Fw: My History with the MGB. Pat Eppler, Tyler, Texas

[Guest guest]

Dear Pat,

What a WONDERFUL experience ! I soo enjoyed reading your post, and thank

you very much for sharing it with us, it gives me just that much more of a

soothing feeling knowing I am doing the right thing. I wish you much much

continued success, please keep posting your wonderful results, I would love

to hear more !

>

>Reply-To: MiniGastricBypass (AT) egroups (DOT) com

>To: <MiniGastricBypass (AT) egroups (DOT) com>

>Subject: Fw: My History with the MGB. Pat Eppler,

>Tyler, Texas

>Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 10:54:16 -0500

>

>This is for the preops who need contacts. I have had trouble sending to

>some of you who ask. Pat

>

>Subject: Fw: My History with the MGB. Pat Eppler, Tyler, Texas

>

>After seeing a nne show during Thanksgiving, 1998 where she talked

>about her WLS and had her doctor and many of his patients on her show, I

>started researching. I found several doctors on the west coast, but they

>were so expensive ($40,000 up) that I quickly ruled them out. Then I

>started an internet search for doctors closer to home. That is when I ran

>across Dr. Rutledge and the MGB. After I studied his web site (clos.net)

>and contacted several of his patients, I quickly decided that this was the

>procedure I wanted. It was simple. The hospital stay was short. There

>did not seem to be much post-surgical unpleasantness, unlike most of the

>others, and it was much, much less expensive. It is also easy to reverse

>if that is ever needed.

>

>I started the process to be approved as his patient and started the

>insurance process. Dr. R quickly accepted me, but the insurance company

>flatly denied me. Dr. R did an appeal for me, even phoning them to plead

>my case. Still an absolute refusal since my policy had a written total

>exclusion for anything to do with weight reduction, no matter how many

>co-morbidities you had. I flooded them with information, sent about 900

>pages to the medical director, filed a grievance with the state insurance

>commission claiming discrimination. Everything came back: Total

>Exclusion. Forget it!!! I contacted an attorney who said the same thing.

>I contacted the federal agencies who oversee discrimination cases and got

>no where. I wrote my representatives, state and national, the president,

>etc. Nothing.

>

>After 15 months I decided to go self pay. My family doctor was very

>supportive all through this. I had the MGB on April 3, 2000. My surgery

>took 34 minutes, including the repair of a hiatal hernia. I was in the

>hospital 24 hours, shopped some on the way home and in the mall walking and

>shopping the next day. We stayed around Durham for a few days to be sure

>all was well, then flew back home to Tyler, Texas. On day 6 I was back in

>church, and on day 7 I was back in water aerobics. I never had any pain or

>nausea or complications of any kind.

>

>I lost about 28 pounds the first month. At three months had lost about 50

>pounds. I followed the eating and medicine protocol to the letter.

>Nothing ever bothered me. Now I am eating anything, just in smaller

>quantities. I exercise regularly, doing water aerobics, water resistance

>training, and using tubing and barbells at home.

>

>At 3 1/2 months I have lost 52-54 pounds, three dress sizes and 2-3 pant

>sizes. I am losing faster on the top than the bottom. I have a time

>keeping a wardrobe to wear. I have bought several things on eBay on the

>internet. I am down from a 24-26 to a 20 dress. I started at 312 lbs. I

>just turned 60.

>

>The total cost of my surgery was app. $11,500 plus about $1200 more for air

>fare, car rental and hotel for 8 days. I took the 20% discount that Dr. R

>and Durham Regional offer for cash up front. I booked the hotel over the

>internet from the Raleigh-Durham web site, the car from Budget on the RDU

>site, and the air was with AA for a non-stop flight. I searched the web

>for the best deal, and strangely enough, got the best deal from a travel

>co. in Germany.

>

>I look much better, and also feel better. Some days I have more energy

>than other days, but overall have more than before the surgery and I am

>doing much more than I did before. The surgery has cured my Type II

>diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and reflux disease. I have

>Fibromyalgia and that is better, although not cured. The more weight I

>lose the better my feet feel. I have had lots of trouble with them. I no

>longer am hot all the time, sweating like a pig during the summer. The

>heat is much easier on me now. My husband says that my outlook on life is

>improved, that I am more outgoing, and am happier. I have a much better

>self image, although I still see myself as fat as ever. People who haven't

>seen me in a while just go bonkers when they see me now, telling me how

>different I look. I can't tell by looking at myself, although I certainly

>can tell by my clothes.

