Testimonial
My story starts when I was very young. I remember going on a school fieldtrip in the 6th grade and not being able to ride the big rollercoaster because I was too big for the seatbelt to fasten. It was so humiliating to have to get out of the ride in front of all my friends. Over the years I just gained more and more weight. I was in a war with my own body.

In 2001, I weighed 693 pounds. I was sleeping sitting up in a chair, because laying down smothered me. My life had basically come to a standstill. Doing simple things like walking from the car to my house made me totally exhausted. I was in a size 78 pants... could only get my clothes through mail order. I was about to die.. I was smothering in my own body.

Today, I weigh 228 pounds. I have lost 465 pounds!!! , and I am still slowly losing weight. I am now in a size 38 pants. I am smaller then I was in the 6th grade. My life is so much more enriched than it ever has been. The simple things make life pleasurable. Being able to go to a normal store and buy clothes. The first time I felt my collarbone I thought I had a growth.. it was actually a bone I never knew was there. I went to a TN Titans game and sat on the top row of seats. Before it would have worn me out to even walk to the house. I was able to walk from downtown and climb the stairs to the top and still had tons of energy left. I was able to go on a cruise and walked miles on the islands taking in all the sites. And I was able to ride that roller coaster ride.

I havnt been able to have the plastic surgeries yet to get rid of the excess skin. The doctors estimate doing that will get rid of 40+ more pounds. Honestly, Its the least of my worries.

When people ask me today would I do it again.. I tell them I would give up everything I owned to do it again. All my worldly goods. It wasn't easy, because of my initial size I had complications. However, it was worth that and more. It saved my life. I have been set free. My life began the day I had my surgery.