Today is my Anniversary: Happy ReBirth-day to me!

[Guest guest]

Friends, Collegues, Strangers, Doctors and Support Staff:

(Pre-ops, Post-ops <far and wide> et al)

 

Call it my Anniversary, or my ReBirthday - it doesn't matter.

 

Birthdays were never a real big thing in my house as a kid. I simply wasn't

raised with it like that.  So, I didn't grow into them being something special. 

Well, not until recently.

 

Four years ago today, I stepped forward into and onto a life path I prayed for,

but never fully bought into. Oh my gosh!! I now have such reason to celebrate.

 

 

I now celebrate my ReBirthday!! Yes. June 24, each and every year.

 

Ironically, it's almost exactly 6 mo from my come-into-this-world-birthday. So I

get to celebrate twice a year, in intervals.

 

I didn't have many of the co-morbids others suffered with. Nope not me.

 

Mine were limited to (limited??) depression, sadness, increased difficulty

finding joy in my life and life in general, hopelessness, anger, fear, building

isolation, and self imposed limitations. I reached a point where I was feeling

it'd be easier to die, than to live. It didn't matter that I'd recently attended

the funeral of a 23 yo cousin whose death was a complication of his WLS. It

didn't matter if I thought or worried about how I'd be percieved. I was dying. I

wasn't ready.

 

After much research (and many tears) I decided I was better off risking major

surgery than going on as I was; MGB crossed my path; I never looked back. My

closet girlfriend of 35 years left her husband and children for a week to be

with me; be my support person. She recognized I HAD to; had to do this. Bless

her.. each and everyday.

 

Fast forward.... BECAUSE of the strick requirements... because I promised to

keep my promises.. because .. I was so desperate, I SWORE, if this worked for

me.. I would tow the line, and do what is asked to get there and STAY there.

 

Because of this surgery...

 

I AM:

 

a non-smoker <!!>

nearly caffiene free

a non-nsaid taker

aware of my health status on a daily basis

a gym rat

a reconfirmed adrenalin junkie

have a resting heart rate of 47-58

have a BP of ~ 100 / 60

a dating, flattered woman

110 lbs less than when I started

wearing size 6 and 8 petites (instead of 22w, or larger)

walking proudly into rooms and out of them

wearing shorter skirts with <accolades> then most 48 yo women could (or should,

lol)

not staring at diabetes, as my mother did

not the subject of the pity talk quietly happening at family gatherings, etc

etc...

 

 (Not to mention things like going skydiving, kayaking, hiking, dancing etc..

regularly!)

 

Thank you to the network of CLOS and MGBers, everywhere. You are an extended

family member of mine.. regardless of how well we do ( or don't) know each

other.

 

 

Thank you to ALL the good doctors - for inventing, for operating, for believing,

for supporting, for trying, for BEING.

 

I'm even going to pat myself on the back for not bailing out, when I had that

twing the day before - and the courage to follow through.

 

On Monday, I leave for Buenos Aires to join my MGB sister Melonie for the PS

journey. I've been at this stable weight and size for greater than two years,

and am ready for the next step. I wonder if I will recognize myself in the

mirror. Someday, you know.. I walk passed one.. and don't! But it's good.. ALL

GOOD!

 

Thank you for being there.. and although unintended, being a part of my personal

celebration!

 

KINDEST Regards,

 

Marley

 

 

 

 

& quot;when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance. & quot; (

I do...)

[Guest guest]

Marley

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S to you as you celebrate your new life!

Life is GRAND today for many of us because of the MGB and Dr. Rutledge.

Like you, I give thanks each and every day for this new life of mine. It

simply couldn't be better!

Lucy in SC

Dr. Rutledge

July 12, 2006

289 lbs pre-op

168 pounds today

!

[Guest guest]

Very well written, Marley! I really enjoyed reading that, and even

more so because it rings so true with me as well! My MGB has

brought me many blessings, not the least of which are all of the

wonderful MGB friends I have met and gotten to know.

Congratulations on reaching your 4-year milestone. I am so happy

for you.

Hug 2 All,

JamiGoldWing

MGB on 1/13/04

271 Pounds - Size 24/26 - Then

168 Pounds - Size 12 - Now

>

>

> Friends, Collegues, Strangers, Doctors and Support Staff:

> (Pre-ops, Post-ops <far and wide> et al)

>  

> Call it my Anniversary, or my ReBirthday - it doesn't matter.

>  

> Birthdays were never a real big thing in my house as a kid. I

simply wasn't raised with it like that.  So, I didn't grow into them

being something special.  Well, not until recently.

>  

> Four years ago today, I stepped forward into and onto a life path

I prayed for, but never fully bought into. Oh my gosh!! I now have

such reason to celebrate.

>  

>  

> I now celebrate my ReBirthday!! Yes. June 24, each and every year.

>  

> Ironically, it's almost exactly 6 mo from my come-into-this-world-

birthday. So I get to celebrate twice a year, in intervals.

>  

> I didn't have many of the co-morbids others suffered with. Nope

not me.

>  

> Mine were limited to (limited??) depression, sadness, increased

difficulty finding joy in my life and life in general, hopelessness,

anger, fear, building isolation, and self imposed limitations. I

reached a point where I was feeling it'd be easier to die, than to

live. It didn't matter that I'd recently attended the funeral of a

23 yo cousin whose death was a complication of his WLS. It didn't

matter if I thought or worried about how I'd be percieved. I was

dying. I wasn't ready.

>  

> After much research (and many tears) I decided I was better off

risking major surgery than going on as I was; MGB crossed my path; I

never looked back. My closet girlfriend of 35 years left her husband

and children for a week to be with me; be my support person. She

recognized I HAD to; had to do this. Bless her.. each and everyday.

>  

> Fast forward.... BECAUSE of the strick requirements... because I

promised to keep my promises.. because .. I was so desperate, I

SWORE, if this worked for me.. I would tow the line, and do what is

asked to get there and STAY there.

>  

> Because of this surgery...

>  

> I AM:

>  

> a non-smoker <!!>

> nearly caffiene free

> a non-nsaid taker

> aware of my health status on a daily basis

> a gym rat

> a reconfirmed adrenalin junkie

> have a resting heart rate of 47-58

> have a BP of ~ 100 / 60

> a dating, flattered woman

> 110 lbs less than when I started

> wearing size 6 and 8 petites (instead of 22w, or larger)

> walking proudly into rooms and out of them

> wearing shorter skirts with <accolades> then most 48 yo women

could (or should, lol)

> not staring at diabetes, as my mother did

> not the subject of the pity talk quietly happening at family

gatherings, etc

>

> etc...

>  

>  (Not to mention things like going skydiving, kayaking, hiking,

dancing etc.. regularly!)

>  

> Thank you to the network of CLOS and MGBers, everywhere. You are

an extended family member of mine.. regardless of how well we do (

or don't) know each other.

>  

>  

> Thank you to ALL the good doctors - for inventing, for operating,

for believing, for supporting, for trying, for BEING.

>  

> I'm even going to pat myself on the back for not bailing out, when

I had that twing the day before - and the courage to follow through.

>  

> On Monday, I leave for Buenos Aires to join my MGB sister Melonie

for the PS journey. I've been at this stable weight and size for

greater than two years, and am ready for the next step. I wonder if

I will recognize myself in the mirror. Someday, you know.. I walk

passed one.. and don't! But it's good.. ALL GOOD!

>  

> Thank you for being there.. and although unintended, being a part

of my personal celebration!

>  

> KINDEST Regards,

>  

> Marley

>  

>  

>  

>  

>

> & quot;when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you

dance. & quot; ( I do...)

>

>

>

>

>