>

>I still enjoy food, and it still tastes good to me. I can eat anything.

>Nothing bothers me. My goal is to eat like " normal " people, eating when I

>am hungry and not eating when I am not hungry and eating anything I want

>to. When I crave something I have it, even dessert, just in smaller

>portions. I enjoy eating all kinds of food. When we eat out, at first I

>just ate a little bite of whatever my husband was having, but now I order a

>regular dinner, eat about 1/3 of it and bring the rest home in a to-go box.

> That makes a couple more meals for me at home. At a cafeteria, one or

>two servings is more than enough for me. I am now a cheap date!! LOL

>

>My bowels are fairly normal, although with the bypass this has increased

>tremendously. I go 3-6 times a day now rather than just once. Stinky

>odors are a little bit of a problem, but nothing that can't be handled. I

>do not have much of a problem with gas. I take the Citrucel twice a day, 3

>One Source vitamins a day, 1 B Complex, 2 Potassuim, 1 iron, and 3-4 Tums a

>day, plus the thyroid, muscle relaxer and anti-depressant that I take for

>the Fibro, 1 Prilosec, and 1 Actigal. At six months I will probably stop

>the Prilosec and Actigal, and the Potassium and Iron are determined by the

>blood work every 3 months.

>

>My PCP is elated with my progress. He gets so excited every time he sees

>me.

>

>I have not had any problems with depression, although many do. I simply

>have not had any problems of any kind. This is the best thing I have ever

>done for myself, and I would do it again in a minute!!!!!!!!! It is a

>miracle that something so simple and so easy can do so much for a person.

>I feel like I have my life back. My husband is very supportive and is so

>happy for me. He calls me his " new wife " .

>

>My skin is sagging a little now. Hopefully it will tighten up a little

>after a while. Of course, at my age (60) I do not expect any miracles. My

>upper arms and thighs have gotten real " Jiggly " and my stomach apron is

>hanging lower every day as the fat disappears. I probably will not do

>anything about any of this, but if I were younger I would certainly

>consider it. At least sagging skin and wrinkles will not shorten my life.

>I can always hide them with the style of clothes I choose to wear. I have

>been mostly interested in being healthier and that has already happened to

>a great degree. I also look better, so won't worry too much about the

>other.

>

>That is about it for now. I get up every day excited to see what the day

>brings. I hate to wish my life away, but I can't wait to see me 3, 6, 12

>months from now!!!!! I still can hardly believe that this " gift " has been

>given to me and I thank God for it every day that I live.

>

>Pat Eppler

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Pat,

What an inspiration! I am scheduled for the MGB on August 2. I got up this

morning with the blues for some reason; I just couldn't seem to shake it.

However, your post has done the job. I'm so excited again. I'm going to

start packing right now. Thank you so much.

Kay

Fw: My History with the MGB. Pat Eppler, Tyler, Texas

>

> After seeing a nne show during Thanksgiving, 1998 where she talked

about her WLS and had her doctor and many of his patients on her show, I

started researching. I found several doctors on the west coast, but they

were so expensive ($40,000 up) that I quickly ruled them out. Then I

started an internet search for doctors closer to home. That is when I ran

across Dr. Rutledge and the MGB. After I studied his web site (clos.net)

and contacted several of his patients, I quickly decided that this was the

procedure I wanted. It was simple. The hospital stay was short. There did

not seem to be much post-surgical unpleasantness, unlike most of the others,

and it was much, much less expensive. It is also easy to reverse if that is

ever needed.

>

> I started the process to be approved as his patient and started the

insurance process. Dr. R quickly accepted me, but the insurance company

flatly denied me. Dr. R did an appeal for me, even phoning them to plead my

case. Still an absolute refusal since my policy had a written total

exclusion for anything to do with weight reduction, no matter how many

co-morbidities you had. I flooded them with information, sent about 900

pages to the medical director, filed a grievance with the state insurance

commission claiming discrimination. Everything came back: Total Exclusion.

Forget it!!! I contacted an attorney who said the same thing. I

contacted the federal agencies who oversee discrimination cases and got no

where. I wrote my representatives, state and national, the president, etc.

