then employed again and thought that I would be out of work for some time with the surgery and decided to wait till I have been with my new employer for 1 full year. With my new Insurance with my new employer I only had to do 3 classes. I timed my classes so they would be completed by my 1 year anniversary with my new employer, which is on March 29, 2011. I received a call on March 24, 2011 that the Insurance Company approved my surgery. I am to go to the Dr.'s on April 19, 2011 to pick up my liquid diet shakes and they said I would be having my Sleeve procedure on May 9, 2011. This will be the day after Mother's day and My Husband's Birthday is on May 9, 2011. For me this is huge to be able to have the opportunity to have this surgery. I had to go to a Pulmonologist Specialist to sign off in order for me to have this surgery. Due to me having Pulmonary Hypertension. He did sign off and said this surgery can lower my pressure in my lungs and feels it would be great for me. Also, it will benefit me with all of my other medical illnesses. For me, I look at this as if it for "Life or Death" for me. I have seen a few of my Aunts suffer with the same kinds of illnesses that I have. One Aunt of mine died already. She had both of her legs amputated and did not have a quality life and Died at the age of 62. I can see that I was going down the same path as them and did not want that. I want a good quality life for the remainder of time that God has plans for me to be here on Earth. I have struggled with a horrible childhood. I went through counseling many different times. I got through that. You don't ever forget, but you learn to cope. Maybe I did not cope in a healthy way, but at least I did not turn to drugs and alcohol. I raised two wonderful children and have managed to stay married to the same man for 24 years. When ever I start to try to be hard on myself due to my low self esteem, I have to remember to do what I was taught in counseling: Tell my self, "You are a good person", "You have raised two great kids", and my blessings go on and on....I have to stop myself and turn off the negative talk. I have to tel that little person in my head, "Leave me alone, I don't need you right now, go away!" I might need you later, but not right now. I have to bring in the positive and again count my blessings for what I do have and what I have achieved. I have a wonderful support with my family. My husband, Javier, Mom, Dad, Sister, Aunts, Cousins and Friends. We are very close and always there for each other. I am truly blessed to be alive today and this is a blessing I get to be able to live a quality life. I now that for my children it has been very hard for them to see their mom to continue to get more illnesses after more illnesses and gain more and more weight. I have struggled with many things, but have got through them. With this tool of getting this surgery will allow me to make not only my children proud, but most importantly will allow to make myself proud of me and allow me to live a quality life!
