[willadeegee]

I come from a family of 9 children and only one voiced an opinion concerning my decision to have gastric by-pass surgery. She wasn't sure it was such a good idea. Why have surgery when you could diet and exercise and get the same results?

Well, duh! I had tried and failed over and over.

My mother, bless her heart thought I was going in to have a tummy tuck:P . I didn't tell her any different till just a couple of days before the surgery. I figure ignorance is bliss. After all she's almost 75 years old and why worry her for months. After she found out what it was I really had in mind she volunteered to come help me till I could get back on my feet. She stayed for two weeks and would have stayed longer but I felt like I could handle it on my own so I sent her home.

The rest acted as if it didn't matter one way or another to them as long as it didn't interfere with their lives.

My son wanted me to be around to see his grandchildren and my daughter-in-law said she was tired of saying good-bye to people she loves. They were behind me 100%

My husband said he'd love me fat or skinny just as long as I was happy and healthy. He's always told me I'm beautiful, and my answer was always "Yeah, right, and pigs fly".

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This was taken Dec 26, 2002 in Arkansas. I weighed 225. Not my highest weight. My highest weight was 260 in June 2004.

I weighed 242 the day of my surgery, and only 157 in this picture taken Dec 20, 2005


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I now weigh 150 lbs and I feel great. I need to lose 40 lbs to reach my goal. And by the grace of God I can do it.

[DocSanae]

Great work, Willa, and I'm glad you had full support where it counted most.
Oh, and I hope your knee surgery goes well, my thoughts and prayers are with you.