Nothing.

>

> After 15 months I decided to go self pay. My family doctor was very

supportive all through this. I had the MGB on April 3, 2000. My surgery

took 34 minutes, including the repair of a hiatal hernia. I was in the

hospital 24 hours, shopped some on the way home and in the mall walking and

shopping the next day. We stayed around Durham for a few days to be sure

all was well, then flew back home to Tyler, Texas. On day 6 I was back in

church, and on day 7 I was back in water aerobics. I never had any pain or

nausea or complications of any kind.

>

> I lost about 28 pounds the first month. At three months had lost about 50

pounds. I followed the eating and medicine protocol to the letter. Nothing

ever bothered me. Now I am eating anything, just in smaller quantities. I

exercise regularly, doing water aerobics, water resistance training, and

using tubing and barbells at home.

>

> At 3 1/2 months I have lost 52-54 pounds, three dress sizes and 2-3 pant

sizes. I am losing faster on the top than the bottom. I have a time

keeping a wardrobe to wear. I have bought several things on eBay on the

internet. I am down from a 24-26 to a 20 dress. I started at 312 lbs. I

just turned 60.

>

> The total cost of my surgery was app. $11,500 plus about $1200 more for

air fare, car rental and hotel for 8 days. I took the 20% discount that Dr.

R and Durham Regional offer for cash up front. I booked the hotel over the

internet from the Raleigh-Durham web site, the car from Budget on the RDU

site, and the air was with AA for a non-stop flight. I searched the web for

the best deal, and strangely enough, got the best deal from a travel co. in

Germany.

>

> I look much better, and also feel better. Some days I have more energy

than other days, but overall have more than before the surgery and I am

doing much more than I did before. The surgery has cured my Type II

diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and reflux disease. I have

Fibromyalgia and that is better, although not cured. The more weight I lose

the better my feet feel. I have had lots of trouble with them. I no longer

am hot all the time, sweating like a pig during the summer. The heat is

much easier on me now. My husband says that my outlook on life is improved,

that I am more outgoing, and am happier. I have a much better self image,

although I still see myself as fat as ever. People who haven't seen me in a

while just go bonkers when they see me now, telling me how different I look.

I can't tell by looking at myself, although I certainly can tell by my

clothes.

>

> I still enjoy food, and it still tastes good to me. I can eat anything.

Nothing bothers me. My goal is to eat like " normal " people, eating when I

am hungry and not eating when I am not hungry and eating anything I want to.

When I crave something I have it, even dessert, just in smaller portions. I

enjoy eating all kinds of food. When we eat out, at first I just ate a

little bite of whatever my husband was having, but now I order a regular

dinner, eat about 1/3 of it and bring the rest home in a to-go box. That

makes a couple more meals for me at home. At a cafeteria, one or two

servings is more than enough for me. I am now a cheap date!! LOL

>

> My bowels are fairly normal, although with the bypass this has increased

tremendously. I go 3-6 times a day now rather than just once. Stinky odors

are a little bit of a problem, but nothing that can't be handled. I do not

have much of a problem with gas. I take the Citrucel twice a day, 3 One

Source vitamins a day, 1 B Complex, 2 Potassuim, 1 iron, and 3-4 Tums a day,

plus the thyroid, muscle relaxer and anti-depressant that I take for the

Fibro, 1 Prilosec, and 1 Actigal. At six months I will probably stop the

Prilosec and Actigal, and the Potassium and Iron are determined by the blood

work every 3 months.

>

> My PCP is elated with my progress. He gets so excited every time he sees

me.

>

> I have not had any problems with depression, although many do. I simply

have not had any problems of any kind. This is the best thing I have ever

done for myself, and I would do it again in a minute!!!!!!!!! It is a

miracle that something so simple and so easy can do so much for a person. I

feel like I have my life back. My husband is very supportive and is so

happy for me. He calls me his " new wife " .

>

> My skin is sagging a little now. Hopefully it will tighten up a little

after a while. Of course, at my age (60) I do not expect any miracles. My

upper arms and thighs have gotten real " Jiggly " and my stomach apron is

hanging lower every day as the fat disappears. I probably will not do

anything about any of this, but if I were younger I would certainly consider

it. At least sagging skin and wrinkles will not shorten my life. I can

always hide them with the style of clothes I choose to wear. I have been

mostly interested in being healthier and that has already happened to a

great degree. I also look better, so won't worry too much about the other.

