Re: 2 stages, twice the risk- KathyB

[Guest guest]

KathyB

Your strength and preservation should be inspiration for us all. I

know it is for me! You know I wish you the very best, and know all

your dreams will come true. {{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}

Your friend

4/12/01

> In a message dated 5/30/2001 4:55:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> leafyleaves@a... writes:

>

>

> > Kathy, I hope your surgeon is right, but the research so far says

the odds

> > are against you

>

> Let me say that I want the entire DS to set the record straight for

me

> personally. However we do not have health insurance and haven't for

over 10

> years now. My dh is a full time pastor and I have been a stay at

home mom to

> 8 children for 12 years. When I first looked into WLS I found that

the Dept.

> of Rehabilitative Services will pay for surgery when medically

necessary. I

> began a 5 1/2month process to have this surgery approved through

DRS and have

> come to find out they will not pay the amount that the entire DS

costs. At

> 317 pounds and caring for 8 children under 14 on a day to day basis

I made

> the choice ( as difficult as it was to make ) to have the VG done

with hopes

> to find a way to complete the surgery real soon. My decision was

based on

> the fact that I cannot live like this any more. Everything in my

life is

> suffering and even if I only am able to get off 100 lbs right now I

will be

> grateful. I am starting nursing school in August and cannot even

fit into

> the desks so for me, I need whatever assistance I can get at this

point. Do

> I want the entire DS????? Most definitely, do I realize the odds

are against

> me??? Most definitely I do. I have battled this weight for 30

years now so I

> know all about weight gain and loss etc. I only pray that I will

be able to

> find a job while I attend school that will have health benefits and

maybe I

> can get approval for the second part of the DS right away. This

battle and

> journey for me has not been an easy one by any stretch of the

imagination and

> I am also using as much as I can with behaviour modification along

the way.

> I started a vigorous exercise program at a gym which I never did

before in

> my life and I will be attending counseling after surgery for 10

weeks to help

> get to some of the root problems of my eating compulsively. Maybe

I will

> not be one of the people who are blessed with a good insurance

company that

> will pay $25,000 for the entire DS, but since God has provided a

way for me

> to at least have the VG done, I will be eternally grateful to Him

and trust

> that He has not brought me this far to leave me.

> Kathy B

> Dr Elariny

> June 18