Heather G.
On January 18, 1982, I was born an 8lb 10 oz baby girl. So when I say I have been heavy my entire life, it’s the truth. I went thru my childhood being made fun of for being overweight. That is debilitating to a child. I always hid my feelings with food.Fast forward 15 years… When I was 23, I woke up one morning unable to walk due to severe back pain. I was taken to the hospital and placed on heavy narcotics and steroids. I gained over 80 lbs in 1 year. I made some very poor choices over the next few years.In 2005, I met my soul mate. We were married on May 13, 2006. We have two boys, oldest is 9 and youngest is 3. When I was unable to play with my kids, I knew something needed to be done. I went to my pain management doctor and back specialist in January of 2015. She mentioned meeting with a doctor regarding weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery had never crossed my mind. I was always the one who thought it was the “easy way out.” I went to my first seminar in February of 2015. I learned of the different types of surgery and that I was a perfect candidate. In August, I began the insurance process. I learned that I had to complete 7 months of nutritional counseling and complete several tests before being considered.In January of 2016, I started the nutritional counseling. I weighed in at a whopping 325 lbs. I was on an 800 calorie diet over the course of the next 7 months. I only lost 10 pounds!! I knew I was making the right decision.January 30, 2017, was my second chance at life. I have doctor Kuldeep Singh to thank for that and God, of course. I weighed in for surgery at 315lbs. Dr. Singh performed the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. To date, I have lost 125 lbs. I am able to cross my legs, put on my shoes with out huffing and I can play with my children. We can do anything they want and I LOVE IT!!! This summer we went to the carnival and I rode rides with my children! If there was anything I could change about this journey, it would have been to have done it sooner. It has not been easy. I have been hospitalized a time or two. But I thank god everyday for my new life. I am happy, healthy and can live again.