>

> That is about it for now. I get up every day excited to see what the day

brings. I hate to wish my life away, but I can't wait to see me 3, 6, 12

months from now!!!!! I still can hardly believe that this " gift " has been

given to me and I thank God for it every day that I live.

>

> Pat Eppler

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is for the preops who need contacts. I have had trouble sending to some of

you who ask. Pat

Subject: Fw: My History with the MGB. Pat Eppler, Tyler, Texas

After seeing a nne show during Thanksgiving, 1998 where she talked about her

WLS and had her doctor and many of his patients on her show, I started

researching. I found several doctors on the west coast, but they were so

expensive ($40,000 up) that I quickly ruled them out. Then I started an

internet search for doctors closer to home. That is when I ran across Dr.

Rutledge and the MGB. After I studied his web site (clos.net) and contacted

several of his patients, I quickly decided that this was the procedure I wanted.

It was simple. The hospital stay was short. There did not seem to be much

post-surgical unpleasantness, unlike most of the others, and it was much, much

less expensive. It is also easy to reverse if that is ever needed.

I started the process to be approved as his patient and started the insurance

process. Dr. R quickly accepted me, but the insurance company flatly denied me.

Dr. R did an appeal for me, even phoning them to plead my case. Still an

absolute refusal since my policy had a written total exclusion for anything to

do with weight reduction, no matter how many co-morbidities you had. I flooded

them with information, sent about 900 pages to the medical director, filed a

grievance with the state insurance commission claiming discrimination.

Everything came back: Total Exclusion. Forget it!!! I contacted an attorney

who said the same thing. I contacted the federal agencies who oversee

discrimination cases and got no where. I wrote my representatives, state and

national, the president, etc. Nothing.

After 15 months I decided to go self pay. My family doctor was very supportive

all through this. I had the MGB on April 3, 2000. My surgery took 34 minutes,

including the repair of a hiatal hernia. I was in the hospital 24 hours,

shopped some on the way home and in the mall walking and shopping the next day.

We stayed around Durham for a few days to be sure all was well, then flew back

home to Tyler, Texas. On day 6 I was back in church, and on day 7 I was back in

water aerobics. I never had any pain or nausea or complications of any kind.

I lost about 28 pounds the first month. At three months had lost about 50

pounds. I followed the eating and medicine protocol to the letter. Nothing

ever bothered me. Now I am eating anything, just in smaller quantities. I

exercise regularly, doing water aerobics, water resistance training, and using

tubing and barbells at home.

At 3 1/2 months I have lost 52-54 pounds, three dress sizes and 2-3 pant sizes.

I am losing faster on the top than the bottom. I have a time keeping a wardrobe

to wear. I have bought several things on eBay on the internet. I am down from

a 24-26 to a 20 dress. I started at 312 lbs. I just turned 60.

The total cost of my surgery was app. $11,500 plus about $1200 more for air

fare, car rental and hotel for 8 days. I took the 20% discount that Dr. R and

Durham Regional offer for cash up front. I booked the hotel over the internet

from the Raleigh-Durham web site, the car from Budget on the RDU site, and the

air was with AA for a non-stop flight. I searched the web for the best deal,

and strangely enough, got the best deal from a travel co. in Germany.

I look much better, and also feel better. Some days I have more energy than

other days, but overall have more than before the surgery and I am doing much

more than I did before. The surgery has cured my Type II diabetes, high blood

pressure, sleep apnea and reflux disease. I have Fibromyalgia and that is

better, although not cured. The more weight I lose the better my feet feel. I

have had lots of trouble with them. I no longer am hot all the time, sweating

like a pig during the summer. The heat is much easier on me now. My husband

says that my outlook on life is improved, that I am more outgoing, and am

happier. I have a much better self image, although I still see myself as fat as

ever. People who haven't seen me in a while just go bonkers when they see me

now, telling me how different I look. I can't tell by looking at myself,

although I certainly can tell by my clothes.

I still enjoy food, and it still tastes good to me. I can eat anything.

Nothing bothers me. My goal is to eat like " normal " people, eating when I am

hungry and not eating when I am not hungry and eating anything I want to. When

I crave something I have it, even dessert, just in smaller portions. I enjoy

eating all kinds of food. When we eat out, at first I just ate a little bite of

whatever my husband was having, but now I order a regular dinner, eat about 1/3

of it and bring the rest home in a to-go box. That makes a couple more meals

for me at home. At a cafeteria, one or two servings is more than enough for me.

I am now a cheap date!! LOL

My bowels are fairly normal, although with the bypass this has increased

tremendously. I go 3-6 times a day now rather than just once. Stinky odors are

a little bit of a problem, but nothing that can't be handled. I do not have

much of a problem with gas. I take the Citrucel twice a day, 3 One Source

vitamins a day, 1 B Complex, 2 Potassuim, 1 iron, and 3-4 Tums a day, plus the

thyroid, muscle relaxer and anti-depressant that I take for the Fibro, 1

Prilosec, and 1 Actigal. At six months I will probably stop the Prilosec and

Actigal, and the Potassium and Iron are determined by the blood work every 3

months.

My PCP is elated with my progress. He gets so excited every time he sees me.

I have not had any problems with depression, although many do. I simply have

not had any problems of any kind. This is the best thing I have ever done for

myself, and I would do it again in a minute!!!!!!!!! It is a miracle that

something so simple and so easy can do so much for a person. I feel like I have

my life back. My husband is very supportive and is so happy for me. He calls

me his " new wife " .

My skin is sagging a little now. Hopefully it will tighten up a little after a

while. Of course, at my age (60) I do not expect any miracles. My upper arms

and thighs have gotten real " Jiggly " and my stomach apron is hanging lower every

day as the fat disappears. I probably will not do anything about any of this,

but if I were younger I would certainly consider it. At least sagging skin and

wrinkles will not shorten my life. I can always hide them with the style of

clothes I choose to wear. I have been mostly interested in being healthier and

that has already happened to a great degree. I also look better, so won't worry

too much about the other.

That is about it for now. I get up every day excited to see what the day

brings. I hate to wish my life away, but I can't wait to see me 3, 6, 12 months

from now!!!!! I still can hardly believe that this " gift " has been given to me

and I thank God for it every day that I live.

Pat Eppler

[Guest guest]

Pat, I am a pre-op from Alabama and I just wanted to tell you how

much I enjoyed your story. I have my contacts already but was

enthralled by your story. I hope you continue to have great and

wonderful days and thanks again for sharing.

Dinah

> This is for the preops who need contacts. I have had trouble

sending to some of you who ask. Pat

>

> Subject: Fw: My History with the MGB. Pat Eppler, Tyler, Texas

>

> After seeing a nne show during Thanksgiving, 1998 where she

talked about her WLS and had her doctor and many of his patients on

her show, I started researching. I found several doctors on the west

coast, but they were so expensive ($40,000 up) that I quickly ruled

them out. Then I started an internet search for doctors closer to

home. That is when I ran across Dr. Rutledge and the MGB. After I

studied his web site (clos.net) and contacted several of his

patients, I quickly decided that this was the procedure I wanted. It

was simple. The hospital stay was short. There did not seem to be

much post-surgical unpleasantness, unlike most of the others, and it

was much, much less expensive. It is also easy to reverse if that is

ever needed.

>

> I started the process to be approved as his patient and started the

insurance process. Dr. R quickly accepted me, but the insurance

company flatly denied me. Dr. R did an appeal for me, even phoning

them to plead my case. Still an absolute refusal since my policy had

a written total exclusion for anything to do with weight reduction,

no matter how many co-morbidities you had. I flooded them with

information, sent about 900 pages to the medical director, filed a

grievance with the state insurance commission claiming

discrimination. Everything came back: Total Exclusion. Forget

it!!! I contacted an attorney who said the same thing. I contacted

the federal agencies who oversee discrimination cases and got no

where. I wrote my representatives, state and national, the

president, etc. Nothing.

>

> After 15 months I decided to go self pay. My family doctor was

very supportive all through this. I had the MGB on April 3, 2000.

My surgery took 34 minutes, including the repair of a hiatal hernia.

I was in the hospital 24 hours, shopped some on the way home and in

the mall walking and shopping the next day. We stayed around Durham

for a few days to be sure all was well, then flew back home to Tyler,

Texas. On day 6 I was back in church, and on day 7 I was back in

water aerobics. I never had any pain or nausea or complications of

any kind.

>

> I lost about 28 pounds the first month. At three months had lost

about 50 pounds. I followed the eating and medicine protocol to the

letter. Nothing ever bothered me. Now I am eating anything, just in

smaller quantities. I exercise regularly, doing water aerobics,

water resistance training, and using tubing and barbells at home.

>

> At 3 1/2 months I have lost 52-54 pounds, three dress sizes and 2-3

pant sizes. I am losing faster on the top than the bottom. I have a

time keeping a wardrobe to wear. I have bought several things on

eBay on the internet. I am down from a 24-26 to a 20 dress. I

started at 312 lbs. I just turned 60.

>

> The total cost of my surgery was app. $11,500 plus about $1200 more

for air fare, car rental and hotel for 8 days. I took the 20%

discount that Dr. R and Durham Regional offer for cash up front. I

booked the hotel over the internet from the Raleigh-Durham web site,

the car from Budget on the RDU site, and the air was with AA for a

non-stop flight. I searched the web for the best deal, and strangely

enough, got the best deal from a travel co. in Germany.

>

> I look much better, and also feel better. Some days I have more

energy than other days, but overall have more than before the surgery

and I am doing much more than I did before. The surgery has cured my

Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and reflux

disease. I have Fibromyalgia and that is better, although not

cured. The more weight I lose the better my feet feel. I have had

lots of trouble with them. I no longer am hot all the time, sweating

like a pig during the summer. The heat is much easier on me now. My

husband says that my outlook on life is improved, that I am more

outgoing, and am happier. I have a much better self image, although

I still see myself as fat as ever. People who haven't seen me in a

while just go bonkers when they see me now, telling me how different

I look. I can't tell by looking at myself, although I certainly can

tell by my clothes.

>

> I still enjoy food, and it still tastes good to me. I can eat

anything. Nothing bothers me. My goal is to eat like " normal "

people, eating when I am hungry and not eating when I am not hungry

and eating anything I want to. When I crave something I have it,

even dessert, just in smaller portions. I enjoy eating all kinds of

food. When we eat out, at first I just ate a little bite of whatever

my husband was having, but now I order a regular dinner, eat about

1/3 of it and bring the rest home in a to-go box. That makes a

couple more meals for me at home. At a cafeteria, one or two

servings is more than enough for me. I am now a cheap date!! LOL

>

> My bowels are fairly normal, although with the bypass this has

increased tremendously. I go 3-6 times a day now rather than just

once. Stinky odors are a little bit of a problem, but nothing that

can't be handled. I do not have much of a problem with gas. I take

the Citrucel twice a day, 3 One Source vitamins a day, 1 B Complex, 2

Potassuim, 1 iron, and 3-4 Tums a day, plus the thyroid, muscle

relaxer and anti-depressant that I take for the Fibro, 1 Prilosec,

and 1 Actigal. At six months I will probably stop the Prilosec and

Actigal, and the Potassium and Iron are determined by the blood work

every 3 months.

>

> My PCP is elated with my progress. He gets so excited every time

he sees me.

>

> I have not had any problems with depression, although many do. I

simply have not had any problems of any kind. This is the best thing

I have ever done for myself, and I would do it again in a

minute!!!!!!!!! It is a miracle that something so simple and so easy

can do so much for a person. I feel like I have my life back. My

husband is very supportive and is so happy for me. He calls me

his " new wife " .

>

> My skin is sagging a little now. Hopefully it will tighten up a

little after a while. Of course, at my age (60) I do not expect any

miracles. My upper arms and thighs have gotten real " Jiggly " and my

stomach apron is hanging lower every day as the fat disappears. I

probably will not do anything about any of this, but if I were

younger I would certainly consider it. At least sagging skin and

wrinkles will not shorten my life. I can always hide them with the

style of clothes I choose to wear. I have been mostly interested in

being healthier and that has already happened to a great degree. I

also look better, so won't worry too much about the other.

>

> That is about it for now. I get up every day excited to see what

the day brings. I hate to wish my life away, but I can't wait to see

me 3, 6, 12 months from now!!!!! I still can hardly believe that

this " gift " has been given to me and I thank God for it every day

that I live.

>

> Pat Eppler

>

>

>